Chemical Week

With the World Petrochemical Conference by S&P Global getting underway in Houston, join Chemical Week editors Clay Boswell, Mark Thomas and Vincent Valk for a special episode on key trends for the petrochemicals sector in 2024 and what to watch out for at WPC. Topics the outlook for demand and margins, the diverging fortunes of the European and American industry, and why Asia can attract investment despite subpar economics.

Irene Tasi, senior vice president/global industrials at PPG, joins the podcast for a discussion of the evolving role of women and state of gender equality in the chemicals industry. Topics include what the industry can to do attract and retain women, how the industry can be a home for people with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, and what work still needs to be done to advance equality.

Jennifer Abril, president and CEO of Socma, the US trade association for specialty and custom chemical makers, joins the podcast to discuss how the year is looking for companies in the sector. Topics include a topsy-turvy 2023, the likely end of destocking, interest in AI, and Socma's advocacy agenda for 2024. This episode was recorded live at the Socma Show 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. on February 20.

S&P Global Commodity Insights vice president Mark Morgan and executive director Karine Boccara, lead authors of recent report on sustainable chemicals, join the podcast to to discuss advances in sustainble chemicals. Topics include the role of chemical recycling in sustainability and the challenges - and opportunities - in creating chemical building blocks from renewable or biobased feedstocks. To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strategic Reports, including the report on sustainable chemicals, click or tap here. If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll get a lot of out of the 2024 World Petrochemical Conference. Register here.

In the first episode of an occasional series on recycling and sustainability, S&P Global Commodity Insights global sustainable editor lead Heng Hui and European chemicals analyst Iris Poon join host Abdulaziz Ehtaiba to discuss the outlook for recycled polymer markets, with a particular focus on geographic differences, regulation, and price dynamics. If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll get a lot out of the 2024 World Petrochemical Conference. Register here: https://bit.ly/WPC2024pod

Chemical industry experts discuss oversupply challenges, China's polymer capacity, and high interest rates. Insights on economic forecasts, energy transition, and shifting to renewable energy post-COP 28.

Karim Engelmark-Cassimjee, CEO and co-founder of green chemistry start-up EnginZyme, joins the podcast to discuss the promise and pitfalls of biomanufacturing processes, and the company's advances in biobased catalysts and vaccine ingredients.

Sameer Bharadwaj, CEO of Orbia, joind S&P Global Commodity Insights' polymers lead Kristen Hays to discuss Orbia's transition to a global player focused on sustainability, as well as the longer-term outlook for PVC markets.

With growing demand for recycled plastics and investment in recycling ramping up, what does the future hold for plastics circularity? Bertan Enhos, exeuctive director/chemical consulting at S&P Global Commodity Insights and lead author of a recent report on plastics circularity, joins the podcast to discuss the state of plastic recycling, the promise of chemical recycling technology, and hurdles to developing a circular plastics supply chain. To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strategic Reports, including the report on plastics recycling, click or tap here.

Chemical Week editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt and senior editor Vincent Valk discuss third quarter results and what they imply for the industry's outlook. Topics include whether destocking could be coming to an end, if demand is bottoming out, the operating environment in Europe and recovery in China.