GCAV 2025 Day 1

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Session Details

GCAV 2025 Day 1

Thursday, May 15
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Pickup your name badge and meet your fellow attendees as GCAV 2025 opens!

Session 1: Global Outlook – Economy, Energy & Feedstocks

Nick Kovics, Vice President, Global Inorganics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Carlo Barrasa, Vice President Energy Insights, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The global energy market plays a critical role in shaping the Chlor-alkali and Vinyls industry but the market has been stressed by geo-political events and the push for a low carbon future. Will these stressors continue to play a role? What implications lie ahead for the Chlor-alkali and Vinyls market in relation to energy?After a globally synchronized election cycle, various populations have chosen leadership committed to addressing their respective domestic matters rather than progressing green energy policies. Against this backdrop, geopolitical conflicts have lingered, and China’s growth prospects remain subdued. These developments have forced energy market observers to reassess how – and how long – the evolution from fossil fuels to renewables will play out. Further adding to this uncertainty is the interest rate environment and the stalling of EV adoption. Given these dynamics, there is growing confidence that traditional hydrocarbon-based fuels will continue to be a critical piece of the global energy mix as evidenced by the doubling down by western oil companies on hydrocarbon resource exploitation. In essence, the world will still need oil and gas, but the real questions are how much and if the energy transition will resume its previous pace. Join us as we discuss the evolution of the energy markets and resulting market responses.
Matthew Thoelke, Senior Vice President & Global Chemicals Lead, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The ethylene industry is the key driver for industry profitability. Given the large capital barriers to entry, ethylene has navigated the ups and downs of market developments with some degree of regularity, under investment always following over investment. However, Chinese producers are not playing by the same investment rules as others, and they continue to invest in the downturn. Unlike the ability for the market to absorb the strategic low cost plays from the Middle East or US, the Chinese developments are just too large. The outlook for ethylene in this changed world will be the focus of this presentation.
Vladimir Sedivy, President, Salt Partners Ltd.
Several European chlorine plants were built based on solar salt feedstock and mercury cells. Brine purification produced mercury contaminated sludge. Environmental concerns prohibited surface sludge deposits. Solar saltworks were unable to improve quality, causing switch-over to vacuum salt. Modern solar salt technologies produce salt as good as vacuum salt:
Chemical purity:
Washed solar salt                     99.7%
Modern solar salt                     99.956%
Vacuum salt                             99.956%
Recently increased energy cost triggered increased vacuum salt price, while solar salt production cost remained steady. The presentation will focus on aspects of potential switch-back, such salt price, logistics, brine plant modifications and energy conservation.
Humberto J. Rocha, Carbon and Biodiversity Editor, OPIS a Dow Jones Company
The European Union has put a price on carbon emissions for two decades now, including on the emissions of products from and in the global chlor-alkali supply chain. Rising carbon costs and the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) expected to come into force in 2026 could have a strong influence on production costs, supply chain dynamics and overall competitiveness of European chlor-alkali producers.
Moderated by Nick Kovics, Vice President, Global Inorganics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Ask your questions to the panel of session presenters to delve deeper into the subject matter.
Connect and engage with industry peers, sessions resume at 1110.  

Session 2: European and Middle East Chlor-vinyl Market Outlooks

Brain Newsome, Vice President, Global Chlor-alkali, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Henry Warren, Director, Chlorine and Vinyls EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The European vinyls industry is at a pivotal moment. Although cash costs have eased slightly, they remain high, and sluggish demand recovery continues to strain margins and operating rates. As lower-cost regions like the Middle East gear up for growth, how can Europe stay competitive in the global market? This presentation will explore these challenges and other pressing issues, offering the latest insights to help the industry chart a path toward sustainable recovery.
Angel Fernandez, Director, Europe Caustic, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Since the European energy crisis began in 2021, the European chlor-alkali industry has been struggling with high production costs, low margins, and subdued demand. Will elevated domestic energy prices continue to hinder the competitiveness of chlor-alkali products? How quickly will demand recover, and which sectors will drive that recovery? What geopolitical headwinds will impact European caustic soda trade flows and how? This presentation will answer these questions, examine the prospects for the European chlor-alkali industry and the developments that will shape its future, as well as whether it can remain competitive in global markets.
Moderated by Brain Newsome, Vice President, Global Chlor-alkali, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Ask your questions to the panel of session presenters to delve deeper into the subject matter.
  Sessions resume at 1350.

