GACF24 – Day 1

14-15 November 2024 | JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach
Singapore

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Session Details

GACF24 – Day 1

Thursday, November 14
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Bill Hyde, Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS 

Session 1: Global Strategic Outlooks

Ashish Pujari, Vice President, Asia Aromatics & Fibers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The global energy markets have been stressed by geo-political events, logistical bottle necks and ultimately this has resulted in higher price volatility. Economies around the world have also struggled to emerge and escape the shackles of the events of the last few years. Is this the new normal and what can we expect from economies and energy markets globally in the future?
Steve Lewandowski, Vice President, Global Olefins and Derivatives, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
 
William Chen, Executive Director, Asia Olefins and Derivatives, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Slow demand recovery, escalating feedstock costs, and excess capacity are overshadowing olefin production economics in Asia. While North American ethane cracker expansions slow in the coming years, mainland China continues its aggressive capacity expansion. A second wave crackers, alongside numerous on-purpose olefin projects, is currently unfolding. It’s evident that traditional drivers like low self-sufficiency, robust demand growth, or strong margins aren’t behind these expansions. In this key session we will assess the impact of new Asian capacity, against the backdrop of moderate demand growth.  
Lujia Wang, Associate Director, Research & Analysis,OPIS
The session will delve into the evolving carbon markets in the APAC region and their impact on emission-intensive industries, particularly the petrochemical sector. It will examine how various carbon policies, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), are shaping the landscape for producers and exporters. Additionally, the session will provide insights into carbon pricing trends and key cost drivers in the region, addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by petrochemical companies as they adapt to these regulatory shifts.
Moderator: Bill Hyde, Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS 
Make new connections or join familiar faces during this dedicated break. Sessions to resume at 1110.

Session 2: Global Market Impacts

Charlie Powell, Asia Pacific Eco Product Manager, INEOS Styrolution

The ABS industry is facing a glut of new supply in Asia, while elsewhere in the world demand growth has stalled. The insatiable appetite for ABS products post-pandemic has stalled. Is ABS growth set to return, and what does the future look like for producers?

Daniel Siow, Director, Asia Styrenics, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The ABS industry in China is oversupplied, the imbalance between high production and lower than expected demand can lead to reduced prices, excess inventory and financial strain on producers. The focus of this presentation is to recommend strategies to help counter the present crisis towards adapting to changing market conditions and consumer preferences. 
Bill Hyde, Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Nitrile Rubber and Nitrile Latex markets have been higher profile than normal in recent years. However, that is not necessarily a positive development. Nitrile rubber is valued for its high temperature and solvent resistant capability. This makes it attractive for underhood automotive applications. Nitrile latex is primarily used to produce dipped goods, especially exam gloves. Demand for nitrile rubber has been under pressure from weaker automotive production. Demand for nitrile latex surged during the pandemic. However, the future for both is uncertain. In this presentation we will consider the drivers for these two similar yet so different commodities with the intent of helping market participants position themselves for maximum future success.
Brian Lee, Executive Director Asia Benzene & Styrene, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Limited benzene supply due to strong gasoline market, lower cracker operations and reduced PX production amid ongoing benzene derivatives investment in mainland China led to a tight benzene market. In addition, steady import demand from the United States has also supporting benzene prices and pressured economics of major benzene derivatives. The styrene market is suffering from oversupply and negative margins as a result of massive capacity additions added in the last several years. This presentation will explore the short term outlook for the Asian benzene and styrene market. 
Moderator: Ashish Pujari, Vice President, Asia Aromatics & Fibers,Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS 
Sessions to resume at 1400.

