Europe and Asian BPA markets are spiking, amid short supply and rebounding demand.

- Supply restricted in Asia and Europe, exacerbated by LG’s Yeosu outage
- Prices soaring in Asia, Europe following similar trend
- Supply to remain short in the near term on rebounding demand, low stocks
- LG's ops status, ZPC's new China BPA plant start-up progress monitored

Senior Editor Caroline Murray and Senior Editor for Recycling, Matt Tudball discuss how the current high freight costs, together with the uncertainty of coronavirus, is impacting the short-term outlook for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET. They discuss:

The current uptrend in virgin PET prices and the impact on R-PET
Supply, demand and turnarounds in PET impact supply
Brexit, virgin plastics taxes in Italy and Spain, and the €800/tonne EU Charge on non-recycled plastic waste

Following a surge in European base oils Group I spot prices, ICIS editors Samantha Wright and Eashani Chavda discuss the latest market developments for the domestic and export markets as well expectations for December.

Manufacturing hundreds of millions of coronavirus vaccine shots could boost demand for polypropylene (PP), but not enough to compensate for losses in other end use markets.
- Coronavirus vaccine packaging may boost demand for polypropylene (PP)
- But not enough to replace lost demand from other end uses
- Refinery closures will restrict petrochemical feedstocks
- End use markets shifting to renewables, low carbon technologies
- Danger that fiscal tightening could stifle recovery, raise unemployment
- Current wave of lockdowns not as damaging to economies
- Lack of visibility on demand patterns beyond Q4

Podcast interview with Rhian O’Connor, ICIS lead analyst for demand modelling and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

As year-end looms, trading activity in the global sulphuric acid market has picked up pace. Sylvia Traganida talks to Andy Hemphill and Annalise Porter about the latest market news.

Epoxy markets in Europe and Asia are in turmoil, with outages hitting supply amid a rebound in demand.

- Europe and Asia face epoxy supply shocks on unexpected issues, demand rebound
- Epoxy prices rising rapidly in Asia and Europe, varied rises in Europe, depending on timing
- BPA tightness and rising costs are an additional pressure for epoxy resins
- Asia/Europe epoxy supply tightness could continue into 2021

Podcast interview with ICIS senior editor Heidi Finch and ICIS editor Ai Teng Lim.

European and US methanol market dynamics continue to follow a similar trend, with healthy demand recovery amid tighter supply boosting spot prices.

ICIS editors Anna Matherne and Eashani Chavda discuss recent market developments and key topics to look out for in 2021.

A newly formed free trade bloc, containing almost one third of the global economy, will push developing economies together at the expense of the US and its allies.
- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) signed by China, 10 Southeast Asian countries, plus South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand
- Aims to eliminate tariffs and simplify Rules of Origin
- Developing economy bloc may become self-sufficient
- US, Europe chemicals left with slow/zero growth markets
- ICIS data shows chemical industry upswing towards year-end
- China’s economy is powering global chemicals into positive 2020 growth

Snug supply of oxo-alcohols is influencing derivative markets, with limited supply of feedstock n-butanol (NBA) putting pressure on pricing for downstream butyl acrylate (BA) and butyl acetate (butac).

Oxo-alcohols editor Jane Massingham discusses conditions on these markets and their derivatives with acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech, glycol ethers editor Eashani Chavda and butac editor Nick Cleeve.