Inorganics

Position for Growth in the Fast-changing
Chlor-Alkali, Vinyls, Soda Ash, and Bleaching Chemicals Markets
The inorganic value chain at Chemical Market Analytics encompasses four key commodity sectors: Chlor-alkali, Vinyls, Soda Ash and Bleaching Chemicals. With their versatile applications, these chemical products are shaped by dynamic shifts in end-use demand, creating intricate market dynamics that drive growth and opportunities across sectors.

Chemical Market Analytics offers comprehensive market intelligence for the inorganic chemical sector, including near-term and long-term forecasts. Our analysis and insights cover all market dynamics, including price discovery and projections, trade flows, global supply and demand trends, and operational schedules. With our in-depth analysis, you’ll have the whole market picture and the confidence to navigate these complex markets with certainty.

Inorganics Industry Value Chain Strategic Insights

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The global chlor-alkali market is currently in a short-term trough with a partial demand recovery forecast for both sides of the ECU in 2025. However, recovery will not be balanced on both sides of the ECU. Recovery for caustic soda is expected to occur before chlorine as chlorine maintains a stronger link to construction activity via PVC, TiO2 and other chlorinated derivatives. As the US and mainland China continue to expand chlor-alkali capacity to meet growing demand, concerns about rationalization linger in Europe due to the region’s high-cost position and lower margin outlook, especially for those chlor-alkali producers integrated into PVC. At the same time, cooling expectations for increases in “global electrification” have reduced near-term caustic soda growth expectations, but the sector remains a longer-term opportunity.

The vinyl market is going through a low-demand period due to weak construction spending associated with a global slowdown in the real estate sector. The largest PVC demand region in the world, Northeast Asia, is undergoing structural changes as the mainland China demand outlook falls below GDP growth. The current cycle trough will need time to consume its excess supply, but the duration will be shorter than previous supply-driven down cycles. Some markets are prime for rationalization and/or consolidation as plant utilization rates and margins drop to unsustainable levels. As economic activity recovers, and excess supply is absorbed, the vinyls industry should edge closer to its next cycle peak toward the end of this decade.

Soda ash demand has been mixed with high double-digit growth experienced to date in mainland China, driven primarily by solar glass but also lithium carbonate, and lackluster growth in most other regions. However, demand growth in mainland China has recently begun slowing, and the country, which through much of this year saw record-high imports, now has surplus products. Changing Chinese market dynamics are having ripple effects across the rest of the world. Additionally, a significant low-cost Chinese natural soda ash plant has been ramping up since mid-2023. Unless demand in mainland China and/or the rest of the world starts to recover we forecast very competitive market dynamics with capacity potentially at risk of rationalization, including in mainland China.

Global bleaching chemicals, in particular sodium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide, are in a dynamic demand environment. Opportunities exist for oxidizers as electric vehicle adoption drives battery production and semiconductors. However, the pulp and paper sector continues to dominate the consumption of the two chemicals. Recently, Asian demand for bleaching chemicals has been faltering with the slowdown in the mainland China economy. At the same time, South America’s demand continues to rise with new large integrated bleached eucalyptus kraft operations. North American and European demand continues to decline with respect to printing and writing demand and a continued shift to digital media. However, counter to printing and writing, packaging driven demand continues to grow.

Inorganics solutions cover both near-term and long-term outlook, equipping you with comprehensive market insights 

Market Advisory Service (Near-Term Outlook) 

World Analysis (Long-Term Outlook) 

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Chemical Market Analytics delves deep into the plastic industry value chain to provide our clients with comprehensive solutions, offering the necessary information and consulting services required at each stage.

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PetroChem Wire reports provide daily prices for NGLs, monomers, polymers and covers the entire petrochemical market, including NGLs, ethylene and propylene, olefin and polymers and prime grade and recycled plastics.

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Short-term outlook - provide accurate current and near-term market data and analysis for plastic chemicals as well as the raw materials, energy and feedstock.

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Industry Outlooks Tailored to Your Business Needs

Plastic is ubiquitous and intricately intertwined with various industries. In this highly competitive world, having access to cutting-edge research in the fast-changing Chlor-Alkali, Vinyls, Soda Ash, and Bleaching Chemicals Markets market data is essential to enhancing your negotiation power, optimizing investment strategies, and mitigating risks, setting you apart from competitors.

Glass manufacturing

Soap and detergents

Lithium and Alumina

Pulp and Paper

PVC Pipes and Products

Inorganics Global Team

Angel Fernandez

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

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Eddie Kok

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

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Nick Kovics

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

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Marguerite Morrin

Executive Director, Global Soda Ash Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics

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Craig Murphy, PhD

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

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Brian Newsome

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

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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.

Brian Newsome

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.

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