Industry: Polyolefins

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 […]

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 […]

Plastic waste management in the U.S. is undergoing major regulatory transformation. At the center of this change is advanced recycling, a group of chemical and thermal processes designed to complement traditional mechanical recycling by breaking down used plastics into the raw materials needed to make new plastics. Federal infrastructure programs, state-level policy shifts, and private […]

The European chemical industry is in the midst of a significant transformation, driven by a perfect storm of weak demand, persistently high energy costs, lingering overcapacity, and the disruptive impact of geopolitical factors like new tariffs. These challenging conditions are forcing major players to make tough decisions, resulting in a wave of strategic divestitures and painful plant closures across the […]

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 […]

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 […]

At the 2023 ADI Forum (formerly FlexPO+), Victor Toffoli, Senior Analyst, ADI Analytics, discussed the steady growth of the polyethylene and polypropylene markets in 2023, driven by demand from packaging, automotive, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Key topics included polyolefin demand growth (especially PE, PP, HDPE, POE/POP), increased ethylene capacity (Eastern hemisphere focus), and the impact […]

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Thomas Marthinsen, Head of North America Alliance Office, Borealis, and Nathan Wiker, GM & VP, Nexeo Plastics, joined moderator Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics during the polyolefins panel. Key topics included the role of joint ventures and local partnerships in international expansion, and the evolving […]

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Thomas Marthinsen, Head of North America Alliance Office, Borealis, and Nathan Wiker, GM & VP Commodities and Packaging, Nexeo Plastics, spoke during the feedstock panel. Key topics included plastics industry market conditions, customer demand trends, and segment-specific performance (automotive, healthcare, packaging, industrial films). They also […]

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Victor Toffoli, Senior Analyst, ADI Analytics, presented an analysis of the polypropylene market. Key topics included robust polyolefin demand growth in HDPE, PP, and POE/POP, driven by solar encapsulants, infrastructure, and automotive sectors. Additionally, significant ethylene capacity expansion was expected in China and the Middle […]

At FlexPO+ 2023 (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Thomas Marthinsen, Head of North America Alliance Office, Borealis, and Nathan Wiker, GM & VP, Nexeo Plastics, joined moderator Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics on the polyolefins markets panel. Key topics included contrasting sustainability approaches in Europe vs. the U.S., highlighting differing urgency and legislative drivers. […]

At the 2022 ADI Forum, Vijay Mhetar, SVP & CTO, Kraton Corporation joined moderator Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics for the innovation for circularity and sustainability panel. Key topics included broad applications for plastic recycling solutions across various polymer types, highlighting adoption by smaller companies with simpler value chains and a strong commitment to sustainability. […]