What's in store for specialty chemicals?

Jennifer Abril, president and CEO of Socma, the US trade association for specialty and custom chemical makers, joins the podcast to discuss how the year is looking for companies in the sector. Topics include a topsy-turvy 2023, the likely end of destocking, interest in AI, and Socma's advocacy agenda for 2024.

This episode was recorded live at the Socma Show 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. on February 20. 

S&P Global Commodity Insights vice president Mark Morgan and executive director Karine Boccara, lead authors of recent report on sustainable chemicals, join the podcast to to discuss advances in sustainble chemicals. Topics include the role of chemical recycling in sustainability and the challenges - and opportunities - in creating chemical building blocks from renewable or biobased feedstocks.

To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strategic Reports, including the report on sustainable chemicals, click or tap here.

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In the first episode of an occasional series on recycling and sustainability, S&P Global Commodity Insights global sustainable editor lead Heng Hui and European chemicals analyst Iris Poon join host Abdulaziz Ehtaiba to discuss the outlook for recycled polymer markets, with a particular focus on geographic differences, regulation, and price dynamics.

If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll get a lot out of the 2024 World Petrochemical Conference. Register here: https://bit.ly/WPC2024pod

S&P Global Commodity Insights chemicals journalists Kristen Hays and Abdulaziz Ehtaiba, along with CW editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt, sit down with host Vincent Valk for a discussion of the 2024 outlook. Topics include the threat of petchems oversupply, what to expect in Europe and China, the impact of high interest rates, and where the energy transition goes from here.

Karim Engelmark-Cassimjee, CEO and co-founder of green chemistry start-up EnginZyme, joins the podcast to discuss the promise and pitfalls of biomanufacturing processes, and the company’s advances in biobased catalysts and vaccine ingredients.

Sameer Bharadwaj, CEO of Orbia, joind S&P Global Commodity Insights' polymers lead Kristen Hays to discuss Orbia's transition to a global player focused on sustainability, as well as the longer-term outlook for PVC markets.

With growing demand for recycled plastics and investment in recycling ramping up, what does the future hold for plastics circularity? Bertan Enhos, exeuctive director/chemical consulting at S&P Global Commodity Insights and lead author of a recent report on plastics circularity, joins the podcast to discuss the state of plastic recycling, the promise of chemical recycling technology, and hurdles to developing a circular plastics supply chain.

To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strategic Reports, including the report on plastics recycling, click or tap here.

Chemical Week editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt and senior editor Vincent Valk discuss third quarter results and what they imply for the industry's outlook. Topics include whether destocking could be coming to an end, if demand is bottoming out, the operating environment in Europe and recovery in China.

Carmen Song, principal consultant at S&P Global Commodity Insights and lead author of a new report on the state of the chemicals sector in China, joins the podcast to discuss shifting currents in the Chinese industry. Topics include a capacity build-out amid oversupply, the impact of decoupling and trade restrictions, and China's energy transition.

To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strategic Reports, including the report on China, click here.

Abdulaziz Ehtaiba, senior editor/EMEA chemicals with S&P Global Commodity Insights hosts a discussion with Sarah Trinder, managing editor/aromatics EMEA at S&P Global Commodity Insights and Chemical Week executive editor Ian Young on the key takeaways from last month's European Petrochemicals Association (EPCA) meeting. Topics include the dismal outlook for European petrochemicals, Europe's unique regulatory burdens, and how producers will meet the challenges of the energy transition.

At the start of the episode, Chemical Week senior editor Vincent Valk gives an overview of some exciting changes coming to the Chemical Week Podcast!