After a tumultuous recovery in 2021, the global chemical industry was expecting a strong rebound in 2022. Feedstock supply constraints, high energy prices, and slowing economic conditions, however, dampened the industry’s performance in 2022. A number of these challenges will persist and likely intensify in 2023 and continue to challenge the industry. Key trends with…
Chemical Industry Summary The recently completed first quarter financial results reported for US chemical companies indicated year-over-year revenue growth and solid, if not record-setting margins for many commodity chemicals. Earnings were generally flat from last year’s Q1 levels, except for those companies leveraged to the commodities titanium dioxide and methanol, and to a lesser extent…
Chemical Industry Summary The 6-month anniversary of OPEC’s decision to limit crude oil production will occur at the end of May, and the decision to re-authorize production cut targets is pending. The current news flow prompts many analysts to anticipate that the production cut targets will remain in place in 2017, perhaps extended to 9…
Chemical Industry Summary After trading in a stable range of US$5/Bbl. for several months, the last week has seen global crude oil prices soften roughly 10% with WTI prices now trading belowUS$48/Bbl. The current weakness of pricing is related to recent inventory and production data that have cast doubt on the potential for global crude…