THERE ARE TWO scenarios or roads down which the petrochemicals industry could travel over the next ten years, with arrival either at Supermajors or Deglobalisation.
Asian Chemical Connections
The scale of plans to turn oil into petrochemicals may radically reshape this industry
A petrochemicals world dominated by Supermajors, especially those running COTC plants, or one where greater regional cooperation (more on this in later posts) and increased protectionism allow older, smaller and less carbon efficient plants to survive.
The “National Champions” in the New Petrochemicals Landscape
SHORT-TERM tactics should involve maximising returns within regions along with a greater focus on exports anywhere in the world
Why the rest of the developing world cannot follow in China’s growth footsteps
The developing world outside China cannot repeat China’s economic growth model because of climate change, ageing populations in the West and sustainability
A fundamental shift in thinking on petrochemical plant closures
Environmental, social and political factors – along with integration into upstream petrochemicals – have held back plant closures. Now, things seems very different.
Details of how Saudi Aramco COTC and other advantaged feedstock projects could redraw the petrochemicals map
There is a big new wave of lower-carbon and very advantaged cracker projects on the way, including Saudi Aramco’s crude-oil-to-chemicals investments.
The China and global PP downturns mean CEOs should be asked some tough questions
HOW many PP company CEOs saw this coming, and what their plan now?
Overstocking may have boosted China PE demand as the US continues to win while others lose
THE US gains $296m in China HDPE sales as Asian and Middle East exporters lose $1.4bn.
China PP demand looks set to grow by just 1% in 2023 as sales losses increase
CHINA’S PP demand could grow by only 1% this year, while major producers saw their January-August 2023 sales in China decline by $796m versus the same months last year.
China PE demand continues to disappoint as real-estate woes persist
CHINA’S polyethylene demand growth in 2023 looks set to be flat over last year versus earlier forecasts of a 1.7m tonnes increase.