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China polyolefins 2022 growth and import risks increase
By John Richardson WE HAVE BEEN here before, of course. In April 2020, pessimism abounded about China’s growth prospects that turned out to be
Tag : Asian Chemical Connections
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Ukraine, pandemic, herald major market shifts
Demographics and rising market volatility are leading us into a New Normal world which will see the end of globalization, whilst accelerating the
6 min read
The EU in 2030: How Ukraine-Russia could reshape its chemicals industry and economy
By John Richardson MANY OF US HAVE only known a world of ever-more open borders and rapidly growing consumption of all the stuff made from
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New global LLDPE demand scenarios in the context of Ukraine-Russia
By John Richardson ONE DAY brings hope, the next day disappointment and rising concerns about the conflict spreading –- and the next day hope
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Prepare for a K-shaped recession with Winners & Losers
Recessions almost always take policymakers by surprise. They are focused on their computer models, and don’t look out of the window to see
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Ukraine-Russia: how the crisis could reshape petrochemicals demand
By John Richardson WHEN CORONAVIRUS first became a pandemic, I flagged- up that government intervention would play a critical role in shaping
6 min read
Ukraine, the global food crisis and implications for polyethylene
THE GLOBAL FOOD crisis is first and foremost a potential humanitarian disaster that must be avoided. But “must” doesn’t mean “will”, of
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Geopolitics have always shaped the petrochemicals industry
By John Richardson THE HEADLINE IN the above slide has always been the case. Why it was forgotten could be because many of us spent most, if not
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IEA issue 10-point plan to cut oil demand – and promote Electric Vehicles and recycled plastics
Europe and the USA are now in a ‘proxy war’ with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. We can all hope that it ends quickly, without further
5 min read
European polyethylene and Ukraine: a new set of challenges
By John Richardson A NEW NORMAL for European (PE) markets could be underway, replacing the divided world of the last 10 months, as the chart below
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Global inflation may matter more than China’s latest supply chain disruptions
By John Richardson Summary of today’s key points IF THE REPORTED new problems at Yantian container port –- the third largest in the world –-
4 min read
China polyolefins: several years of history pass in just one week
LAST WEEK I challenged whether the longstanding “put option” for petrochemicals companies and investors would still apply to China 2022. The put
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Automakers, governments, start to prepare for the launch of Autonomous Vehicles
A wave of innovation is now underway in Electric Vehicles (EVs) as discussed last month. But they are really just a stepping-stone to Autonomous
7 min read
European polyethylene: Ukraine and the supply risks
By John Richardson SECURITY OF SUPPLY is a critical concern for European polyolefins producers and buyers because of the risks of interrupted Russian
6 min read
China’s HDPE market in 2022 will be a litmus test of how well Beijing can manage unprecedented challenges
By John Richardson CHINA’S INCREASING self-sufficiency in high-density polyethylene (HDPE), combined with the potential for slower economic growth,