The oil price has rallied 22% over the past 4 months, since it bottomed at $74/bbl. And slowly but surely, traders are being forced to realise that geopolitics are replacing economics as the key driver for world markets.
Chemicals and the Economy
Risks mount for US ethylene exports
Future Winners in today’s New Normal world will be those companies that realise that the key question is no longer, “Do we have low-cost supply?” It is instead “Do we have a customer who is willing and able to buy from us”.
Western automakers face a race to catch up as Chinese EVs arrive
Automakers have very little time – maybe as little as 5 years – to reposition themselves to meet today’s market needs. They need to develop an integrated EV supply chain. And they also need to follow Stellantis’ lead and go back to selling affordable cars costing €25k.
Rethinking, repositioning and restructuring are now essential for industry survival
Resilience requires companies to refocus downstream and diversify their portfolio. They also need to be clear about the value proposition for their target market – are they providing Value, or Luxury? Rethinking, repositioning and restructuring are now all key to survival and future profit.
The energy transition powers ahead, as Electric Vehicle (EV) sales continue to ramp up
The mobility market is repeating the transformation seen a century ago when cars replaced stagecoaches. Autos are the world’s largest manufacturing industry, employing millions of people directly and in supply chains. Those companies that learn to ride the wave will likely be very successful for years to come.
Demographics are destiny: today’s ageing populations creating “replacement economy”
Demographics are taking demand patterns in completely new directions. Sustaining future growth now depends on successfully developing and implementing new policies, focused on the opportunities offered by the emergence of the Perennials 55+ cohort. Demographics are taking demand patterns in completely new directions. Sustaining future growth now depends on successfully developing and implementing new policies, focused on the opportunities offered by the emergence of the Perennials 55+ cohort.
Middle-Income countries face a real risk of “growing old before they become rich”
China and most Middle-Income countries seem destined to grow old before they become rich. As Pew Foundation data shows, China had just 23m people who earned more than $50/day in $2011. India has only 2m.
COP 28 needs to see words translated into action, as carbon emissions have to peak in 2025
“Every year of the baby steps we’ve been taking up to this point means that we need to be taking bigger leaps with each following year, if we are to stay in this race. The science is absolutely clear.”
Q3 smartphone market confirms need to build Services revenue as consumer sales slow
The smartphone market highlights how companies are responding very differently to the economic slowdown. Samsung is adding features such as ‘foldables’. But Apple is building services business to provide annuity revenue for the future.
Asia’s debt crisis starts to approach its endgame as the yen continues to tumble
Last week, the Japanese yen fell through the US$ : ¥150 level for the first time since 1990. It has now fallen by nearly 50% against the US$ in the past two years. The currency is behaving as if Japan were a 3rd world country – whereas it is actually the 3rd largest economy in the world. Clearly, something is very wrong.
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