• WPC 2024
  • March 18-22, 2024

Bernd Helbing

S&P Global Commodity Insights

C4s & Elastomers Lead

Bernd is the EMEA C4´s and Elastomers consultant for the S&P Global Chemicals Insights team. He joined S&P Global in 2023 to lead the Global C4´s and Elastomers team.

His main responsibility in the past started with company Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf, in the area of sales (5 years’ experience in the construction of an entire sales organization and structure for Henkel in Russia). Additional more than 10 years’ experience in the strategic raw materials purchase department for Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf. Bernd had worked several years with his own company in the area of synthetic rubber and their feedstocks, mainly C4 and butadiene.

During this period Bernd acquire a sustained experience of raw materials especially from the C2/C3 and C4 chain. He was responsible to complete studies of the European raw material market and to implement tools which allowed reacting timely to market developments and influences, either on the economic side or on supply/demand. In his time with his own company, he was responsible to explore the market on the C4 and butadiene chain and to provide to secure the production dispose on the supply chain side. For the sales side he was responsible to focus the market drivers for the derivatives worldwide. For former IHS Markit his responsibilities require input to the Global C4 Olefins and Elastomers Report, Global Outlook - Feedstocks, Elastomers and Rubber, World Analysis for butadiene and business advisory work.

Sessions With Bernd Helbing

Thursday, 21 March

  • 08:00am - 09:30am (CST) / 21/mar/2024 01:00 pm - 21/mar/2024 02:30 pm

    Olefins in a Time of Turbulence

    Finding growth opportunities and managing energy transition through an industry trough
    The olefins and derivatives market is going through challenging margins currently. However, even amdist the industry trough, there are growth opportunities for some key geographies to capitalise on and emerging technologies to manage energy transition issues. 

    8:00 AM: Welcome Remarks - Tony Potter, Vice President - Chemicals, Derivatives, Plastics & Materials, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    8:05 AM: A Leading Player's View on the Future of the Olefins Industry - Edward Stones, Business Vice President, Energy and Climate, Dow
    8:30 AM: Global Ethylene Overview: Viewing the Energy Transition from the Trough - Walt Hart, Olefins Americas Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    Although ethylene markets are currently in a margin trough, the industry will eventually recover, and operating rates will improve. Meanwhile, Energy Transition and Sustainability developments are very dynamic, making future success a moving target. Despite recent adversity, it is important to position for the future upcycle market reflecting demand growth trends, effects on feedstocks and other market influences while many countries decarbonize. This presentation will review the current ethylene market situation and discuss some of the uncertainties impacting the recovery.
    8:45 AM: Global Propylene Overview - How do you solve a "problem" like on-purpose production steps? - Larry Tan, Chemicals Insight, APAC Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    What is the status and role of on-purpose propylene production steps in the current challenging times of over-supply and low margins, especially in China ? Are there solutions in managing through the industry trough?
    9:00 AM: Global C4s and Butadiene Overview - Will China be the next “game changer” ? - Bernd Helbing, Director, C4s & Elastomers, Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights 
    “Second wave” of new BDE extraction units.
    9:15 AM: Q&A