Industry: Chemicals & Plastics

ADI Analytics has officially released its chemicals outlook for this year, detailing a landscape defined by cautious recovery and significant structural shifts. As the global industry navigates a “low growth, better mix” environment, companies are pivoting away from aggressive expansion toward operational excellence and portfolio high-grading. The following ten points summarize the key findings from […]

In the December 2025 edition of the ADI Chemicals Newsletter, we explore how AI in energy and chemicals is moving from hype to reality. Successful adoption depends on practical, bottom-up implementation rather than top-down mandates. Companies like Aramco, Suncor, and Clariant are using AI to augment operations, not replace human expertise. This edition also highlights […]

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Jose Sanchez Mendez, Director, Plastics and Polymers, Mathiesen USA, highlighted the company’s long-standing presence and diverse business model in the chemical industry, particularly in the area of specialty polymers. Mathiesen operates through distribution, representation, and production. Mendez said that with global reach, strong financial footing, […]

At FlexPO+ 2023 (now part of the ADI Forum), Richard Shaw, Director of Circular Economy & Sustainability at Americas Styrenics, discussed the company’s commitment to recycling and sustainability, as well as its perspective on the future of sustainable plastics. The discussion highlighted AmSty’s investment in polystyrene recycling, including the use of both dissolution and pyrolysis […]

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Carlos Badiola, SVP of Engineering at Encina, discussed the company’s efforts to convert mixed plastic waste into basic chemical products, such as benzene, at its Pennsylvania facility. The discussion focused on Encina’s approach to advanced recycling, including its work in understanding different waste qualities and […]

In the November 2025 edition of the ADI Chemicals Newsletter, we begin by examining how chemical industry demand is no longer moving in step with GDP growth. Structural forces such as demographic decline, material efficiency, recycling, and substitution are reshaping the market. Additionally, we highlight reliability as a critical differentiator in refining and chemicals—beyond its […]

The dominant news in the chemical industry is the painful reality of excess capacity. Supply is so high that it’s crippling profitability, especially for European producers. But behind this supply crisis is an even more crucial question: What’s happening with chemical industry demand? There’s a growing sense that chemical demand growth is increasingly divorced from […]

In the October 2025 edition of the ADI Chemicals Newsletter, we begin by examining how POE and POP demand growth will continue in automotive, packaging, and renewable applications. Global demand for polyolefin elastomers (POE) and plastomers (POP) has grown steadily, driven by expanding use in packaging, polymer modification, and foam applications, with increasing adoption in […]

The early 1980s marked a turning point for the chemical industry with the emergence of single-site, homogeneous, or metallocene catalysts for polymer production. This single-site feature allowed for better control over polymer design, driving growth in specialty and engineered polymer applications. Ethylene- or propylene-based polyolefin elastomers (POE) and plastomers (POP) combine the properties of traditional […]

The Methanol Institute (MI) commissioned ADI to prepare a study on the economic and employment impacts of the U.S. methanol industry. The study concluded that the availability of abundant and cheap shale gas supplies significantly advantages domestic production of methanol in the U.S. Any investments in new methanol production capacity could create a significant economic […]

In the September 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we covered the major regulatory changes impacting plastics recycling in the U.S., which are creating both opportunities and challenges. This issue also highlighted several recent plant startups, including an ammonia plant by Cronus Chemicals in Illinois and an alkoxides facility by Evonik Industries in Singapore. […]

Last week, the annual Digitalization in Oil & Gas conference rolled into Houston, and I was grateful for the opportunity to speak at this always-excellent event hosted by our friends at the Energy Conference Network. The panel was charged to talk about building a digital-ready workforce, and I prepared by summarizing ADI Analytics’ consulting and research […]