There is “shed loads happening” in Asia’s polymers world, in the words of John Richardson, ICIS senior consultant, from China’s huge supply growth, to the real estate bubble bursting, and disappointing hopes for a post-Lunar New Year recovery.This is feeding into global trends, and this week we spotlight the effects of this on the Africa market with editor Ben Lake. Plus, Europe’s PE and PP markets are struggling in what should be their boom months. Ben and John join senior editor for Europe, Vicky Ellis, to discuss whether there are any areas for optimism, and how long the markets could be in the doldrums.

Episode 999: PE, PP face knock-on effect of China's disappointing recovery in Africa, Europe

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LONDON (ICIS)—Supply down the oxo-alcohols value chain has improved as OQ Chemicals has restarted production and some Asian imports are available. Across markets, demand continues to be subdued by economic pressures and there has been little seasonal improvement. Oxo-alcohols market editor Nicole Simpson speaks to butyl acetate (butac) editor Marion Boakye, acrylate esters editor, Mathew Jolin Beech, and propylene glycol ethers editor, Cameron Birch, about the current conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.

Episode 1188: Supply improving down Europe oxo-alcohols chain

SEOUL (ICIS)--In this podcast, ICIS markets editor Josh Quah shares an update on the ethylene (C2) market in Asia based on discussions during the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) 2024.S Korea Jun cracker run rates may see some downward adjustment, though unlikely to be significantJul arrival demand uncertain amid turnarounds, some recovering marginsC2 export allocations to hinge on polymer profitabilityAPIC 2024 is being held in Seoul, South Korea, from 30-31 May.

Episode 1188: APIC ’24: PODCAST: Asia ethylene Jun supply, demand likely stable

The soda ash market narrative reminds one of Dickens' A tale of two cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times [...]we had everything before us, we had nothing before us."From the vertiginous highs of the post-pandemic boom to the slumbers brought in by high borrowing costs, soda ash players are navigating rougher seas with lows elongated compared to typical cyclical troughs and highs that had exhausted anyone involved in selling the molecule for over two years. Likewise, the promises of a boom in consumption via the lithium carbonate to support lithium ion battery-run electric vehicles is also tempered by the idea that global oversupply could through the molecule back into the depressed mode and low margin era it has known for decades.Demand from the from the all-important flat glass applications servicing the construction and auto industries have stabilised after a year-long slow decline and is likely to remain slower in H2.Regionalism is at all time highs. And Supply from China is once again in the line of mire.ICIS soda ash editors Anne-Sophie Briant-Vaghela from Europe, Helen Lee from Asia, and Bill Bowen from the US talk about the changing market conditions as China switches from net exporter to net importer in Q1-Q2. 

Episode 1187: Soda ash markets adapts to a competitive landscape amid a tumultuous US-China relationship and uneven demand trends

Chemical distributors are seeing signs of a sequential improvement in demand, but increasing geopolitical volatility threatens any recovery, according to the head of trade group Fecc. -          Sequential improvement in demand, destocking winds down-          Red Sea disruption highlights continuing fragility of supply chains-          Geopolitics creates growing instability and volatility -          Europe chemicals need political support -          Permitting needs to speed up to enable low carbon energy transfer-          South Korea chemicals under intense pressure to consolidateClick here to download the 2024 ICIS Top 100 Chemical Distributors In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Dorothee Arns, Director General of Fecc (European Association of Chemical Distributors), ICIS Senior Consultant Asia John Richardson and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting. 

Episode 1186: Think Tank: Distributors see improving demand, increasing volatility a threat

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Recycled polymers markets in Asia faced different market dynamics, driven by various factors like additional capacities, inflationary pressures and support from downstream demand.Asia R-PET trade to gain support from new extrusion capacities within Asia and long-haul marketsAsia R-PE to continue to perform poorly in H2 in line with cheaper virgin PE prices and inflationary pressure which impacts finished goods demandUptake from the automotive sector lends support to Asia R-PP, with trade expected to be moderate until end of the yearIn this podcast, Asia recycling editor Arianne Perez discusses trends in the market as well as what lies ahead.

Episode 999: PE, PP face knock-on effect of China's disappointing recovery in Africa, Europe

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