Petrochemicals
European Styrenics at a Crossroads: High Cost, Low Demand, and Environmental Change
The European styrenics industry has navigated turbulent waters for several years now, with high production costs, stiff international competition, sluggish...
Petrochemicals
Reports of the “Death” of Europe’s Chemical Industry are Greatly Exaggerated
With the recent wave of petrochemical plant closures across Europe affecting a significant number of facilities and thousands of jobs,...
Petrochemicals
Is Plastic Facing a Production Cut? Examining the Global Treaty Talks
Plastic. It’s ubiquitous in our lives, from food packaging to medical equipment. However, its convenience comes at an environmental cost:...
Petrochemicals
USGC Polyethylene Exports Set New Record as More Supply Looms
US polyethylene (PE) spot prices finished 2023 flat to 3cts/lb lower than a year earlier as producers increased exports to...
Petrochemicals, Propylene
Polypropylene 2024 Demand Outlook
The US polypropylene (PP) industry was buffeted by weak demand in 2023, and that may well continue in 2024. The...
Petrochemicals
The Changing Face of the European Toluene Contract Price Mechanism
To CP or not to CP – that’s the question. Or is it? Participants in the European toluene market seem...
Petrochemicals
Dow Plaquemine Blast: What We Know
The flames that lit up the night sky at Plaquemine, Louisiana, on July 14, 2023, have died, the fire associated...
Petrochemicals
Asia Remains Key to U.S. Polyethylene Industry’s Export Strategy
US polyethylene producers have a domestic demand problem, with year-to-date sales to North American customers off nearly 9%, according to...
Petrochemicals, Plastics
Earth Month Special Report: Turning Plastic Trash Into a Commodity
Despite efforts to reduce plastic waste, the world’s rubbish pile continues to build.
Petrochemicals, Plastics
Chemical Recycling of Plastic Emerges as Dominant Theme
Chemical recycling, particularly in the U.S., was a dominant theme of the recycled plastics industry in 2022, and it’s creating...
Petrochemicals, Plastics
European Chemicals’ Complicated Relationship with its Benzene CP Window
For the European benzene market, perhaps only the football World Cup (which most of us have been watching on our...
Petrochemicals, Plastics
The Circuitous Route of the Global Styrene Chain
The world party of the styrenics chain of late has seen benzene traveling from Europe to the US and polystyrene...
Ethylene, Petrochemicals
Enterprise Ethylene Futures Contract Opens on CME; Hub Links to Global Market
We can’t see into exactly what the future holds for US ethylene, but ethylene futures are now tradable at two...
Ethylene, Petrochemicals
Discussion with Enterprise Products co-CEO Jim Teague about Historic Moment for US Gulf Coast Ethylene and Exports
The year 2020 was significant in the evolution of the US Gulf Coast ethylene market due to the opening of...
Ethylene, Petrochemicals, Propylene
US Ethylene & Propylene Supply Chain Rebounds After a Shaky Few Months
Our last blogpost in early April ended on a deeply uncertain note. Lockdowns in the US had just begun a...
Petrochemicals, Spot Market
Polyethylene Exports & the U.S. & China Trade War
The U.S. polyethylene (PE) industry has spent massive resources during the past decade to capitalize on abundant, low-cost raw materials...
Petrochemicals, Spot Market
U.S. Ethylene Prices in Q2 2019: Where Have All the Traders Gone?
Ethylene prices are having a tough year. Trading liquidity has dried up in a market that has shed 30% of...
Petrochemicals, Spot Market
U.S. Ethylene Prices in Q1 2019: Less-Than-Happy New Year
As yet, the year 2019 has not provided much in the way of a Happy New Year for ethylene sellers....
Petrochemicals, Spot Market
Petrochemicals 101: The In’s & Out’s of the ‘Enes
The building blocks of the petrochemical world often take a back seat to the stars of the energy and manufacturing world. Let’s give...