Acrylonitrile & C4 Forum: The Industry Gathering

12 November 2025 · Akasaka Prince Classic House, Tokyo

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Acrylonitrile & C4 Under Pressure: Redefining Resilience, Strategy, and Global Flow

From inflationary cost pressures and shifting energy strategies to regional capacity imbalances and unpredictable trade flows, macro and microeconomic forces are reshaping the Acrylonitrile (ACN) and C4 olefins markets like never before. Producers, traders, and downstream players alike are navigating a complex landscape marked by demand uncertainty, rationalization, and volatility in feedstock supply.

Now more than ever, it’s critical we come together to share insight, challenge assumptions, and explore how best to adapt and unlock value in this evolving reality. Join us at the Acrylonitrile & C4 Forum: The Industry Gathering in Tokyo, the only global event focused exclusively on these markets. With structural change accelerating, this forum provides a platform for strategic dialogue, market intelligence, and collaborative solutions that will shape what’s next. Seats are limited and complimentary.

What You’ll Explore:

Why Attend:

Join the global conversation. Make the most of today’s complexity and help define tomorrow’s opportunity.

Register Today

 

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By invitation – Complimentary seminar with limited seats.
Our program is subject to updates.

Agenda

9:00 am

Welcome Remark

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

 

9:00 am

The Geopolitical Landscape under the new U.S. Administration

To be confirmed

 

9:25 am

Under Pressure: Oil Market Dynamics and Shifting Timelines for Transition

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

Over the past three years, geopolitical tensions and shifting policy landscapes have reshaped oil supply, demand, and trade flows, effectively rewriting the rules of the game. In the near term, balancing supply-side dynamics ranging from OPEC+ decisions to US shale output and sanctioned producers against slowing demand growth in key markets will be increasingly challenging. Looking further ahead, the energy transition is proving to be anything but linear with the outlook becoming more fragmented. At the same time, rising demand for petrochemical feedstocks adds another layer of complexity, presenting both risks and opportunities for producers, refiners, and investors as they navigate this uncertain path forward.
 

9:45 am

Asia: The State of the Chemical Industry

To be confirmed

 

10:05 am

Networking Break

 

10:30 am

Olefins in Transition: Trends, Challenges, and Turning Points

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

Global olefins markets are undergoing a major transformation driven by shifting supply points, evolving feedstock strategies, and changing trade flows. Rationalizations in Europe, U.S. ethane cracker expansions, Middle East crude-to-chemicals projects, and Asia’s pivot to imported U.S. ethane reflect broader efforts to optimize production economics. At the same time, a wave of on-purpose capacity additions, particularly PDH and CTO, is reshaping Asia’s supply-demand balance and intensifying competition. Trade tensions and self-sufficiency strategies, especially in China, are adding complexity to market dynamics, raising uncertainty around future pricing and supply patterns across the region.
 

11:00 am

Acrylonitrile: Adapting to the New Normal

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

The landscape of acrylonitrile has changed irreversibly over the last several years. Producers in all regions have struggled to regain full production rates, and demand recovery remains muted. Each region has grappled with its own specific set of issues such as high costs in Europe, over-supply in Asia and the closure of key producers in the United States and Brazil. In this presentation we will dive into the issues industry is facing and what these mean for 2026 and beyond.
 

11:25 am

Global C4s

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

 

11:50 am

Panel Discussion: Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, Olefins

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

Panelists:

  • William Chen, Vice President, Asia Olefins & Derivatives, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
  • Kevin Longworth, Executive Director, Global Acrylonitrile, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
  • Bill Hyde, Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
  •  

    12:15 pm

    Networking Lunch

     

    1:15 pm

    Synthetic Rubber in Asia: Navigating Prolonged Uncertainties

    Weixuan He, Research Analyst, C4s & Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

    The synthetic rubber market continues to face complex headwinds in 2025. While early expectations pointed to a post-pandemic recovery, reality has proven more uneven. Demand remains soft across several downstream sectors, especially automotive and construction, while regional production capacities are being reshaped by shifting trade policies and supply chain rebalancing. Recent tariff tensions, alongside broader geopolitical tensions, have further shifted trade flows and heightened market uncertainty. Feedstock volatility—especially in butadiene—adds additional pressure on margins. In this presnetation, we will look at market outlook for the primary synthetic rubber products such as SBR, PBR, NBR/NBL.
     