Session 3: Acrylonitrile Regional & Industry Perspectives

Kevin Longworth, Executive Director, Global Acrylonitrile, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The global acrylonitrile industry has undergone a significant change in recent history due to shifting demand patterns and growing supply in Asia. Margins have been squeezed along the value chain and companies are having to rethink their long-term strategies. In this presentation we will evaluate the current state of industry, and an outlook for the future.
Zengwei Yin, Principal Research Analyst, China Olefins & Acrylonitrile, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Over the last decade China has been gaining prominence in the acrylonitrile world as both the largest producer and consumer. The pace of capacity additions has accelerated in recent years, while demand has not kept pace. In this presentation we will evaluate the impact of the latest capacity additions, as well as those still in the pipeline for 2025 and beyond. In addition we will review the status of downstream derivative demand, and the current, and future trade expectations in the Asian region.
Carl Roache, Executive Director, Ammonia and Urea, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
This presentation looks at the global ammonia industry landscape and the demand outlook for the main end-use applications, both current and future uses. It analyses the potential for green/blue ammonia and the role ammonia could play in the marine sector. 
Toshihito Kita, General Manager, Acrylonitrile Global Marketing, Asahi Kasei Corporation
Supply in Asia has been added at an unprecedented rate, and this has had consequences in Asia, and beyond. How do producers find their niche and survive in a competitive market space, and what is the outlook for the future?
Moderator: Bill Hyde, Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS 
Make new connections or join familiar faces during this dedicated break. Sessions to resume at 1610.

Session 4: Butadiene Markets

Bill Hyde, Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The global butadiene markets have experienced a great deal of volatility over the past few years. The impact of COVID and its uneven recovery has resulted in some truly unique market conditions. However the pandemic is officially over yet challenging market conditions persist. In this presentation we will consider the short term volatility of the market and how it will transition into calmer conditions in the medium term. However, in the longer term, significant market disruption is in store.
Remko Koster, Executive Director, EMEA C4 Olefins, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Europe has historically been a major exporter of butadiene and butadiene derivatives to Asia and North America, as supply of C4 in Europe from mostly naphtha-fed steam crackers has structurally exceeded domestic demand levels. Global oversupply of ethylene, butadiene, and various other chemicals and polymers following the major capacity expansions in other regions, particularly in mainland China and the United States, is driving rationalization of the European petrochemical industry. As export demand is declining at the same time, the European butadiene industry faces a period of declining demand and decreasing supply. What will happen during the transition from Europe’s role from major global supplier to minor regional player? What will the market balance be after the supply and demand reductions?
William Chen, Executive Director, Asia Olefins and Derivatives, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Synthetic Rubber markets have been under pressure from many sources for a number of years, even before COVID. These commodities are critical for modern day living, yet compressed margins make it difficult for producers to survive.
Anthony Song, Executive Director, APAC C4 & Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Massive butadiene capacity has been already added in Asia, driven by mainland China, more than enough to meet global demand for the next several years. However, capacity additions will continue with the second wave of cracker investments in mainland China as well as several others around the globe. A period of low butadiene margin has already started amid overcapacity in Asia, and the market is more challenging than ever before as the world is looking for destinations for surplus supply. What can be done? Endure a low margin period until conditions improve, but when or even if will that happen? In this presentation, we will navigate through the long term butadiene market in Asia to find the answer.
Moderator: Steve Lewandowski, Vice President, Global Olefins and Derivatives, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
 
Join your fellow attendees, event sponsors and speakers for an evening of cocktails and networking.

 

William Chen, PhD Vice President, Asia Olefins and Derivatives Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

William Chen is the Vice President of the Asia Olefins and Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company. Dr. William Chen is the Vice President of Chemical Market Analytics. He leads Asia Olefins' business and has research responsibilities for providing insight into the dynamics associated with the ethylene, propylene, C4, and derivatives value chain markets. He provides thought leadership on markets relating to supply, demand, price and economics, as well as competitive dynamics and changing industry structural elements. William also leads Asia Olefins' business for strategic growth and provides ongoing commercial management. Focus on nurturing client relationships and deepening services as part of clients’ commercial and strategic decision-making processes. Nurture relationships with clients, including SOEs, POEs and MNCs, to deepen services in clients’ commercial and strategic decision-making processes. William has been involved in many petrochemical consulting projects and client studies, including the China Coal Chemical Study, Global Propane Dehydrogenation Research, and Refinery-cracker/aromatic complex feasibility study. Before Chemical Market Analytics, William worked for ChemChina. William started as a chemical engineer at the company at a Lanzhou fiber plant in Northwest China. Then, he moved back to Beijing to focus on downstream application development. In the last two years with ChemChina, William took charge of sales and marketing responsibility in NE Asia. William earned a Ph.D from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and majored in Polymer Chemistry and Physics. William is based in Beijing, China.

