I recently spoke at the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s 2024 Annual Convention and EXPO in Louisville, Kentucky, where much attention was placed on the value proposition of adhesives and sealants in the realm of energy transition. Discussions revolved around bio-based and low-carbon products, as well as the applications of adhesives and sealants in emerging sectors…
Although electric vehicle (EV) sales are slowing, they have surpassed expectations in the past few years. While an average EV still remains more expensive than an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle today, prices have fallen significantly in recent years. As shown in exhibit 1, the decline in lithium-ion battery pack prices since 2015 is particularly…
Methanol is a versatile chemical traditionally used to produce a wide range of other commodity chemicals like formaldehyde, acetic acid, and MTBE. Formaldehyde, acetic acid, and MTBE are the three primary chemicals that make up around 85% of methanol’s use in chemical applications. Formaldehyde is used to make urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins, which are widely…
Ammonia is mainly used in fertilizer production which represents ~70% of global ammonia demand. A rising population is expected to support consistent ammonia-based fertilizer demand growth in the medium term. Traditionally, ammonia has been produced via steam methane reforming (SMR) or auto-thermal refining (ATR) of methane gas which can emit 1.9 to 2.6 tons of…
In 1987, the world collectively decided to ban chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) after discovering their devastating impact on the ozone layer. Despite the industry’s initial concerns about the economic implications, the ban was successful, and the ozone layer is now on the road to recovery. The ongoing debate around “forever chemicals” such as PFAS calls for a…
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 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…
Polypropylene (PP) is the most used plastic after polyethylene and has made way into our daily lives ranging from packaging and food containers to clothing, furniture, and automotives. PP is made via polymerization of propylene in the presence of catalyst, and it has benefitted largely through the catalyst development efforts that began with Natta, who…
The global chemical industry saw a steep but tumultuous recovery in 2021 following the pandemic with expectations that it will stabilize in 2022. Key trends to look out for in 2022 are as follows: 1. Global chemical industry drivers will grow at a stable pace in 2022 after a tumultuous recovery in 2021 Global GDP…
In July this year, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill designating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Under the PFAS Action Act the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be required to add perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroactanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to…