    1:40 pm

    China Focus: Acrylonitrile & ABS

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

    China has risen to be the worlds single largest producer of acrylonitrile in record time. The meteoric rise has not come without issues to both producers in China, and broader Asia. Supply overhang has pressured producer margins, but the additional supply has also created opportunities; China is now a major acrylonitrile producer. Similarly, ABS markets have experienced rapid growth and thinning margins. In this presentation we dive into the current state of these intertwined markets and how the future is expected to evolve.
     

    2:05 pm

    Natural Rubber Market: Challenges Ahead

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

    The key demand driver for natural rubber is automotive and tire industry. However, the import tariff on vehicles and auto-parts by US and softening demand growth are challenges for natural rubber market. Furthermore, EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) will be starting from end of this year, but not every natural rubber producing countries are prepared. We will look at natural rubber market outlook plus the developments to increase productivity, upcoming EUDR impact, and developments in natural rubber production from guayule.
     

    2:30 pm

    Panel Discussion

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

    Panelists:

  • Weixuan He, Research Analyst, C4s & Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
  • Zengwei Yin, Principal Research Analyst, China Olefins & Acrylonitrile, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
  • Anthony Song, Executive Director, Asia C4 & Elastomers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
  •  

    2:55 pm

    Networking Break

     

    3:25 pm

    Panel Discussion : Asia Petrochemical Industry

    To be confirmed

    The petrochemical industry is undergoing seismic change, and the multi-year cyclical nature of business has been upended with prices, supply and trade swinging more rapidly than ever. To survive companies have been forced to adapt and the conventional approach to business is being reevaluated. Join us in a panel discussion to find out the strategies for future success by the leading petrochemical companies in Asia.
     

    3:45 pm

    Sustainability and the State of the Industry

    To be confirmed

    The petrochemical industry has been in survival mode in 2025, but does that mean sustainability has been forgotten? Certainly not! In this panel discussion with leading petrochemical companies, we delve into the key issues around sustainability initiatives and how these are evolving as companies seek to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their increasingly ambitious climate goals.
     

    4:05 pm

    Textile Fibers: Polyester, Acrylic Fiber & Cotton

    David Onyekpe, Senior Research Analyst, Global Olefins, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

    Textiles such as polyester, acrylic fiber and cotton play a key role in our daily lives. Competition in the textile markets is fierce and downstream retail sales have not met market expectations. Producer margins have been under the microscope and hopes of a recovery have been dashed by lacklustre demand, trade wars and generally poor retail performance. What would it take to spark a return to profitability and which textile is expected grow its market share in future?
     

    4:25 pm

    Closing Remark

     

    Meet our speakers at Acrylonitrile & C4s Trailblazers Forum

    William Chen, PhD

    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.

    Weixuan He

    Weixuan He Research Analyst, C4s & Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

    Weixuan He is based in Beijing, China. She is currently working on the C4 Olefins and Elastomers market in mainland China. She is the co-author of the Global C4 Olefins and Elastomers Monthly report and the Asia Weekly report. Prior to this role, she joined the legacy IHS Markit in 2018 as a research analyst in the ChemAssets team as part of the Same Day Info&Analysis division. Weixuan graduated from Tufts University in Psychology and Community Health and studied in the Master program at University of Michigan, majored in Biostatistics.

    Bill Hyde

    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.

    Steve Lewandowski

    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

    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.

     

    David Onyekpe

    David Onyekpe Sr. Research Analyst Global Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

    David Onyekpe is a Senior research analyst in the Global Olefins group at Chemical Market Analytics. He is responsible for coverage of the acrylonitrile value chain and cotton. 

    Mr. Onyekpe has been with Chemical Market Analytics since 2016, where he has provided business information assisting clients in diverse projects. Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, David worked at the World Energy Council, where he assessed the impact of policies, in addition to opportunities and limitations that underpin some cross-cutting technologies within the energy Industry. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from University College London.

    Anthony Song

    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.

     

    Zengwei Yin

    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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    Presented by Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

    Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides stakeholders in the global chemical industry with next-generation analytics, deep insights, future outlooks and price discovery to improve operational efficiency. The company offers short- and long-term market coverage for more than 200 core building-block chemicals via Market Advisory Services (MAS), World Analysis (WA), Circular Plastics Service, Chemical Advisory Service and educational and networking conferences such as World Chemical Forum.

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