ICIS - chemical podcasts

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's naphtha inventories are rapidly depleting as the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupts crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which around 20% of global crude supply passes.With crude oil exports from the Middle East constrained, naphtha resupply to Asia has tightened sharply. Estimates suggest Asian petrochemical producers are holding just two to three weeks of working inventory, raising concerns that prolonged disruption could trigger run cuts or even major shutdowns if replenishment fails to materialize.In this podcast, ICIS principle analyst Darryl Xu breaks down how the Middle East conflict is constraining naphtha availability to Asia, and the potential downstream impact on steam crackers across the region. US-Iran conflict disrupts Strait of Hormuz, preventing Middle East crude exports Asian producers adjust run rates to manage depleting naphtha inventories Middle East refiners face pressure to export amid limited product containment

The Plastics Recycling Conference has just wrapped up at the end of February in San Diego, California, here is some key insights from the event. Podcast hosted by Senior Analyst Corbin Olson, joined by analyst team lead Andrea Bassetti and analyst Joshua Dill. Key topics covered include: - Shifts in supply and demand for recycled plastics - Impacts of imported recycled plastics on the domestic market- Insights into the pricing dynamics in the US plastics recycling market

ICIS experts discuss the immediate and longer-term impact of the Middle East conflict with rising prices likely to fuel inflation, hurting downstream demand. -          Crude oil spike cushioned by reserves, “wait and see” attitude-          Duration of war is the key to impact on all commodities-          Oil prices could spike to triple figures, trigger talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz-          Qatari LNG plant is biggest in the world and has been shut down-          Around 20% of global LNG supply has been cut off -          Power, carbon prices see changed dynamics-          Record high sulphur prices may now move even higher-          Other fertilizer prices rising, urea faces particular challenges-          Supply shock ahead of planting season will pressure farmers-          Food prices likely to rise-          Chemical producers may struggle to pass on price hikes, pressuring margins-          Lack of Middle East chemicals and feedstocks already hurting Asia, may impact Europe-          Europe chemicals could gain if local customers return to more local sourcing during war Navigate to 01:24 for crude oil commentary, 09:43 for natural gas, 17:43 for power, 23:18 for fertilizers and 37:00 for chemicals. In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown, ICIS head of oil markets Ajay Parmar, ICIS gas editor Ed Cox, ICIS power editor Andrea Battaglia, Andy Hemphill and Deepika Thapliyal from the ICIS fertilizer team and Tom  Brown, ICIS Insight editor.  

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Although upstream crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel oil (PKO) costs have risen in Asia, oleochemicals buyers are adopting a cautious stance, having largely stocked up prior to the Chinese New Year in mid-February, and are not under pressure to lock in near term shipments.The overlying sentiment is one where the oleochemicals prices will be under upward pressure regardless of whether demand is strong enough to support the price hikes, given the compressed margins from escalating upstream costs and spike in freight costs.In this podcast, ICIS senior editor Helen Yan breaks down the impact of the Iran war and escalating military conflict in the Middle East on the Asian oleochemicals markets. Upstream CPO, PKO prices have risen amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East Glycerine, fatty alcohols mid-cuts C12-14 spot prices revised up on higher upstream CPO, PKO costs Players are monitoring the volatile situation, with buyers largely adopting a prudent stance  

SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Asia’s base oils market is in a period of adjustment, with narrowing light–heavy grade spreads, rising regional supply and evolving trade relationships reshaping sentiment. Heavy-grade premiums in Group II have sharply corrected, while upcoming turnarounds may lend short-term support to lighter grades. New capacities across Singapore, India and Saudi Arabia are set to heighten competition, alongside China’s growing export ambitions and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Meanwhile, discussions around a potential US–India trade deal and India’s expanding crude sourcing options add further uncertainty to future cost structures and import flows.In this chemical podcast, ICIS editors Michelle Liew and Olivia Dai break down key takeaways from the 30th ICIS World Base Oils & Lubricants Conference and discuss how capacity expansion, changing trade patterns and policy developments are shaping the outlook for Asia’s base oils market. Light–heavy grade spreads in Group II narrow sharply New capacities in Singapore, India and Saudi Arabia expected to intensify competition China’s structural export growth and evolving US–India trade relations to influence future trade flows

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have largely been driven by supply factors and upstream movements, as underlying demand remains subdued on continued wider economic weakness and geopolitical tensions.Oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate reporter, Marion Boakye,  joins acrylate esters editor, Mathew Jolin-Beech, and glycol ethers editor, Cameron Birch, to discuss current conditions along the oxo-alcohols value chain.

Join Mark Victory, Senior Editor, Recycling at ICIS as he asks Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and president of industry association Chemical Recycling Europe, and Egor Dementev, ICIS EMEA recycling analytics team lead about mass balance accounting and the future of the chemical recycling industry following the publishing of the  Single Use Plastic Directive implementing act.Key topics covered include: Mass balance accounting rules and how the final version differs from the draft SUPD implementing act The role of competition with other circular plastic routes and how it might shape chemical recycling's future What success looks like for chemical recycling in 2026 ICIS assesses more than 100 grades throughout the circular plastic value chain globally – from waste bales through to pellets. This includes recycled polyethylene (R-PE), recycled PET (R-PET), R-PP, mixed plastic waste, agglomerates, pyrolysis oil and bio-naphtha.  For more information on ICIS’ recycled plastic products, please contact the ICIS recycling team at recycling@icis.com

The UK chemical industry needs more swift and powerful regulatory support to save it from further erosion as production falls by more than half compared to 2021 levels. -          25 UK chemicals closures since 2021, country now only has one cracker-          Massive social impact of closures, often in deprived areas-          UK no longer produces some critical chemicals-          Lost UK chemical production could reach 55-60% from 2021 levels-          UK needs much more powerful government policy shift to save industry-          UK chemicals sees toughest business environment for many years-          Slight pick up expected in 2026-          For 2026, chemicals output forecast to contract in US, tepid growth in Europe, China-          India forecast 7% in chemicals output for 2026-          More protection needed against China, which has moved up the chemicals value chain and subsidises productionIn this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Stephen Elliott, CEO of the UK Chemical Industries Association and ICIS market development director John Richardson.

LONDON (ICIS)--European ammonia and acrylonitrile (ACN) players are facing supply and demand challenges while regulatory changes, including the recently enforced carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), are further complicating the market picture. In this podcast, European ACN editor Nicole Simpson speaks to global ammonia editor Sylvia Tranganida about the likely outlook for the markets. ·       European ACN market operating at reduced rates as European industry in decline·       Russian ACN imports virtually gone following new EU sanctions in December ·       China’s ACN overcapacity is growing but infrastructure for exports is lacking ·       ACN demand set to remain soft, well served by existing contracts ·       CBAM creating discontent in ammonia market ·       Ammonia imports into Europe slowing after CBAM enforced·       Tight supply in global ammonia market ·       Natural gas supply a concern for ammonia players ·       Ammonia demand set to pick up in spring for seasonal reasons

Matt Tudball, Senior Editor, Recycling talks to Carolina Perujo Holland, Senior Analyst Plastics Recycling for EMEA, and Salmon Aidan Lee, Principle for Recycled and Virgin Polyesters in Asia about their highlights from the 2026 PETCORE Europe Annual Conference. The event took place on 5-6 February in Rome, with a packed audience covering both the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (rPET) markets, and much more. Highlights include:  Global PET and polyester overcapacity Recycling as both challenge and opportunity  EU regulation and uncertainty  Imports and trade impacts  Emerging sustainability drivers across markets  Rapid developments in Asia’s recycling landscape