What might the second half hold for Europe's chemical industry?
S&P Global Commodity Insights research directors Andy Orszynski and Yazmine Khan join price reporter Daniel Pelosi to discuss the outlook in Europe after June 10's European Petrochemical Luncheon in Munich. Key topics include ongoing capacity rationalization, what LyondellBasell's cracker divestiture means for efforts to sell European assets, and whether there is any case for optimism in the industry. This episode was recorded on June 20, and references some recent events.
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27:08
What role do specialty chemicals play in emerging industrial policies?
S&P Global Commodity Insights experts Adam Bland and Kevin Micoine join Chemical Week specialties editor Sotirios Frantzanas and host Vincent Valk to discuss the role of specialty chemicals in industrial policy. Key topics include how sustainability and decarbonization goals intersect with specialty chemicals, how the industry can grow to supply critical sectors like semiconductors, and the impact of trade tensions the complex supply chains for specialties.
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21:37
How are specialty chemical producers navigating tariff uncertainty?
Joe Dettinger, vice president/manufacturing and commercial programs at specialties trade group Socma, joins the podcast to dicuss the impacts of trade tensions and uncertainty on specialty chemical producers. Key topics include how companies are contending with supply chain issues, the impact of uncertainty on demand, and whether the recent softening of tensions has meaningfully improved the outlook.
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19:51
Is there any visibility in the outlook from Q1 results?
Ian Young, Vincent Valk and Daniel Pelosi join host Jameson Croteau to discuss key takeaways from first-quarter earnings season for chemicals. The impact of tariffs is a major theme, with producers flagging significant uncertainty despite relatively few changes to official outlooks. This episode was recorded on May 7, before the US and China struck a temporary deal to reduce tariff rates.
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25:07
What were the key takeaways from WPC 2025?
Chemical Week editors Rob Westervelt, Mark Thomas and Clay Boswell join the podcast to discuss key takeaways from this year’s World Petrochemical Conference. Key themes include ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, including tariffs, the evolution of energy transition, European capacity rationalization, the long-term outlook for feedstocks. This episode was recorded on March 24, and references some recent events.