Bill Hyde Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Bill Hyde is the Vice President of Olefins & Elastomers at Chemical Market Analytics. Mr. Hyde is a member of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. He leads a group that analyzes markets related to C4 Olefins, synthetic and natural rubber, and tire raw materials. He has been consulting in this market since 2002. Hyde began his career with the Union Carbide Corporation in 1990, where he had various positions, including production engineering, optimization, planning, and logistics. In 2000, he joined Texas Petrochemicals as a Business Analyst. In 2002, Hyde joined CMAI, which was acquired by IHS in 2011, in the Olefins Consulting Practice, focusing on C4 Olefins and rubber, assuming responsibility for that practice in 2006. The Base Chemicals Group of HIS Markit, which includes the C4 Olefins and Elastomers Practice, was divested to News Corp in June 2022 and became Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. He has published several papers on the Olefins and Elastomers industries and presented at numerous Olefins and Elastomers Conferences worldwide. Hyde has BSc and MSc Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.

Toshihito Kita General Manager, Acrylonitrile Global Marketing Asashi Kasei Corporation

Toshihito Kita is set to take over the global marketing leadership for Acrylonitrile in the Asahi Kasei Group, effective April 2024. His position is based at Tongsuh Petrochemical in Seoul, Korea, which serves as the headquarters for the Acrylonitrile Marketing Department within the group. Mr. Kita began his career at Asahi Kasei in 2000, spending four years in the polyethylene Marketing Department. In 2004, he transitioned to the Acrylonitrile Marketing Department, where he has worked for the past 20 years. His tenure includes three years working on a project team (2011-2014) and five years (2014–2019) as General Manager Marketing at PTT Asahi Chemical Corporation in Thailand. There, he was responsible for the marketing of Acrylonitrile, Methyl methacrylate, and ammonium sulfate. With 25 years of experience spanning polyethylene and acrylonitrile, Mr. Kita is well-versed in the global petrochemical and chemical industries, with significant international experience.

Remko Koster Executive Director, EMEA C4 Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Remko Koster is the Executive Director for C4 olefins and derivatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics.. During his time with the company, he has taken various roles across a broad range of product areas. With over 20 years of experience, Remko is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the C4 and derivatives sector of the petrochemical industry. Within the EMEA region, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil and tire industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Global Tire Type Indices Report’, primary input and insight for the ‘Global C4 Olefins & Elastomers Report’, as well as for the World Butadiene, MTBE, Rubber, and Butylenes analyses. His prior experience includes more than ten years of industrial experience with SABIC, including commercial responsibilities for C4 streams and aromatics and as a global market intelligence leader for polypropylene. Remko joined our company in 2011 as a polyethylene and polypropylene consultant for EMEA, contributing to the ‘Global Plastics & Polymers Report service’ and for World Polyethylene and Polypropylene Analysis. Remko Koster has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Brian Lee Executive Director, Asia Benzene & Styrene Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Brian Lee is the Executive Director for Asia Benzene & Styrene at Chemical Market Analytics. Brian Lee is the research and analysis executive director responsible for the Asian market report of Chemical Market Analytics, focusing on the market analysis of benzene and styrene. He also contributes to various market advisory publications and supports consulting activities. Brian has a distinguished career spanning almost 30 years in the petrochemical industry. Previously, he worked with Argus Dewitt for three years as a vice president covering Asian Aromatics. He contributed to numerous market reports and single client studies and hosted the Asian conference, including speaking. Mr. Lee started his career with Samsung C&T Corporation, working for 16 years in Asia and Europe. He was responsible for trading and marketing benzene, toluene, xylenes (BTX), styrene, paraxylene (PX), and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) to global customers. Mr. Lee holds an MBA from Hanyang Cyber University and a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Hanyang University, South Korea.  