Session 3: Chlor-vinyl North America Outlooks

Eddie Kok, Executive Director, Global Vinyls, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Wilson Loh, Director, Asia Chlor-alkali Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS 
This presentation examines the evolving economic and industrial dynamics across Asia and their implications for the chlor-alkali sector, a market marked by uneven regional growth. An imbalance between chlorine and caustic soda demand creates both challenges and opportunities. The analysis highlights key trends, including rapid growth in renewable energy and industrial sectors, slower expansion in traditional industries, capacity increases to address emerging market needs, and a complex yet promising trajectory for the long-term recovery of the chlor-alkali industry.
Brain Newsome, Vice President, Global Chlor-alkali, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The North American chlor-alkali industry is shaped by domestic and global market trends, with political and regulatory uncertainties adding challenges. Excess capacity growth, volatile energy markets, and global supply restructuring impact the region’s role as a key importer and exporter of caustic soda. While favorable U.S. production economics support expansion, tariffs, geopolitical conflicts, and shifting technologies complicate the export model. This presentation provides insights to navigate the evolving North American and global landscapes to make informed business decisions.
Moderated by Eddie Kok, Executive Director, Global Vinyls, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Ask your questions to the panel of session presenters to delve deeper into the subject matter.
Connect and engage with industry peers, sessions resume at 1555.  

Session 4: Chlor-vinyl Asia Outlooks

Nick Kovics, Vice President, Global Inorganics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Eddie Kok, Executive Director, Global Vinyls, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
The global PVC market has been in the doldrums since 2022, with prices and margins remaining low. Our assessment suggests that the bottom 20% of the highest-cost production capacity may currently be operating below breakeven economics. What are the market drivers causing this margin erosion? Why are there still expansions planned despite the weak margin conditions? How will cost-advantaged regions such as North America respond to the market trough? Most importantly, when does CMA expect market recovery to begin?
Raheel Shafi, Vice President, Europe, Middle East and APAC Consulting, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
After the chlor-vinyl sector exits the current market trough, new investment will be required. This presentation will review the assessment process to determine where, when and how much.
Moderated by Nick Kovics, Vice President, Global Inorganics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Ask your questions to the panel of session presenters to delve deeper into the subject matter.
Nick Kovics, Vice President, Global Inorganics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Network with your fellow attendees, speakers and sponsors – a perfect end to the 1st day.
Session Speakers

Carlo Barrasa Vice President, Energy Insights Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carlo Barrasa is the Vice President of Energy Insights at Chemical Market Analytics In this role, Carlo stewards the development of energy market content to help Chemical Market Analytics’ clients navigate the complexities of the oil, gas & natural gas liquids markets. Previously, Carlo led the North American Light Olefins service, which provides clients with valuable insights into the regional market dynamics of cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Carlo was a Senior Strategy Advisor at Anadarko Petroleum, where he was responsible for guiding the company's market strategy for its natural gas liquids business. After beginning his career in various downstream and chemical roles with ExxonMobil, Carlo held senior consulting and research positions at IHS Markit legacy companies PFC Energy and CMAI.

Angel Fernandez Director, Chlor-Alkali Research EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics. Angel joined the Chemical Market Analytics team through the legacy IHS Markit Base chemicals team in 2021. During his time with the company, he has held various roles in the Inorganics value chain, including potassium hydroxide research and analysis and Global Service Leader for bleaching chemicals. Angel leads the EMEA chlor-alkali team and provides market coverage for European caustic soda in the Global Chlor-alkali Report and Chlor-alkali World Analysis. He works closely with clients in all regions to provide support and guidance on chlor-alkali chemicals. Angel has over 20 years of experience in trading, shipping, market research and analysis of the chemical industry. He started his career at BP Chemicals, followed by five years at Sojitz UK, where he was involved in the trading and shipping of aromatics, methanol and solvents. Before joining the IHS Markit Base Chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), he spent ten years researching and analyzing oxo alcohols, plasticizers and chlor-alkali markets at a market data provider. Angel holds Master’s degrees in Chemistry and International Relations. He is based out of the London office.

Eddie Kok Executive Director, Global Vinyls Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director of Global Vinyls Service Lead at Chemical Market Analytics Eddie Kok is the Executive Director and Global Service Leader for Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) Global Vinyls Market Advisory Service. During his time with the company, he has held various responsibilities within the Inorganics value chain, including Asia Lead for the chlor-alkali and vinyls market coverage. With over 20 years of chemicals sector research experience, Eddie is a crucial resource within the business for understanding and providing insight into chlor-alkali and vinyls markets. Eddie’s currently focuses on vinyls markets, directing a team of researcher colleagues around the globe to monitor and understand market developments within the vinyls value chain and provide CMA clients with insights and critical analytics that facilitate decisions. Eddie also researches and analyzes Asian KOH markets and works closely with his global Chlor-alkali colleagues in other ways to provide an integrated view of the chlor-alkali and vinyls businesses. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Eddie held multiple roles with CCM, a chlor-alkali producer based in Malaysia. His responsibilities at CMM included product portfolio management, production planning and regional sales. Mr. Kok holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Campbell University, North Carolina, United States. He is currently based out of the Singapore office.

