The global chemical industry will suffer even more as it is squeezed between rising feedstock costs and collapsed demand as the latest phase of the pandemic unfolds, senior commentators said on Monday.

- Rising oil price heaps pressure on chemicals as costs rise, demand still a disaster

- Many chemical prices are not rising in tandem with oil, squeezing margins

- Consumer sentiment does not support a strong rebound as lockdowns ease

- Expect deeply negative demand growth, especially from durable goods

- Hertz bankruptcy will flood US market with used vehicles

- China export demand low, slow path out of crisis

- China – chemicals ramp up is speculative

- Decade of lost growth for developing countries, millions pushed into poverty

- World moving to a New Normal of persistent low demand growth

- Chemical industry should “wake up” and focus on new reality

- Concerns about social unrest as economic depression develops

Listen to this podcast interview with John Richardson, ICIS Senior Consultant, Asia; and Paul Hodges, chairman at consultancy International eChem, and ICIS Insight Editor, Nigel Davis.

Podcast interview by Will Beacham

Sulphur prices in Asia have been stifled by limited end-use demand, while low refinery output tightens supply in the Americas. Markets editor Erica Sesay and senior editor Annalise Porter talk about the latest developments in the market.

With economies collapsing around the world, and chemical supply chains under intense pressure, the circular economy and sustainability agenda faces disruption.

- Recycled polymer markets squeezed as virgin prices fall

- Bankruptcies and closures possible May/June

- Commitments/targets likely to remain in place

- Crisis may make it more difficult to meet targets

- Move from global to local supply chains will support recycling

Listen to this podcast interview with Paul Hodges, International eChem chairman; John Richardson, senior consultant, Asia, for ICIS; Matt Tudball, ICIS senior editor Europe for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) and Mark Victory, ICIS senior editor for Europe recycled polyethylene (R-PE) and polypropylene (R-PP).

Podcast interview by Will Beacham

The coronavirus pandemic continues to take a toll on urea prices, which have lost 20% of their value since mid-March.

A prilled urea sale in Russia has been concluded below $200/tonne FOB, breaking the level for the first time in three years.

ICIS editors Julia Meehan and Deepika Thapliyal discuss how buyers are careful to plan ahead and how much more pain there could be in store for producers.

Welcome to this special ICIS chemicals podcast where we hear from our European customer and editorial advisory board about the challenges their organisations or sectors have faced because of coronavirus.

We also discuss how the world might look different as we emerge from the lockdowns, and how the industry can prepare for this new post-virus reality.

The board meets once a year to discuss market trends and advice ICIS on its strategic development. Its members include senior figures from the world of chemical production, distribution and consulting. They discuss:

- impact of coronavirus so far and through 2020

- Longer-term structural changes to industry and markets

- How the industry can emerge stronger from this period of unprecedented disruption

Listen to this podcast interview with Paolo Cescutti, chief procurement officer at AMB Packaging; Marco Hesselink, senior commercial director, at detergent group Sirius International; Paul Satchell, industry consultant; Paul Hodges, chairman of International eChem; Guenther Eberhard, managing partner at DistriConsult and Dean Curtis, president and CEO of ICIS.

Podcast interview by Will Beacham

Senior Editor Mark Milam discusses the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which this week revealed that the agency is expecting the current corn crop will be sowed on 97m acres, and will result in record setting production, greater amounts of exports and larger ending stocks.

Following weeks of delays the phosphoric acid contract price for Q2 deliveries to India has been settled at an increase which came as a surprise to the market. Senior phosphates editor Sylvia Traganida talks to Deepika Thapliyal about the implications on the phosphates market and the outlook for the coming months.