Asian Chemical Connections

Three scenarios for the Israel-Iran crisis and the impact on the global economy

16th June 2025 by John Richardson

HERE ARE THREE initial scenarios (and of course events are moving rapidly) about what the Israel-Iran crisis could mean for the global economy and thus petrochemicals

Asia’s grim polyethylene margins yet to be made worse by the trade war

11th June 2025 by John Richardson

THE TRADE WAR has yet to make Asian polyethylene margins any worse. But they were already awful.

The Illusion of Free Markets in Petrochemicals

4th June 2025 by John Richardson

THE TRADE WAR is just the latest of non-plant specific and broader factors that drive the petrochemicals industry

Ageing populations, chemicals demand and the broader picture

29th May 2025 by John Richardson

We need new models for forecasting chemicals demand growth

Trade war or no trade war, these are the market fundamentals that won’t change

26th May 2025 by John Richardson

THE TRADE WAR, whether it continues or goes away, won’t change the market fundamentals

As the new realities sink, petchems search for a new business model

23rd May 2025 by John Richardson

DELEGATES at this year’s Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference in Bangkok recognised the demand crisis resulting from demographics

Chaos, confusion and tariffs: New ways needed to analyse chemicals markets

10th April 2025 by John Richardson

THE old “you lose I win” world of tariffs no longer applies

US LLDPE exports, trade tensions and the $6.8bn dollar question

1st April 2025 by John Richardson

US LLDPE exporters made big gains in January 2022 until January 2025 thanks to their cost advantages and China’s lower import tariffs.

South Korea PP: Innovating Through Crisis and Charting a New Future

26th March 2025 by John Richardson

The short and medium-term challenges

China stimulus: Short-term benefits versus long-term challenges

21st March 2025 by John Richardson

STIMULUS measures announced at this year’s NPC meeting have yet to move the needle.

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