Nick Kovics Vice President, Global Inorganic Chemicals Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Kovics is the Vice President of the Global Inorganics team at Chemical Market Analytics. Nick Kovics serves as the Vice President of Global Inorganic Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics, which includes Chlor-alkali chemicals, Vinyls, Bleaching Chemicals, and Soda Ash. Nick brings over 25 years of chemical industry experience to the Chemical Market Analytics Inorganic Chemicals insights team. He was promoted to his current role in 2024, where he leads twenty analysts who research, forecast, and report on chlor-alkali chemicals, vinyls, bleaching chemicals, and soda ash from five global locations. Previously, Nick held a variety of roles in the Inorganics value chain at Chemical Market Analytics, including leading the Chlor-alkali, Bleaching Chemicals, and Battery Materials advisory services. Nick held various functional roles in several companies before joining Chemical Market Analytics. He began his career as a process engineer in the chlor-alkali sector at Canadian Occidental. Nick next moved into the energy sector as a field engineer with Schlumberger Canada cementing and hydraulic fracturing services. He transitioned from oil and gas to new energy and spent a decade in the hydrogen fuel cell sector in technical, commercial and financial roles. Nick continued in the electrochemical industry by joining Canexus (now Chemtrade) and held commercial leadership roles in chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate marketing. Nick is originally from Canada and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is a registered Canadian Professional Engineer and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. He has resided in Houston, TX, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2017.

Wilson Loh Director, Asia Chlor Alkali Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Wilson Loh is the Director for Asian Chlor-alkali at Chemical Market Analytics. Wilson Loh is a Research and Analysis Director in the Chemical Market Analytics Global Chlor-alkali Team. Before joining, he gained extensive experience through his decades of work in commercial and trading positions in chlor-alkali and other chemical industries. Wilson’s deep experience facilitates his work in conducting extensive research and analysis on the chlor-alkali markets in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. He authors the Asian report section of the Global Chlor-alkali Market Report (GCR), which covers his assessments of chlorine and caustic soda markets across Asia. He also provides long-term projections for Asian markets through his contributions to the World Chlor-alkali Analysis. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Wilson spent years at Basic Chemical Solutions (BCS) and Univar in chlor-alkali products distribution and trading in the Asian market. His work at BCS and Univar was preceded by several years in a commercial position at Chemical Industries Far East, a chlor-alkali producer. Mr. Loh holds a BBA and MBA degree from the University of San Francisco. He joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2017 and is currently based in the Singapore office.

Brian Newsome Vice President, Global Chlor-alkali Advisory Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics

Brian Newsome is the Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali advisory service at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) Prior to joining CMA, Brian served in several roles at Westlake Corporation, including as Director of Strategy, Business Manager for Chlorine and Chlorine Derivatives, and Market Manager for Calcium Hypochlorite. He has also previously worked in commercial and technical roles for Kureha Corporation (Japan), Motorola Semiconductor and ExxonMobil LNG. Brian has over 17 years of chemical industry experience including over 13 years of global chlor-alkali and vinyl's industries experience in marketing, sales and business line management roles. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Humberto J. Rocha Carbon and Biodiversity Editor OPIS a Dow Jones Company

Humberto J. Rocha is a Carbon and Biodiversity Editor based in London, focusing on the carbon compliance markets in the European Union and the United Kingdom and the growing voluntary biodiversity credit market. A journalist with nearly a decade of experience, Humberto primarily focuses on covering the dynamics of the compliance carbon markets in Europe. He covers daily and weekly price assessments, conducts webinars and writes features ranging from the gulf between the U.K. and EU carbon prices and the potential linkage between these two carbon markets. Additionally, he covers policy developments and pricing trends in the voluntary biodiversity credit market from projects around the world. Humberto joined OPIS in the summer of 2022 after covering energy policy and federal and state legal cases in the United States for Law360 at the news agency's Houston and London offices. He has also worked in international outlets including Japan's The Yomiuri Shimbun, local news at Hearst Connecticut Media, and Forbes. Humberto speaks fluent Spanish and French and has a bachelor's degree in Social Studies with a focus on Latin America from Harvard University and a master's degree in Latin American studies from the University of Oxford.

