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
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