Industry: Specialty polymers

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Future of chemicals & polymers: Challenges and opportunities

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics, presented the outlook for the chemical industry. Key topics included challenges for the chemical industry such as uncertain demand and high costs, medium-term optimism due to trends like energy transition and 5G, and the future of globalization and its impact […]

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Navigating the commoditized polymer landscape

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics, presented the outlook for the chemicals markets in the coming year. Key topics included the ongoing commoditization of specialty chemicals, the significant shift of production capacity towards China, and strategies for combating commoditization. Despite a challenging 2022, the long-term trend […]

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Breakthroughs in food packaging and fire-resistant materials

At the 2023 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Vikram Gopal, SVP & CTO, Ascend Performance Materials, joined moderator Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics, for the innovation panel. Key topics included a strategic shift to specialized, higher-margin materials driven by customer-centric innovation. This involved developing diverse polyamide co-polymers for critical applications like electrification in […]

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2023 Chemicals outlook: Challenges galore

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 […]

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Reduce, reuse, recycle: The bioplastics market keeps growing

The global bioplastic market size was about $5.5 billion in 2021 with strong growth projected in the future. In fact, about 2.5 million tons of bioplastics were made last year with production forecasted to increase to about 7.5 million tons in 2026. With companies increasingly focused on ESG and growing acceptance of bioplastics among consumers, […]

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Countries banning phthalate-based PP catalysts

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 […]

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How microbial PHAs are made

At the 2022 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Raj Krishnaswamy, VP of Polymers R&D, CJ Bio, joined the bio‑based polymers and sustainable materials panel. Key topics included the inherent biodegradability of microbially produced, bio‑based polymers (aliphatic polyesters). These polymers served as a food source for microorganisms, ensuring their complete degradation. The trend was […]

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Building strong partnerships in the PE & PP industries

At the 2022 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Ron Smith, VP, Joint Venture Development, PureCycle Technologies joined the PE and PP markets panel, moderated by Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics. Key topics included the rapid formation of partnerships for both raw material sourcing and product sales. The conversation also touched on the thorough […]

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The future of plastics & polymers: Market trends and insights for 2022

At the 2022 FlexPO+, (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics, provided a comprehensive overview of the plastics and polymers market, providing an outlook of the market trends and insights for 2022. Key topics included the chemical industry’s underperformance despite long-term gains, driven by challenging feedstock costs and overcapacity from China. […]

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The future of circular polymers: Opportunities and impact

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. […]

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Emerging trends in specialty polymers

At the 2022 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Jose Mendez, Global Business Director, SK Geo Centric, joined moderator Uday Turaga, CEO, ADI Analytics for the specialty and performance polymers panel. Key topics included reasons for investment in a particular region, driven by strong growth and a deficit in the supply of specialized polymers. […]

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Co-polymer market trends and outlook for 2022

At the 2022 FlexPO+ (now incorporated into the ADI Forum), Jose Mendez, Global Business Director at SK Geo Centric, joined the specialty and performance polymers panel. Key topics included the significant role of sustainability in driving polymer growth across various sectors. A key driver for this growth was recyclability, with specific chemistry technology being utilized […]