Inorganics

Position for Growth in the Fast-changing
Chlor-Alkali, Vinyls, Soda Ash, and Bleaching Chemicals Markets

Inorganic chemical markets are complex. You need to make informed decisions but don’t have time to analyze such an elaborate market. We provide global and regional outlooks and price reports that deliver a comprehensive view of world markets for Chlor-Alkali, Vinyls, Soda Ash, and Bleaching Chemicals. You will also receive access to our industry experts and price database.

Inorganics Strategic Insights

Trade Disputes

The impact of trade disputes on the Chinese and global economies and associated uncertainties regarding Chinese environmental policy

  • How does it impact demand growth?
  • How does it impact Chinese investment decisions?

 

Acetylene-based PVC catalysts

Mercury impact for both cell conversion and acetylene-based PVC catalysts to meeting Minamata Convention requirements in signatory nations

  • Which producers will convert from Mercury cell units at remaining assets, and which ones will close?
  • Will additional acetylene-based PVC assets ever be built, and will existing ones be allowed to continue operating?

Repositioning

Repositioning of caustic pricing as necessary to support reinvestment

  • Can PVC values rise in relation to other plastics or will caustic have to carry the full increase for the ECU value?
  • What impact will higher caustic prices have on consuming industries? How much will the demand be impacted by rising pricing?

Near-Term Solutions


Global Chlor-Alkali Provides Full Market Coverage of the Global Chlor-Alkali Value Chain.

The global Chlor-alkali industry is undergoing significant restructuring in response to volatile energy markets and demand growth exceeding capacity growth. Regional production economics, including supply and demand balances, turn on the key issues, such as geopolitical conflicts, availability of chlorine, shifting technology profiles and access to competitive power and salt. With this rapidly evolving landscape, stakeholders need objective analyses based on completed, accurate data to make sound business decisions.

Global Chlor-alkali gives you unrivaled insights, analysis, data and forecasting for the world’s Chlor-alkali markets: supply and demand data and projections, near-term price, cost and margin forecasts, trade analyses, and access to our proprietary price database and our team of highly experienced market experts.


Access Reliable Analysis, Insights, and Accurate Data for the World’s Vinyl Markets with Global Vinyls.

Global Vinyls brings you unrivaled coverage of the world’s EDC, VCM and PVC markets. Each month, clients receive extensive price, cost and margin data for multiple product grades, including the analysis, data and insights regarding production, supply, demand and trade for all major world regions. The vinyls research experts located in the three continents communicate regularly with the major industry sources to collect industry-specific data and transform it into valuable insights and forecasting advice.


Global Soda Ash Delivers Comprehensive Monthly Market Reports on the World’s Soda Ash (sodium carbonate) Markets.

The world soda ash markets are evolving in response to solid demand growth, volatile energy markets, logistics challenges and market participant shifts. Catalysts for change include carbon emission reduction targets, geopolitical issues and demand growth. Dependence on a volatile energy market for critical feedstocks adds another layer of complexity.

In the face of rapid change and uncertainty, Global Soda Ash report provides clients unbiased, accurate data, and analysis to formulate careful investment and planning decisions. Our practice integrates consultants with our North American, European, and Asian soda ash market specialists to bring you the latest updates on the global soda ash industry. Clients receive monthly reports containing price, cost and margin data and forecasts and regional analysis of key market indicators, along with a mid-monthly data supplement.


Access the Authority on Sodium Chlorate, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Sodium Hydrosulphite Market Dynamics and Prices.

Global Bleaching Chemicals delivers monthly, in-depth market analysis and data covering these three chemicals and the markets that consume them in all major global regions.

Expert research analysts worldwide deliver comprehensive market analysis and insights for the sodium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydrosulphite markets in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Whether buying, selling, or researching the market, these monthly reports are your best source for bleaching chemical prices and market analysis.

Long-Term Solutions

  • Long-term supply-demand database updated bi-annually
  • Real-time global capacity database
  • Detailed country-level trade grids updated bi-annually
  • 10-year forecasts for the price, cost, and margin are updated quarterly
  • Strategic market assessments
  • Long-term supply-demand database updated bi-annually
  • Real-time global capacity database
  • Detailed country-level trade grids updated bi-annually
  • 10-year forecasts for the price, cost, and margin are updated quarterly
  • Strategic market assessments
  • Long-term supply-demand database updated bi-annually
  • Real-time global capacity database
  • Detailed country-level trade grids updated bi-annually
  • 10-year forecasts for the price, cost, and margin are updated quarterly
  • Strategic market assessments
  • Long-term supply-demand database updated bi-annually
  • Real-time global capacity database
  • Detailed country-level trade grids updated bi-annually
  • 10-year forecasts for the price, cost, and margin are updated quarterly
  • Strategic market assessments

Talk to an expert

Inorganics Global Team

Angel Fernandez

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

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

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.

Marguerite Morrin

Marguerite Morrin Executive Director, Global Soda Ash Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics

Marguerite Morrin is the Executive Director of Global Soda Ash Service Lead at Chemical Market Analytics.

Marguerite Morrin is the Executive Director of Soda Ash research at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA). Marguerite launched the Global Soda Ash Market Advisory Service (MAS) in 2008. Before launching the soda ash MAS, she held various responsibilities in the Inorganics value chain, including European chlor-alkali and vinyls market coverage, where she helped develop MAS.

Marguerite’s area of focus is the Soda Ash Market Advisory Service. With over 30 years of research experience in the chemicals sector, Marguerite is a key CMA resource with respect to analysis and insights about soda ash markets. She works with the global soda ash team to understand and keep track of soda ash market developments and provide CMA clients with insight and critical analytics that facilitate decisions. Marguerite also organizes the CMA annual World Soda Ash Conference.

Marguerite holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University College Dublin, Ireland and a postgraduate diploma in Business Studies from UCD Smurfit Business School, Dublin. She is currently based out of the London office.

 

Craig Murphy, PhD

Craig Murphy, PhD Associate Director, Global Bleaching Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Dr. Craig Murphy is an Associate Director of Global Bleaching Chemicals Service at Chemical Market Analytics.

Craig Murphy serves as the Global Service Lead for Bleaching Chemicals and holds the position of Associate Director within the Chemical Market Analytics group. With extensive experience in the chemistries of oil and gas development, pulp and paper, chlor-alkali, and advanced manufacturing, Craig is a pivotal resource within the business for managing and developing chemical market intelligence.

In addition to spearheading the global bleaching team, Craig also provides regional market coverage for potassium hydroxide, alumina, aluminium, and pulp and paper. With global responsibilities, he collaborates closely with clients across all regions and the financial sector to offer support and guidance on the inorganics chain.

Craig brings expertise across various industries and markets. He previously served as a technical expert in chlor-alkali applications associated with oil and gas at Canexus Corporation, aiding clients to succeed in participating in O&G. He honed his oil and gas proficiency while developing hydraulic fracturing fluid systems for the global service provider Calfrac Well Services. As the Director of Product Development at Cascades, Craig played a key role in creating new products to support vinyl construction materials.

Dr. Murphy holds a PhD in Chemistry from McGill University, where he conducted research on oxidative processes in pulp and paper. Later, he earned an MBA from the University of Calgary, focusing on logistics and supply chain management.

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