For decades, the Acrylonitrile and C4 industries have weathered economic cycles, geopolitical disruptions and shifting supply-demand balances. Yet today’s challenges feel fundamentally different.
Persistent oversupply, prolonged margin compression, changing feedstock economics, evolving trade flows, energy transition pressures and China’s growing influence have reshaped the competitive landscape. Traditional market cycles are becoming harder to recognize, while the strategies that once delivered success are being tested like never before.
The question facing the industry is no longer simply when demand will recover.
It is how companies can remain competitive in a market whose rules are being rewritten.
The Acrylonitrile & C4 Summit brings together the global community of producers, traders, consumers and market leaders to examine the forces reshaping these industries, from upstream energy and olefins to downstream derivatives including ABS, synthetic rubber and acrylic fibers.
Through strategic market outlooks, executive discussions and cross-value-chain dialogue, we’ll explore the critical questions facing the industry:
Whether you produce, trade, purchase or consume Acrylonitrile or C4 products, this is the industry’s opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge conventional thinking and help shape the next chapter of these markets.
Because the future won’t be defined by those waiting for the next cycle, but by those prepared to compete in the new one.
Why Attend:
Join the global conversation. Make the most of today’s complexity and help define tomorrow’s opportunity.
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Agenda Highlights
Gain an Edge in Ethane Markets
Ethane plays a pivotal role in global olefins production and cross-continental trade—but is often underrepresented in broader NGL or energy reports.
The Global Ethane Outlook changes that.
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Our program is subject to updates.
Recurring supply chain shocks have reshaped global energy markets, forcing rapid adaptation. Recent Middle East volatility has revealed lower-than-anticipated demand from China and triggered significant supply chain realignments. As the energy sector evolves, the industry must assess whether current trends will persist or if further structural shifts are on the horizon.
The first half of the decade has proved highly volatile, undermining prior recovery forecasts. Factors such as energy instability, inflationary pressure, trade disputes, and geopolitical shifts continue to challenge major economies. This presenation examines the outlook for the global economy within this increasingly fractured landscape.
Asia’s light olefins market is transitioning from post-conflict disruption management to longer-term structural rebalancing as feedstock availability improves and regional supply chains normalize. This presentation examines how shifting feedstock economics are reshaping the cost curve and competitive landscape across both ethylene and propylene value chains, highlighting the relative resilience of advantaged production routes, the gradual return to conventional Middle Eastern feedstocks, and the cautious recovery in operating rates amid weak production economics. We will also explore how evolving supply chains, refinery-petrochemical integration, and corporate restructuring are strengthening regional supply resilience and redefining competitive positioning across Asia’s light olefins industry
The global acrylonitrile industry has experienced unprecedented evolution over the past five years. Rapid capacity expansion in China, elevated energy costs in Europe, and structural rationalization in the Americas are fundamentally reshaping the market landscape. While consumption and trade patterns have undergone significant shifts, the critical question remains: will the period beyond 2027 bring stability, or will volatility persist?
The Chinese domestic market saw higher than expected volatility in H1 2026 due to the Middle East Conflict, and as the conflict gradually faded, the market began to rebalance. Four new plants started up in 2025; there have been no further capacity additions in 2026 to-date. However, another mega plant in East China is around the corner, and the impact on the market could be significant. The ABS industry continued to face challenges of oversupply and poor margins, despite limited capacity additions this year. In this presentation we will share more insights of the Chinese acrylonitrile and ABS market and our outlook for next year.
A key question for the industry is whether the current dynamics are the result of fundamental change or just a transition. If a transition, is it back to history or forward to something entirely different? We will examine this dynamic in detail and present the most likely answer along with the forecast risks and their potential impact.
Asia’s acrylonitrile sector faces a prolonged supply-demand imbalance. This presentation evaluates how regional producers leverage upstream/downstream integration, location, and cost competitiveness to navigate current market challenges and secure future stability from a producer perspective.
Panelists:
…more to come.
The global butadiene markets have been in transition for more than five years. Demand growth has underperformed. Capacity additions have far outpaced demand growth. Crude C4 production has shifted between regions. Trade patterns have shifted away from historical norms. The real question facing market participants is how to position themselves for maximum future success. Where are the demand growth centers and opportunities? Will crude C4 trends continue along their current path or will they shift again? Are there reasonable options outside of butadiene extraction for incremental crude C4? How will butadiene trade evolve? The answers to these questions will be key to developing a winning long term strategy.
The Asian butadiene market experienced unprecedented volatility in early 2026, driven by a dramatic price surge following the U.S.–Iran geopolitical conflict, which severely disrupted upstream feedstock supply chains. However, as this geopolitical premium rapidly recedes, the market faces a sharp return to fundamental realities. The region currently confronts dual pressures: a massive wave of capacity additions from integrated mega-cracker projects, contrasted against the inevitable rationalization and consolidation of smaller, uncompetitive units. This presentation analyzes mainland China’s progression toward olefin self-sufficiency and its broader implications for regional trade flows, highlighting how Asia is adjusting to a shifting supply-demand balance.
Synthetic rubber continues to struggle with overcapacity although some rationalization had already happened. Synthetic rubber demand is vulnerable to macroeconomic and geopolitical impact. Market outlook is different for each rubber and synthetic rubber producers have taken actions to overcome the situation. Concerns on the natural rubber market is on the future supply as weak natural rubber prices during last several years have limited the investments on new plantation and replanting. There is correlation between synthetic and natural rubber as both are being used for tire production while there is competition between the two for other general rubber product. In this presentation, we will take a look at medium term market outlook for synthetic and natural rubber.
Panelists:
Carbon fiber continues to see post-pandemic growth across industrial, automotive, and construction sectors as it replaces traditional materials. Amid increasing competition in lower-end market segments, manufacturers are shifting focus toward high-value applications to sustain long-term growth. What strategies will producers prioritize to drive future expansion?
Global economic development, fast-fashion consumption, and the rising middle-class population in emerging markets like the Asia-Pacific are driving demand for polyester, acrylic fiber and cotton. While these fibers serve similar apparel and home textile markets, this presenation will evaluate their distinct drivers which depends on cost, performance, and sustainability advantages.
The electrification of the global vehicle fleet is progressing, albeit at a more modest rate than predicted at the start of this decade. Global demand for MTBE has not declined yet, in fact, it increased in recent years, and it may take several more years before it decreases. Nevertheless, global MTBE markets have lengthened in recent years, primarily driven by the huge rise of MTBE exports out of mainland China. Even the conflict in the Middle East did not lower MTBE exports out of mainland China. Longer term, the shift to battery electric vehicles will eventually result in declining gasoline -and thus MTBE- demand. Regional trends, both short- and long-term, will be highlighted for this key methanol derivative.
Principal Research Analyst, Asia Light Olefins Chemical Market Analytics, by OPIS
Read BioPrincipal Research Analyst, China Olefins & Acrylonitrile Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioSenior Research Analyst, Global Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioVice President, Global Strategic Content and Olefins & Derivatives Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioVice President, C4 Olefins and Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioVice President, Asia Olefins and Derivatives Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioExecutive Director, EMEA C4 Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioExecutive Director, Global Acrylonitrile Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read BioExecutive Director, Asia C4 & Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS
Read Bio
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.