Vladimir Sedivy President Salt Partners Ltd.

Vladimir M. Sedivy received his MSc degree in chemical engineering (with honours) at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague and a PED diploma at the Institute of Management Development in Lausanne. He built petrochemical plants with Badger in London and evaporation plants with Sulzer Escher Wyss in Zurich. His interest in salt started in 1973 when he became a manager of salt projects in Africa and South America. He invented the HYDROSAL salt purification process with hydroextraction of impurities in 1978. As a Director of Krebs Swiss, he acquired and implemented many salt and chloralkali projects in Europe, America, Africa, Middle East and India, including turnkey contracts for leading chemical and food companies. In 2003, Vladimir M. Sedivy established Salt Partners. Under his management, Salt Partners carried out consultancy assignments for Governments, Banks and global corporations and built SOLARSAL and HYDROSAL salt production and processing plants worldwide. Vladimir M. Sedivy is a Member of the Board of several companies. He published many articles and presented papers at international conferences. Vladimir M. Sedivy is married and lives in Switzerland. His son Claudio and daughter Isabella are Directors of Salt Partners. Both are biologists holding PhD and MSc degrees (with honours) from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Raheel Shafi Vice President, Europe, Middle East and APAC Consulting Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics

Raheel serves as the Vice President for Global Consulting at Chemical Market Analytics. Raheel has over 25 years of experience working in the downstream and petrochemicals sectors. During this time, he has held numerous technical and commercial positions in operating companies and, more recently, within consulting, where he has spent the last 11 years. His background spans refining and petrochemical process technologies, product markets, and operations, enabling him to provide astute and valued advisory services across the refinery petrochemical interface and beyond crude to chemicals. He has provided advisory services over the entire petrochemical asset lifecycle from concept and feasibility study of grassroots complexes at major national master plan level as well as for NOCs and consortia. Similarly, he has completed numerous brownfield technical and commercial advisory projects looking at new value chains, increased business agility and increasing overall plant capacity for a wide variety of clients. He has also supported both greenfield and brownfield projects through the project finance stage, providing services to lenders and ECAs. From an organic growth perspective, he has developed strategies around future business direction supporting divestments relating to the sale of assets and growth through sell-side due diligence from both a technical and commercial advisory perspective. Specifically, Raheel has supported more than 75 billion dollars in transactions in the petrochemical space.  

Matthew Thoelke Vice President, EMEA Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Matthew Thoelke is the Vice President for Olefins and Derivatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. Matthew Thoelke is the vice president of the olefins and derivatives team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. During his time with the company, he has taken a wide variety of roles across a broad range of product areas. With over 25 years of experience, Matthew is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry. Within the EMEA region, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Europe and the Middle East Olefins Report’ and primary input and insight for the ‘World Ethylene and Propylene Analyses.’ His prior experience includes coverage of butadiene and elastomers, for which he remains a globally recognized industry speaker and expert. Whilst in this role, Mathew was responsible for the ‘Global Outlook — Feedstocks, Elastomers Report’ and the ‘World Butadiene Analysis’ and took the lead role in analyzing olefin and derivative markets in support of the long-term planning outlooks in the World Analysis. Mr. Thoelke has both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Material Sciences from Cambridge University, as well as a Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (ACDMM).

Henry Warren Director, EMEA Vinyls and Middle East Caustic Soda Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Henry Warren is the Director of EMEA Vinyls and Middle East Caustic Soda at Chemical Market Analytics. Henry Warren is an integral Global Vinyls and Chlor-alkali Market Advisory Service member. Since joining the company in 2001, he has focused on vinyls, from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) through its precursors - ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Since early 2024, he also assumed responsibility for caustic soda in the Middle East. During his time at the company, he has held various additional positions, including responsibility for chlorine, hydrochloric acid, chlorinated solvents, TiO2 and caustic potash. Along with the stakeholder relationships he has built over several decades, his in-depth understanding of the industry contributes to the unparalleled insight that Chemical Market Analytics brings to the vinyls and chlor-alkali sector. Henry provides coverage, analysis and insight into the vinyls value chain in EMEA and caustic soda in the Middle East in the Global Vinyls and Chlor-alkali Reports, respectively. He is also a key contributor to our Vinyls and Chlor-alkali World Analysis services. With a regional and global perspective, he works closely with clients across regions to provide support in relevant areas of the vinyls and chlor-alkali industries. He entered the field of chemical market analysis in 1996, analyzing feedstocks and several polyolefin value chains in Europe, North America and Latin America. Mr Warren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Humberside, UK. He is a native English speaker, fluent in Spanish, proficient in French and resides near Oxford, UK.
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