ICIS Market Expert Blogs

Read our chemical and energy experts’ latest assessment of the market

Asian Chemical Connections

John Richardson’s Asian Chemicals Connections looks at Asian and global commodity chemicals and polymer pricing trends, supply and demand, macroeconomics, energy and environmental issues.

From Property Bust to Tech Boom: Is China Trading One Bubble for Another?
26th June 2025

Are we in the midst of another Chinese investment bubble, this time centred on high-tech?

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Three scenarios for the Israel-Iran crisis and the impact on the global economy
16th June 2025

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 thu

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Asia’s grim polyethylene margins yet to be made worse by the trade war
11th June 2025

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

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Why an Ageing World Doesn’t Automatically Mean Lower Chemicals Demand Growth
9th June 2025

AN AGEING GLOBAL population doesn't necessarily mean lower chemicals demand growth

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Chemicals and the Economy

Guest blogger, Paul Hodges looks behind today's headlines and studies key influencers shaping the chemical industry over the next 12-18 months. He takes a closer look at oil prices, economic growth and the environment among other things, along with some light-hearted commentary along the way.

Middle East and Ukraine wars add to trade war risks for the global economy
22nd June 2025

It would seem prudent to plan for further escalation of the military and trade wars in H2. Countries will likely continue to join trading blocs to cou

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Chemicals hit as Trump’s Tariff War becomes a Trade War
15th June 2025

The key issue is that geopolitics have now replaced economics as the key driver for decisions. We are going back to the world of the Cold War before t

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Robotaxis take to the road in China, the US and now Europe
8th June 2025

Major paradigm shifts are never easy. Tesla's example shows how even well-funded start-ups can lose the plot. But the benefits of robotaxis are very r

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President Trump’s Tariff War risks a new Depression – stock markets instead focus on Bitcoin
1st June 2025

Roman Emperors used to distract people with "bread and circuses". Today, it seems Bitcoin is playing this role. The Tariff War is at major risk of rep

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