ARTICLES

  • China and its economic rebalancing continue to cause concern in SE Asia. News that China is forecast to grow at much less than 10% pa as it restructures its economy, has cast a shadow on the economic future of SE Asian countries dependent on China. The chemicals and polymers industries in several countries like Malaysia and Thailand rely heavily on growth of overall exports to China. However, the petrochem industry in these countries continues to grow. Growth in SE Asia consumer spending along with polymer consumption from a comparatively low base - has partly been driven by the wealth effect of booming property markets. Infrastructure spending is another factor behind the region's economic success story. Read more in Economic growth drives growth opportunities for petrochemicals in SE Asia
  • A combination of factors such as feedstock price, feedstock availability, lightweight properties, energy costs, environmental issues, and government regulations are significantly affecting dynamics of the polyethylene industry. Strategies such as new product innovation, processes, and feedstock technologies are expected to help players capture market share. To know about the major players, the factors affecting growth, the growing regions, emerging trends, share of different grades, etc, read Strong growth in global polyethylene industry expected to continue at a CAGR of 3.5% over next 5 years
  • For the third consecutive year, it seems possible that PE growth, and quite likely growth in other resins, will be misaligned with the overall increase in GDP in China. The government seems determined to deal with corruption, to deflate the property bubble and to slow the economy down. China can no longer be the growth engine of the world. The usual flow of China’s polyethylene (PE) production data has been interrupted since the start of the year. But the good news is that normal publication has now been resumed. Read more in Polyethylene market in China sees slow demand growth
  • The Indian petrochemicals industry will experience a surge in capacity in 2013, which will plug the deficits in the market that emerged over the past year as demand outstripped supply. However, the sector is weighed down by a poor business climate that is undermining progress in the investment necessary to put India on par with its main Asian competitor, China. Nevertheless, production indices pointed to a sharp downturn and growth that was well below the 9.5% average petrochemicals demand growth rate targeted by the government. Read more in Doubts increase over growth potential of India’s petrochemicals industry
  • In North America, low-cost feedstock from shale gas is revitalizing the polyethylene business, making PE exports highly competitive globally. The increasing availability of advantaged ethane feedstock from shale gas in the US has prompted almost all major North America polyolefin producers to announce ethylene or PE capacity additions that will come online within the next five years. Major exporters within the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and the US will continue to benefit from China’s insatiable appetite for external polyethylene supplies. Read more in An upsurge of new projects in North America revitalizes PE industry, to boost capacity by 28.7%



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