Industry: Chemicals & Plastics

Europe’s chemical industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, marked by a surge in divestitures and plant closures. This challenging environment, driven by weak demand, persistently high energy costs, lingering overcapacity, and geopolitical pressures, highlights the sector’s declining competitiveness. Indeed, a recent Cefic study revealed that in 2023 and 2024 alone, chemical companies announced the closure of over […]

Last week, I attended the 2025 Reuters Downstream USA conference, where a central theme resonated deeply across discussions: the critical importance of reliability in the refining and chemicals sectors. While chemical engineers often define reliability as a system’s probability of functioning without failure for a set time under given conditions, its broader, transformative impact on […]

The oil & gas and chemical industries are at an inflection point. For years, growth was a given, but a new era, one characterized by a structural decline in capital and operational spending, is starting to take shape. Recent trends of slowing oil demand growth, oversupplied markets, and shrinking chemical margins as shown in exhibit […]

Hydrogen is key to decarbonizing, and countries worldwide unequivocally recognize this, as seen from the widespread policies supporting hydrogen market development displayed in exhibit 1. Most European countries have developed hydrogen strategies and roadmaps, with targets for green H2 production capacity by 2030, including 5.0 GW in the UK, 10.0 GW in Germany, and 6.5 […]

The United States has become a top player in global energy, especially in ethane exports. This position comes from its large domestic supply, good prices, and significant investments in export facilities, all supported by long-term contracts with international buyers. U.S. upstream and midstream players currently export about 0.5 million barrels per day (MMBPD) of ethane, which is […]

Traditionally, hydrogen has been produced predominantly via steam methane reforming (SMR), a process in which methane in natural gas reacts with steam at high temperature, producing hydrogen, and carbon dioxide (CO2) as byproduct. Hydrogen produced via this method is commonly referred to as grey hydrogen. Although this method is cost-effective, it contributes significantly to greenhouse […]

In the May 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we spotlight LyondellBasell’s dual-track investments in mechanical and chemical recycling, as shared at the 2025 ADI Forum. This issue also features key project assessments—ranging from catalyst markets to oilfield chemicals—alongside major plant announcements, closures, M&A moves, and feedstock supply contracts shaping the global chemicals landscape. […]

In the April 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we discussed how the chemical industry is prioritizing sustainability, exploring seven renewable electricity options. Globally, there was a mix of plant expansions and closures from ExxonMobil, Dow, and Mitsubishi Chemicals. M&A activity included KPS Capital acquiring INEOS resins, Shell selling its Singapore park, and Hexpol […]

In the March 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we covered how the plastics industry faced challenges in accurately measuring GHG emissions. This is crucial for effective sustainability efforts. Recent industry activities included plant expansions by Mangalore Refinery and Idemitsu Kosan, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and feedstock supply agreements ensuring material availability. However, plant […]

In the March 2025 edition of the ADI newsletter, we covered how refineries are under pressure to decarbonize. Despite a slowdown, shale consolidation was expected to attract investment, and the Middle East was experiencing a gas boom to meet rising demand. Additionally, the global chemical industry was projected to rebound in 2025, driven by specialty […]

The refining industry faced another challenging year in 2024, with crack spreads plummeting due to weak demand for petroleum products and rising global refining capacity. As we look ahead to 2025, refiners will likely encounter another difficult year with sluggish demand, tight margins, and potential supply disruptions amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Key trends to watch […]

Resilience through innovation and strategic restructuring is laying the groundwork for a recovery in the chemicals industry. As companies pivot toward high-growth markets and adapt to global challenges, 2025 is expected to bring renewed optimism. Key trends to watch in 2025 include: The rest of this article is available to ADI Plus Essential subscribers. ADI […]