Today I complete my series of posts on China’s polyolefins markets in 2021 with outlooks for 2022. This post focuses on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), following my earlier posts on polypropylene (PP), high-density PE (HDPE) and linear low-density PE (LLDPE). By John Richardson DO YOU want the good news or the bad news first? This is […]
Asian Chemical Connections
Carbon and plastic waste: sorting workable solutions from the confusion and complexity
By John Richardson THE GREAT NEWS, as I discussed last month, is that the more 100 countries, including the US, are thought to favour a treaty being proposed at the next UN Environment Assembly that would set targets for reducing plastic waste in the environment. A date in has now been set for the meeting […]
China’s LLDPE market: final review for 2021 and further outlook for this year
China’s LLDPE demand grew by just 1% last year, below market expectations, with further 2022 downward pressure likely on Common Prosperity and Zero COVID
Calling all petchem C-suites: Key summary of China risks and opportunities
By John Richardson AS ALL THE CLAMOUR builds about inflation and rising energy costs – and absolutely, of course, these are major challenges which I shalll address in later posts – there’s a danger the petrochemicals industry will lose focus on charts such as the one above, courtesy of the pH Report. I am still […]
China HDPE: Final review of 2021 and a further outlook for this year
Following on from my final review of China’s polypropylene (PP) markets in 2021 , along with a further outlook for the rest of this year, see below the same for high-density polyethylene (HDPE). I will complete the picture with reviews and outlooks for linear-low density PE (LLDPE) and low-density PE (LDPE) next week. By John […]
China PP in 2021: final review and further outlook for this year
By John Richardson The first point to make as I write a final review of China’s polypropylene (PP) market in 2021 – also including a further outlook for the rest of this year – is that ICIS supply and demand and trade data is pure gold dust. The data inform commercial decisions that can save […]
Global polymers and sustainability: how the industry could change over the next decade
By John Richardson MORE THAN 100 countries, including the US, are thought to favour a treaty being proposed at the next UN Environment Assembly in February and March that would set targets for reducing plastic waste in the environment, according to the BBC. I see this as great news, a step forward, as I was […]
New supply chain problems prolong the big HDPE divide as imbalances build
By John Richardson WHEN POLYETHYLENE (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets become truly global again remains anyone’s guess. But what’s clear in my view is that rebalancing must take place at some point, The chart below, using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) margins as an example, illustrates the extent of the disconnect between different regions. The chart shows […]
Why China’s PP demand may only grow by 1% per year in 2022-2032
By John Richardson MOST people now accept that China’s real estate sector, worth some 29% of the country’s GDP, is deflating with significant long-term implications for petrochemicals growth. But because China’s GDP growth is very likely to still grow and because China’ existing demand is already so big the common view is that there is […]
European and US LLDPE margins may in 2022 sink towards northeast Asian levels
By John Richardson A GOOD FRIEND and contact messaged me this week to say, “Wow, this is complicated”. Yes, I am afraid so. These are the most difficult-to-read polyolefins markets I can recall in my 25 years of following the industry. I don’t see forecasting outcomes for this year becoming any easier. But, using linear […]
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