SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- China's domestic acrylonitrile (ACN) prices fell to over five-year lows early this year. Overcapacity, weak demand and sustained margin pressure loomed over the value chain, encouraging players to rebalance.

In this chemical podcast, Asia ACN editors Seymour Chenxia and Corey Chew take a look at recent China and broader Asian ACN market movements, discuss the short-term forecast, supply-demand fundamentals and trade flow outlook for 2026.

• NE Asia ACN prices decline on tepid demand and overcapacity in Jan
• Short-term pressure may ease as negative margins weigh on run rates
• Exports emerge as the long-term option to mitigate China oversupply

LONDON (ICIS)--Sluggish demand, a complex tariff landscape and geopolitical instability are key talking points in the Europe and US epoxy markets.

In this podcast, Heidi Finch who covers the Europe epoxy market and fellow senior editor Tarun Raizada who covers the US epoxy market share insights on tariff uncertainty, ongoing demand and margin concerns in a troubled climate.

• Tariff and trade haze continue to cast shadows over the epoxy markets in both Europe and the US.*
• Demand remains fragile and cautious across regions, with limited restocking activity in Q1, no meaningful recovery expected in the first half of the year, some uplift hopes for H2.
• Pricing tension persists, amid margin concerns vs soft market conditions
• Europe bears the brunt of competition from South Korea, due to EU anti‑dumping exemptions
• Possible EU review of anti‑dumping duties/SK ADD exemption could potentially level out the playing field

*Since the podcast recording, Trump has called off his 10% tariff threat from 1 February on some EU countries over the Greenland dispute following a productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Podcast editing: Zubair Adam

The whip shaw over tariffs relating to the Greenland dispute highlights the need for chemical companies to plan for a world of rising geopolitical instability.

· Trump’s tariff swings deepen uncertainty for global chemical trade

· EU–US deal stalls, exposing fragile trade negotiation structures

· Davos leaders warn of weakening global institutions and alliances

· China presents itself as stabilising force amid shifting geopolitics

· Trade deals no longer guarantee protection from sudden policy shocks

· Tariff uncertainty threatens investment, planning and market confidence

· Chemicals growth areas include defence, recycling and water technologies

· Chemicals may need to develop strong regional champions

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

Despite widespread geopolitical instability around the world, the most severe period of crude oil oversupply ever will depress prices, latest ICIS forecasts show.

- For 2026 global oil markets are in the largest period of oversupply we have ever seen

- Oversupply forecast by ICIS at 3 million barrels/day out of a roughly 100 million barrels/day market

- China oil demand growth has slowed drastically thanks to slowing economy and transition to electric vehicles

- OPEC is increasing supply, unwinding previous cuts

- Around 20% of global oil supplies pass through Strait of Hormuz so closing it could push prices above $100/barrel.

- End Q1/early Q2 Brent crude oil prices could decline under $60/barrel as fundamentals of oversupply take over from geopolitical concerns

- Overall prices could be 15% lower than in 2025, ICIS forecasts

- China-driven chemicals oversupply will persist in 2026

- Developing world outside China may become a driver of chemicals demand

- SABIC’s petrochemical sale ushers in new era of ownership by turnaround investors

In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS market development director John Richardson, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Ajay Parmar, head of oil markets for ICIS.

BARCELONA (ICIS)--EU leaders seem to recognize the need for action to reverse deindustrialization, but it risks being too little, too late for chemicals.

• EU chemicals regulation needs ambitious reform, not tinkering at the edges
• Chemical companies continue to close operations in Europe, partly driven by regulatory costs
• Expect a review of Reach regulation and “one substance one assessment” part of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability in 2026
• Sustainability reporting requirements are being watered down
• Proposed changes to the EU Waste Framework Directive will impact chemical recycling sector
• Risk of EU moving towards hazard-based assessments, rather than risk
• Restriction of lead in ammunition could stifle defence sector
• Move away from international rule of law means new approaches needed

In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Gerard McElwee and Peter Sellar from Squire Patton Boggs, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen a subdued level of activity in December amid ample supply across derivative markets and sluggish demand.

For 2026, many remain sceptical surrounding the prospect of demand recovery tied in part to the potential of infrastructure spending and any resolution to ongoing geopolitical issues.

Glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech about market conditions and expectations for the near future.

In the second of a two-part Sustainably Speaking podcast special, Helen McGeough, ICIS Global Analyst Team Lead for Plastics Recycling talks to long-standing veterans of the European recycling industry about the current state of the market and steps for the future.

In Part 2, Helen is joined by Bernard Merkx who has an extensive background in the recycling industry and is the former President of Plastics Recyclers Europe, to take a look at the challenges still facing the recycling markets today, including:

• Risk of bankruptcies, high energy costs and price volatility to persist to 2027
• New recycling capacities focused on packaging at the expense of the automotive and construction sector despite upcoming recycled content targets
• How imports into the EU remain essential in the short-term
• Plus some calls to action for Europe’s recycling industry

With the prospect of global overcapacity easing from around 2030, Middle East petrochemical players are debating how to monetise their plentiful natural gas supplies.

• Middle East producers plan a major new capacity wave after 2030,
• Long‑term strategy centres on monetising hydrocarbons beyond 2030
• China’s overcapacity cycle may ease by around 2030,
• Debate about staying focused on simple, large‑volume commodity grades or moves into higher‑value or specialty polymers
• Climate‑driven demographic and economic pressures in the Global South could reshape demand
• Chinese competition in high‑value chemicals is intensifying
• Maintaining strong ties with China remains important today
• Massive crude oil‑to‑chemicals (COTC) ambitions are being moderated
• Partnerships and M&A are key tools for Middle East companies to secure technology, expand globally, and balance portfolios

In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS senior consultant John Richardson.
Download a special issue of ICIS Chemical Business with full coverage of the recent Gulf Petrochemical Association (GPCA) event.