PODCAST: Chems face demand shock similar to 2008 as coronavirus goes global

BARCELONA (ICIS)–As coronavirus goes global, chemical markets can expect a demand shock similar to the 2008 financial crisis, with the prospects of a recession in the first half of 2020 becoming increasingly likely.

In Europe, however, some chemicals markets have so far benefited from China’s disruption: there is good demand for polyolefins and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), for example, as downstream customers stock up for March ahead of potential disruption in April.

In this podcast, Will Beacham interviews Katherine Sale, ICIS Senior Editor for PMMA, and John Richardson, ICIS Senior Consultant, Asia.