• WPC 2024
  • March 18-22, 2024

Harry Thomas

S&P Global Commodity Insights

Director, Inorganics Americas

Harry Thomas is the Director of Inorganics in the America’s for the newly formed S&P Global Commodity Insights division. Based from the Houston, TX location, Harry joined S&P in 2022.

With 35 years of industry experience between Occidental Chemical and Olin Corporation in Chlor-Alkali, Vinyl’s, Petrochemicals, Specialties and Epoxy Resins, Harry has held a number of prominent and global positions. Most recently he was the President of Epoxy at Olin, with other responsibilities in his tenure involving leading Chlorinated Organics, International, and Corporate Strategy & Growth. Harry led the M&A efforts for Olin during the $6Bn acquisition of Dow Chlorine Products in 2015. Harry has worked for some of the largest producers of Vinyl’s and Chlor- Alkali and the broadest international exporters around the world of EDC, VCM, PVC, LCS and Epoxy Products.

Harry holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and an MBA from Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. He resides out of Dallas, TX.

Sessions With Harry Thomas

Thursday, 21 March

  • 10:30am - 12:00pm (CST) / 21/mar/2024 03:30 pm - 21/mar/2024 05:00 pm

    Derivatives: It is Time to Thin the Herd

    10:30 AM: Welcome remarks - Larry Tan, Chemicals Insight, APAC lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    10:35 AM: Polyethylene Global Overview – Deeply Entrenched in a downcycle, what are the prospects for a faster recovery? - Jesse Tijerina, Chemical Insights, Americas Polyolefins Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    The polyethylene market has been in a downcycle for more than 12 months now.  The conditions that drove the polyethylene market there persist; oversupply due to the unprecedented new capacity overbuild and lower demand due to a weak global economic environment in 2023 and even lower expected in 2024.  A review of the polyethylene supply/demand fundamentals indicate action is needed by industry participants to achieve a faster recovery.   
    10:50 AM: Polypropylene Global Overview - Uncovering Potential Winners in the Evolved Era - Pooja Jain, Senior Principal Research Analyst, Polymer, Asia, S&P Global Commodity Insights
    11:05 AM: Vinyl's Global Overview - Navigating current challenges before large expectations of growth - Harry Thomas, Director - Inorganics, Americas, S&P Global Commodity Insights  

    The global market has recovered from the volume decline in 2022 driven by large steps of demand improvement in India.  Global operating rates are at a 8 year low and will require 18-24 months to absorb the new investments in global capacity.   Energy and feedstock prices are low helping both the consumer and producer now.   S&P's analysis and expectations are for the sizeable acceleration of Vinyl's demand from housing and infrastructure growth in the back half of the decade.   
    11:25 AM: Ethylene Oxide & Monoethylene Glycol: Do intermediates offer “value in diversity” through the Energy Transition? - Andy Orszynski, Director, Olefins & Derivatives, S&P Commodity Insights
    11:45 AM: Q&A