ICIS - chemical podcasts

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets continue to digest geopolitical developments regarding shifting dynamics in the Persian Gulf and the price correction lower across many feedstock markets of late. Uncertainty remains high but bearish price sentiment has been growing as availability concerns fade and demand expectations into the summer months remain relatively subdued. End users continue to exhibit caution regarding purchasing trends under the belief that prices may ease further into Q3 and beyond.Glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye, acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech and oxo alcohols analyst Gawaine Preston about current market conditions and expectations for the near future.

As the global chemical industry moves towards a more regional business model, Velogy – the new company carved out of former LyondellBasell assets – will be able to serve European customers from within Europe. Customers increasingly want to take “Europe for Europe” approach to ensure security of supply Chemical industry is moving from global to regional structure, and this will help Velogy in an oversupplied world Action needed at EU and national level to protect Europe chemicals and industrial backbone from subsidised imports Being a mid-sized €2.5 billion sales company allows Velogy to act fast Strong balance, without debt, gives Velogy a head start Adding SABIC assets will increase sales to around €8 billion SABIC acquisition expected to close in Q4 2026 Parent group AEQUITA is not a typical private equity fund with investors expecting an exit/return within a few years Five partners own the group, with experience in troubled industrial sectors such as automotive After SABIC assets are added there are no plans for closures, but some cost savings in central functions possible In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Richard Roudeix, CEO of Velogy and Robert Roiger, Chief Transformation Officer at Velogy and Chief Operating Officer at AEQUITA.

As the war in the Middle East pushed up energy costs in Europe, politicians in Brussels have sprung into action on moves to improve chemical industry competitiveness. Iran war pushed EU to accelerate moves on cutting energy costs Now up to member states to implement cost cutting measures Positive moves on Emissions Trading System (ETS) Fast-tracking for anti-dumping duties (ADDs) is welcome Brussels has finally moved from words to action Update to Reach regulation has been halted New ETS structure to be revealed on July 15. Force majeure option would be welcome War effect will last throughout 2026 and likely into 2027 Companies in Europe are delaying maintenance as demand has risen Customers and producers are rethinking 100% globalised business models, seek to make supply chains more robust Northern China can access Russian crude, South more reliant on Middle East Expect slump in consumer spending, rising rates of savings in Europe, demand destruction later in the year Permanent plant closures, M&A is creating a strong European industry AEQUITA, Borouge International, Moeve-Galp merger will create Europe-based powerhouses In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Cefic director general Marco Mensink and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- China’s polyethylene (PE) producers are increasingly exploring Southeast Asia (SEA) as an export destination as domestic market fundamentals shift and pressure builds at home.China has traditionally not been a net exporter of PE, but weakening domestic demand and limited ability to clear material domestically are prompting producers to look overseas, with SEA increasingly viewed as a potential growth market.Polypropylene (PP) producers in China and SEA are facing similar challenges, struggling to pass on higher costs as end users have so far resisted price increases in April. While some market participants expect greater acceptance of higher prices from June onwards, converters are considering run rate reductions if margin pressure persists.In this podcast, Senior Editors Izham Ahmad and Jackie Wong discuss evolving supply‑side strategies, demand conditions following an earlier wave of panic buying, and expectations for potential demand easing in the near term. Depleting inventories by end‑May may mark a turning point for demand recovery Shipping constraints and geopolitical risks sharpen focus on shorter‑haul, lower‑risk cargoes Downstream uptake slows after panic buying, market players flag potential demand easing

With the Iran war now in its eighth week, we can expect more serious consequences for chemicals from rising inflation, demand destruction and a prolonged post-war recovery period. - 43 force majeures in Middle East and Asia, Europe prices hitting record highs- Sanctioned Russian and Iranian crude oil stored on ships is nearly depleted, exposing markets to greater shortages - 5-10% of global oil and gas supply is unavailable- Prepare for demand destruction as global economy adapts to shortages- Food price inflation likely to hurt poorer nations most, but all economies will suffer- Inflation may spike to 5-10% as supply shortages impact downstream consumer marketsIn this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

In the latest episode of the ICIS Sustainably Speaking podcast, PETCORE Europe’s Jose‑Antonio Alarcón talks to Matt Tudball, ICIS Senior Editor, Recycling, why PET thermoform recycling remains significantly behind bottle recycling and what must change as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) approaches. He outlines efforts to move from theory to real‑world compliance, including tray‑to‑tray recycling demonstrators and the development of functional barrier technologies under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616. Alarcón also warns that progress will depend heavily on earlier investment and stronger engagement from packers and retailers, despite growing technological readiness across the recycling value chain.The PETCORE Europe Thermoforms Conference on 18-19 June 2026 in Valencia, Spain.Key topics discussed: PET thermoform recycling lags far behind bottles PPWR demands proven, scalable recycling solutions Tray‑to‑tray recycling is achievable, not theoretical Functional barriers critical for food‑contact approval Packers and retailers remain key bottleneck Early action and enforcement needed to meet targets

Investment in innovation remains critical to the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the chemical industry, despite the current geopolitical chaos and challenging macroeconomic environment. Innovation is essential for differentiation, long‑term growth and sustainability, not just short‑term commercial success Chemical companies must continue investing in R&D during uncertain periods rather than adopting a “stop‑and‑go” approach Sustainability‑driven innovation is increasingly central to business resilience, customer trust and regulatory compliance Open innovation and partnerships with customers, suppliers, academics and startups are becoming more important than internal R&D alone Digitalisation and AI can help structure vast amounts of unstructured data and support faster, more informed decision‑making Product‑level carbon transparency and credible sustainability data are emerging as competitive necessities New materials enabling recyclability – such as debondable adhesives – illustrate how innovation can link performance and circularity Shifts away from fossil feedstocks towards recycling, renewable raw materials and CO2 utilisation will accelerate over the next decade Regionalisation of supply chains and circular economy solutions are likely to gain momentum amid geopolitical fragmentation Entering innovation awards helps companies benchmark progress, gain credibility and increase the visibility of their innovations Enter the ICIS Innovation Awards! Deadline 12 June. In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Innovation awards judges Alessia Ielo, global sustainable solutions manager for Brenntag; Denis Bortzmeyer, scientific director for open innovation at Arkema and Eric de Deckere, executive director innovation at Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council).