The Chancery Hall, Pride Plaza Hotel
Petrochemical markets have been buffeted for several years by extremely strong forces including: COVID related trends, logistics constraints, energy price volatility, and geopolitical upheaval. 2023 begins with pessimistic expectations for key global economies, continued energy and political uncertainty, and overcapacity in many significant chemical markets. At the same time, the industry has been challenged to become more sustainable. Overcoming adverse market conditions, addressing decarbonization and plastics circularity while continuing to deliver shareholder value are the industry’s defining challenges.
Unprecedented olefin capacity additions have led to global oversupply, particularly in Asia. While low-cost producers are expected to be in a better position to handle trough market conditions, all regions are expected to see depressed margins for an extended period of time. The key questions will be how long the downcycle will last in each ethylene and propylene market, how the market will react during the duration of the downcycle, and how the market will restructure. These topics and more will be discussed.
Current methanol feedstocks are almost exclusively natural gas and Chinese coal. Demand growth in the last ten years has been largely driven by MTO, with strong fuel growth. But with growth into fuels and MTO declining, future demand will be driven more by traditional chemical derivatives, with methanol into marine fuel a wildcard. The industry is now beginning its decarbonization journey, with some consumers looking to purchase green, not grey methanol. Chemical Market Analytics will look at the likely evolution of the methanol industry over the next decade, and the implications for pricing, supply-demand, trade, and the types of companies participating in the market.
Moderator: Dewey Johnson, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Chemical Market Analytics
Global Polyolefins business is battling unprecedented macroeconomic challenges. Weak demand recovery in China, geopolitics leading to high energy prices, supply chain dynamics, and Stagflation are just a few of these factors affecting demand for polyolefins. Unprecedented polyolefin capacity additions are further exacerbating the supply–demand chasm. We will discuss the impact of these dynamics on new capacity additions, short to medium-term supply, demand outlook, cost, price, and margins.
Chlor-vinyls capacity overbuild translated to generally poor industry returns in the first two decades of this century. However, the capacity tide has changed. While some petrochemicals are facing near-term excess capacity challenges, chlor-vinyls demand roared back after the COVID recession, revealing that demand had fundamentally grown into the previous excess capacity and elevating returns to re-investment levels. But the party was short-lived in some parts of the globe as the twin demons of high energy costs and inflation-induced interest rate hikes attacked European electricity prices and global construction demand, respectively. This discussion will explore the near- and mid-term projections for the global chlor-alkali and vinyls industries, with commentary on special considerations by region that are expected to steer the course of these two related markets as they power through the challenges of a potential new recession
Aromatics products directly impact the costs, margins, and supply-demand positions of multiple downstream industries such as styrenics, nylon, polyester, polyurethanes, and phenolics. As the global gasoline market comes off the back of a strong 2022, will 2023 be similarly strong and how will it affect aromatics feedstock availability in the short, medium, and long term? With additional new capacities coming up in mainland China, how will the China demand recovery story pan out for downstream derivatives and what will this mean towards self-sufficiency for the largest market in Asia today?
Moderator: Dewey Johnson, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Chemical Market Analytics
Senior Vice President, Global Head of Chemical Market Analytics
Read BioVice President, Global Syngas Team Lead | Americas Acetyls Lead
Read BioAssociate Director, Asia Vinyls
Read BioVice President, Asia Aromatics | Global Polyurethane Feedstocks | Polyester Fibers & Feedstocks | Polyester Stream
Read BioDirector, APAC Ethylene & Propylene
Read BioExecutive Director, Asia Plastics & Polymer
Read Bio
