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…
Like many industries, the chemical industry is benefiting from advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud computing capabilities. Both large tech companies and small startups are capitalizing on the capabilities of AI to spur development in the chemical industry. Research and development, process design, supply chain management, and predictive maintenance are the…
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…
The global chemical industry struggled in 2023. The year was marked by rising inflation rates and low demand from major markets. With China still in recovery, the growth the industry was hoping for never came to fruition. In 2024 we expect things to stay the course and see no drastic changes up or down in…
The C&EN has announced their Global Top 50 chemical firms for 2023, and many of them have invested into sustainability projects. These projects include initiatives to decarbonize energy and to improve current recycling capabilities.
U.S. private equity (PE) deals declined in value by 30% in 2022 from the record high of 2021 but dry powder changed marginally. Materials and resources were hard hit and deal value and transactions both fell by ~70% and ~40%, respectively. (Figure 1) Figure 1: Private equity deals and assets Plastics M&A also fell from…
After a few good years, outperforming broader markets in the past decade, the chemicals industry currently faces significant challenges moving forward. Feedstock cost competitiveness and new markets, two of the more significant market drivers, have a positive outlook. However, other drivers are negative, such as the current direction of interest rates, or neutral, such as…
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…
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…