With Asian chemical producers forced to cut operating rates through lack of Middle East feedstocks, it is time for industry leaders to move to a more regional business model.

- Chemical industry has relied for decades on global supply chains

- Asia crackers forced to cut operating rates as Middle East raw materials dry up

- “Just in time” stocks need to be increased to “Just in case”

- CEOs may rethink, consider more local, less vulnerable supply chain options

- World may regroup into three trading zones focussed on Americas, China/Asia, Europe

- High levels of debt will make companies much more cautious

- Trading, pricing of chemicals has become very complicated in chaotic upstream environment

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

Europe acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) editor Stephanie Wix, Asia ABS Senior Editor Angeline Soh, and Senior Data Analyst Yolanda Chen discuss the impact of the recently confirmed definitive anti‑dumping duties (ADD's) on ABS imports from South Korea and Taiwan, with host Aviva Zhang, Global Lead for Styrenics and Industry Analyst for Styrene China.

The team examines how the duties are reshaping trade flows, the continued weakness in Europe ABS demand, the shifting strategies among Asian producers, and the indirect risks from rising geopolitical tensions on upstream styrene costs and freight routes.

• European Commission confirmed definitive anti-dumping duties on 13 February 2026
• Taiwan loses further European market share; China sees limited but growing opportunities
• European demand remains subdued; buyers reassess import options
• Asia sees seasonal demand improvement but lower overall 2026 growth expectations
• US–Iran tensions may tighten styrene supply and extend import lead times for ABS and upstream styrene

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's naphtha inventories are rapidly depleting as the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupts crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which around 20% of global crude supply passes.

With crude oil exports from the Middle East constrained, naphtha resupply to Asia has tightened sharply. Estimates suggest Asian petrochemical producers are holding just two to three weeks of working inventory, raising concerns that prolonged disruption could trigger run cuts or even major shutdowns if replenishment fails to materialize.

In this podcast, ICIS principle analyst Darryl Xu breaks down how the Middle East conflict is constraining naphtha availability to Asia, and the potential downstream impact on steam crackers across the region.

• US-Iran conflict disrupts Strait of Hormuz, preventing Middle East crude exports
• Asian producers adjust run rates to manage depleting naphtha inventories
• Middle East refiners face pressure to export amid limited product containment

The Plastics Recycling Conference has just wrapped up at the end of February in San Diego, California, here is some key insights from the event. Podcast hosted by Senior Analyst Corbin Olson, joined by analyst team lead Andrea Bassetti and analyst Joshua Dill.

Key topics covered include:
- Shifts in supply and demand for recycled plastics
- Impacts of imported recycled plastics on the domestic market
- Insights into the pricing dynamics in the US plastics recycling market

ICIS experts discuss the immediate and longer-term impact of the Middle East conflict with rising prices likely to fuel inflation, hurting downstream demand.

- Crude oil spike cushioned by reserves, “wait and see” attitude

- Duration of war is the key to impact on all commodities

- Oil prices could spike to triple figures, trigger talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz

- Qatari LNG plant is biggest in the world and has been shut down

- Around 20% of global LNG supply has been cut off

- Power, carbon prices see changed dynamics

- Record high sulphur prices may now move even higher

- Other fertilizer prices rising, urea faces particular challenges

- Supply shock ahead of planting season will pressure farmers

- Food prices likely to rise

- Chemical producers may struggle to pass on price hikes, pressuring margins

- Lack of Middle East chemicals and feedstocks already hurting Asia, may impact Europe

- Europe chemicals could gain if local customers return to more local sourcing during war

Navigate to 01:24 for crude oil commentary, 09:43 for natural gas, 17:43 for power, 23:18 for fertilizers and 37:00 for chemicals.

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown, ICIS head of oil markets Ajay Parmar, ICIS gas editor Ed Cox, ICIS power editor Andrea Battaglia, Andy Hemphill and Deepika Thapliyal from the ICIS fertilizer team and Tom Brown, ICIS Insight editor.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Although upstream crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel oil (PKO) costs have risen in Asia, oleochemicals buyers are adopting a cautious stance, having largely stocked up prior to the Chinese New Year in mid-February, and are not under pressure to lock in near term shipments.

The overlying sentiment is one where the oleochemicals prices will be under upward pressure regardless of whether demand is strong enough to support the price hikes, given the compressed margins from escalating upstream costs and spike in freight costs.

In this podcast, ICIS senior editor Helen Yan breaks down the impact of the Iran war and escalating military conflict in the Middle East on the Asian oleochemicals markets.

• Upstream CPO, PKO prices have risen amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East
• Glycerine, fatty alcohols mid-cuts C12-14 spot prices revised up on higher upstream CPO, PKO costs
• Players are monitoring the volatile situation, with buyers largely adopting a prudent stance

SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Asia’s base oils market is in a period of adjustment, with narrowing light–heavy grade spreads, rising regional supply and evolving trade relationships reshaping sentiment. Heavy-grade premiums in Group II have sharply corrected, while upcoming turnarounds may lend short-term support to lighter grades. New capacities across Singapore, India and Saudi Arabia are set to heighten competition, alongside China’s growing export ambitions and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Meanwhile, discussions around a potential US–India trade deal and India’s expanding crude sourcing options add further uncertainty to future cost structures and import flows.

In this chemical podcast, ICIS editors Michelle Liew and Olivia Dai break down key takeaways from the 30th ICIS World Base Oils & Lubricants Conference and discuss how capacity expansion, changing trade patterns and policy developments are shaping the outlook for Asia’s base oils market.

• Light–heavy grade spreads in Group II narrow sharply
• New capacities in Singapore, India and Saudi Arabia expected to intensify competition
• China’s structural export growth and evolving US–India trade relations to influence future trade flows

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have largely been driven by supply factors and upstream movements, as underlying demand remains subdued on continued wider economic weakness and geopolitical tensions.

Oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate reporter, Marion Boakye, joins acrylate esters editor, Mathew Jolin-Beech, and glycol ethers editor, Cameron Birch, to discuss current conditions along the oxo-alcohols value chain.