Negotiations on annual contracts are under way for many in the plastics supply chain, and the market conditions looming over the bargain table have rarely been as complex and vexing. After a year of ever-increasing resin prices on the back of strong demand and the potent cocktail of supply and logistics issues, diverging market pictures […]
Chemical Connections
Market danger set to lurk in the Gulf
Time to keep a watchful eye on the Gulf of Mexico. Apropos of the approaching peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, there is growing chatter among meteorologists about the possibility of a significant storm building in the southern Gulf’s Bay of Campeche by early next week, with the possibility that this could evolve into a […]
Chemical, resin plants may be hurricane-ready, but markets are not
Forecasters of this year’s hurricane season expect above-normal activity, and so far that seems on point with the naming this week of the Atlantic’s fourth tropical system. The active start also should bring to mind the precarious state commodity chemical markets and their participants find themselves in right now. Should the Texas-Louisiana coast not navigate […]
Narrow benzene spread displays level of downstream woes
What should purchasing managers of benzene derivatives look for when analysing its spread with crude oil? An argument can be made that no monomer chain has been thrust into the doldrums from the pandemic more than the benzene chain. Yes, there are pockets of demand for polycarbonate (PC) for use as a clear barrier and […]
Jump to page: