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.
A Different Kind of Downturn: Why This Cycle Won’t Simply “Right Itself” 13th March 2025 by John Richardson Here is Slide Three for today. See the other two earlier slides, detailing the New Petrochemicals Landscape
Why Artificial Intelligence Is Not a Dot-Com Bubble Mark II 10th March 2025 by John Richardson IF WE END UP in recession we need to spend more and not less on artificial intelligence