Steve Lewandowski Vice President, Global Olefins & Derivatives Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Lewandowski is the Vice President of Global Olefins & Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics. Based in Houston, Steve Lewandowski is the Vice President - Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, a leading global provider of information, insight and consulting services to the global chemical and petrochemical. During a career spanning 30 + years in the refining and chemical industry, Steve has experience across the spectrum of refining and petrochemical hydrocarbon value chains covering various financial, strategic, technical and commercial roles. Before his move to Chemical Market Analytics, Steve was Senior Manager of Base Chemicals at TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining, Inc. In that capacity, he managed the P&L of the base chemicals business, including joint venture relationships, strategic guidance to the partnerships, plant operational interfaces, project development, and commercial responsibility for olefin and aromatic monomers, including styrene. Before the Base Chemical Senior Manager role, Steve had increasing responsibilities within the Petrochemical business at TOTAL. The latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels, Belgium, where he was responsible for the Global Aromatics long-term commercial business activity. The assignment included P&L responsibility and strategic project development for TOTAL worldwide. Before the Belgian assignment, he worked as manager of the US aromatics business. Before 2000, Steve was involved in the refining and fuels side of the Hydrocarbon chain both for what was then FINA Oil and Chemical and for Star Enterprise (a joint venture between Texaco and Saudi Aramco), working as a process engineer, optimization engineer, fuels blending optimizer, branded/unbranded fuels marketing and supply lead, and in a business development role. Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1987 and an MBA with a focus on finance and economics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.

Kevin Longworth Executive Director, Global Acrylonitrile Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Kevin Longworth is the Executive Director for Global Acrylonitrile at Chemical Market Analytics. Kevin Longworth is the executive director of the Global Acrylonitrile service and started his career at Chemical Market Analytics in 2009. During his time at the company, he has worked across various chemical value streams, giving him extensive exposure to a broad cross-section of the petrochemical industry. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, he worked for nearly a decade as a process engineer in the plastics industry in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Mr. Longworth leads the Global Acrylonitrile service, providing industry players with strategic intelligence and analysis for companies in this highly varied and complex value chain. Through regular engagement with industry stakeholders such as producers, downstream consumers, traders, distributors and investors, he helps them gain a deeper understanding of this volatile industry. The role is global, and he regularly contacts companies in Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Prior to taking over his current role, he had several other roles within Chemical Market Analytics, the most recent of which was as Director for Polyolefins for the EMEA region. In this role, he was responsible for developing intellectual property for the plastics service in Europe. He was a leading expert in this field, presenting at conferences and acting as the client-facing consultant of the Global Plastics service for Chemical Market Analytics in the EMEA region. Mr. Longworth has a degree in Plastics Processing Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa.  

Charlie Powell Asia Pacific Eco Product Manager INEOS Styrolution

Originally from the UK, Charlie Powell has lived abroad for over 15 years and has been living here in Singapore for the past 4 years. He has been working within the INEOS group for 6 years, during which time he have been fortunate enough to work within 3 different business units in 3 different continents. He is currently working for INEOS Styrolution as the Asia Pacific ECO Product Manager.

Ashish Pujari Vice President, Asia Aromatics & Fibers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Ashish Pujari is the Vice President of Aromatics and Fibres at Chemical Market Analytics in Singapore. Ashish Pujari is the Vice President for Aromatics and Fibers in Asia. He has over 30 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, mainly focused on the polyester and raw material value chain, which stretches from project design, operations, sales & marketing and business development. Over the past 15 years, he has focused on market research and consulting for the polyester and raw material industry. He is responsible for providing thought leadership to the sector and guiding our long-term forecasts. Ashish works with the Asian petrochemicals industry and coordinates support across the value chains. His current products of focus are Paraxylene, terephthalic acid (PTA) and Polyester, covering the regional dynamics and guiding the global outlook. He also actively continues to focus on sustainability developments in the polyester sector. Ashish has also been instrumental in launching several reports, including the pricing reports for Aromatics in Asia and the Global Polyurethanes & Feedstock report. Ashish joined CMAI in 2009, with a responsibility to cover the Asian PX and polyester markets and has taken additional responsibilities through our transition to Chemical Market Analytics. Before joining CMAI, Ashish worked for Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) in India and was leading the M&A activity in the polyester sector at the time of his exit in 2009. Ashish joined RIL as a fresh engineer in 1994 in the project design and construction group and later progressed to operations. He also worked in sales & business development, becoming the North India regional sales lead for raw materials. Ashish holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Polymers & Chemical) from the University of Pune, India, as well as an Executive Management diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.  

Carl Roache Director, Ammonia and Urea Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carl Roache is the Executive Director of Ammonia and Urea at Chemical Market Analytics. Carl Roache is the market director of ammonia and urea at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA). He joined the company in 2024 and leads analysis and pricing globally from London, UK. Before joining CMA, Mr. Roache was EuroChem’s global business development manager for NPK fertilizers, based in Dubai, UAE. From here, he coordinated global NP/NPK sales from the company’s 1.2mn t/yr Antwerp plant. Before this, he was EuroChem’s Asia NPK business development lead, based in Singapore, where he developed and executed an NPK growth strategy, widening commercial territory and facilitating increased sales. Mr Roache has also worked for price reporting agencies within the fertilizer sector in the UK and Asia, including spells as global nitrogen and potash lead (ICIS) and Europe and Asia regional editorships (Argus Media). He has completed executive strategy, financial analysis, and management training, as well as a first-class honors degree in American and English History from the University of East Anglia, UK. Mr Roache is an NCTJ/NCE qualified newspaper journalist, starting his career with Northcliffe Media group in the UK.

Daniel Siow Director, Styrenics Polymer (Asia) Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Daniel Siow is the Director for Southeast Asia Styrenic & ABS at Chemical Market Analytics. Daniel Siow is currently a Director at Chemical Market Analytics. He covers all major styrenic polymers namely, polystyrene, expandable polystyrene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, with a focus on the Asian regions. He contributes to several advisory services, most notably the Global Plastics & Polymers Report, Global Engineering Resins Report, World Polystyrene Analysis, World Expandable Polystyrene Analysis and the World Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Analysis. Daniel began his career in the chemical industry with Idemitsu Chemicals, a leading Japanese trading company in Singapore, where he was promoted to a Senior Manager role in 2005. He was involved in business development and strategic marketing of commodity and engineering plastics for the Idemitsu Group of companies. He joined Chemical Market Associates Inc. (CMAI) in 2010 as a consultant. Before joining the chemical industry, Daniel had extensive experience in the field of market research, covering studies such as consumer research, industrial research and B2B market research.

Anthony Song Executive Director, Asia C4 & Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Anthony Song is the Executive Director for APAC C4 & Elastomers at Chemical Market Analytics. Anthony (Young Ho) Song is the executive director for C4 olefins, derivatives, and natural rubber in Asia outside of mainland China at Chemical Market Analytics. He has over 20 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, mainly in the olefins business but also in chlor alkali and aromatics. Within the Asia region, he works closely with petrochemical, oil and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. He is currently the service leader for the Asia C4 weekly report and contributes to the global outlook for C4 and elastomer reports. Anthony started his career as a petrochemical trader at Hanwha Corporation in Korea. His duties were to trade various gas products, including light and C4 olefins products, in Asia. He has spent about a year in Dubai as a regional expert program by Hanwha Group, researching and developing future strategic programs within the Middle East, from product development to investment portfolio. In 2008, he came to Singapore as a trading team manager at Hanwha International (overseas office in Singapore). Anthony graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.  

Lujia Wang Associate Director OPIS, a Dow Jones Company

Lujia is an Associate Director at OPIS, a Dow Jones company, specializing in commodity pricing, news, and analytics. With extensive experience as a pricing analyst, she has closely tracked emissions trading schemes throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Lujia led the launch of the OPIS APAC Carbon Market Report, providing price transparency and timely insights into the region's evolving carbon markets. Prior to this, she oversaw daily price assessments and market analysis of key olefin feedstocks, including ethane, LPG, and naphtha, across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.

Zengwei Yin Principal Research Analyst, China Olefins & Acrylonitrile Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Zengwei Yin is a principal research analyst on the Acrylonitrile team. Zengwei provides analytical support for the market in Acrylonitrile China at Chemical Market Analytics. Zengwei has worked for six years for Schlumberger in the UK as an integrated fluids and solids engineer, where he has completed many exploration and development projects for international oil companies such as BP, Shell, Total and CNOOC International. Zengwei also has a background in chemical engineering; he graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing.
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