Chemical Week

In two live interviews from the 2026 World Petrochemical Conference, Dow CEO Jim Fitterling and American Chemistry Council CEO Chris Jahn discuss the state of the industry in a moment of heightened volatility. Fitterling discusses the potential impact of the Middle East war, gives an update on the Dow's Alberta net-zero cracker, and talks about the prospects for Europe's competitiveness. Jahn highlights ACC's policy and regulatory priorities, and the ongoing uncertainty around global trade.

In a special episode in advance of the 2026 World Petrochemical Conference (WPC), Chemical Week editor-in-chief Ian Young, senior editor Mark Thomas, and S&P Global Platts senior price reporter Daniela Morales join the show for a discussion of key themes and what to look out for at this year's WPC. The war in the Middle East, supply chain and tariff issues, the evolution of the industry in Asia Pacific, and the changing nature of energy transition take center stage as industry leaders prepare to gather in Houston. Hear more on key issues in the petrochemical sector at the World Petrochemical Conference (WPC 2026), taking place at Houston, TX, March 23–27, 2026. The event will bring together industry leaders and market experts to assess market shifts, margin pressures and strategic responses across global petrochemicals. For more information and to register, visit wpc.spglobal.com/en or contact [email protected].

Alasdair Carmichael and Lauren Laibach of the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) join S&P Global research head Olivier Maronneaud and podcast host Vincent Valk for a discussion of the outlook for recycled PET in 2026. Key topics include the findings of NAPCOR's latest report on the state of the PET recycling sector and global challenges related regulatory differences, trade tensions, and weak supply-demand dynamics. Hear more on key issues in the plastics recycling and polymer sectors at the World Petrochemical Conference (WPC 2026), taking place at Houston, TX, March 23–27, 2026. The event will bring together industry leaders and market experts to assess market shifts, margin pressures and strategic responses across global petrochemicals. For more information and to register, visit wpc.spglobal.com/en or contact [email protected]. This episode was recorded before the current war in the Middle East broke out.

Dan Jeavons, president of Applied Computing, a developer of foundational AI models for industry, joins the podcast to discuss how AI can improve the chemical sector's operations and the challenges to implementing it. Jeavons - also a former executive at Shell - discusses why LLMs must be tuned for industrial operating environments, the importance of getting a workforce comfortable with AI, and where chemical makers see the greatest potential for operational optimization. Before the chat with Jeavons, Chemical Week specialties editor Sotirios Frantzanas joins the show for a brief discussion of the Feb. 23 cover story, a deep dive into AI's impact on established industry processes.

Daniel Krauss, director at S&P Global Ratings, joins the podcast for a discussion about the latest S&P Global Ratings chemicals report and the road ahead for the chemical industry. Topics include how the prolonged chemical downturn has affected credit ratings, the disparity in the outlook for commodity verses specialty chemicals , and what a recovery looks like when it arrives. Read the report here. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Sid Kalpattu Shivakumar, director of global market insights and Nouryon, joins the podcast for a deep dive into supply chain resiliency. Key themes include the multidimentional nature of supply volatility, how companies can manage multiple suppliers, and the role of AI and data in driving decisions around supply chain.

Chemical Week editor-in-chief Ian Young, senior editor Vincent Valk and S&P Global chemicals price reporter Luke Warren join podcast host Jameson Croteau to discuss the 2026 outlook. Major themes include oversupply in the face of weak demand, opportunities related to AI, turbulent geopolitics, what's next for China's chemicals sector, and sluggish-but-resilient economic growth.

Leticia Gonçalves, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF)'s president of health and biosciences, joins the podcast to discuss IFF's Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials (DEB) platform, its journey from concept to commercialization, and the expanding market opportunities for biomaterials in sectors like home care, water treatment, and packaging. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Kamna Kapoor, senior price reporter at S&P Global Energy, and Andre Mikhail, price reporter at S&P Global Energy, join the podcast to discuss the latest in methanol market dynamics. Key topics include a supply glut in the US, ongoing contract negotiations, and the impact of trade barriers.

Nirav Shah, global director/growth fields at Evonik, joins the podcast to discuss the promise and challenges of using pyrolysis oil - derived from recycled plastic - as a chemical feedstock and fuel.

Eric Byer, president of distributor trade group Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), joins podcast host Jameson Croteau for a discussion of the state of the chemical distribution sector. Key topics include the impact of tariffs on the outlook for distributors, the sector's view on Trump's regulatory agenda, and the M&A market in the perpetually-consolidating distribution industry.

Mujidah Yahaya, senior price reporter at S&P Global Commodity Insights, and Mark Thomas, senior editor at Chemical Week, join the podcast to discuss key themes from this year K-show, the plastics trade fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. Key themes include ongoing capacity rationalization in Europe, the need for well-designed regulation in the region, and industry's commitment to sustainability and circular economy goals amid macroeconomic pressures.

Steve Elliott, chief executive of the UK's Chemical Industries Association, and Luca Raffellini, executive director/chemical consulting at S&P Global Commodity Insights, join Chemical Week editor-in-chief Ian Young for a discussion of Project 2035, the association's initiative aimed at improving the UK industry's competitiveness. Key discussion points include the need for regulatory reform, relief on high energy costs, and prospective future scenarios for the UK chemicals sector. For more information about Project 2035, click or tap here.

S&P Global Commodity Insights price reporters Esther Ng and Kamna Kapoor join the podcast to discuss the impact of sanctions on the Asian methanol market. They explore the resulting shifts in trade flows, pricing dynamics, and the challenges faced by importers as they navigate the transition from Iranian to non-Iranian methanol sources amid fluctuating demand and inventory levels. They also focus on major adjustments due to the sanctions in the Indian market, as well as the impact in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Longtime Chemical Week editor Rob Westervelt joins podcast host Vincent Valk for a discussion of the chemical industry's competitive landscape after this week's publication of Chemical Week's annual Billion-Dollar Club ranking. Key topics include the implications of the rise of China, why the industry's leaderboard has been static in recent years, and whether equity markets have an appetite for diversified chemical manufacturers.

Torsten Heinemann, head of group innovation and sustainability at Covestro and member of the Global Impact Coalition's executive committee, joins the podcast to discuss the challenges inherent in using recycled material as a feedstock for specialty plastics. Key topics include why it's so difficult drop new raw materials into a process, bottlenecks to expanding recycling, Covestro's efforts to develop and scale technologies in this area, and the importance of cross-industry collaboration.

Chemical Week's Ian Young and Vincent Valk join S&P Global Platts' Daniel Pelosi and host Jameson Croteau for a discussion of Q2 earnings season. Key topics include tariff impacts, the capacity overhang in petchems, what companies are saying about the outlook, and variations in end-market demand.

Chris Jahn, CEO and president of the American Chemistry Council, joins the podcast to discuss major issues facing the US chemicals sector and the outlook for the rest of the year. Key topics include the evolving role of industrial policy, Trump's tariffs and regulatory reforms, and producer sentiment for the rest of the year.

Christopher vom Berg, executive manager of the Renewable Carbon Initiative, a think tank and consultancy, joins the podcast to discuss a report on pathways for Europe's chemical industry to transition away from fossil-based carbon. Key topics include whether such a transition can actually boost Europe's competitiveness, the correct balance between incentives and regulation, and how to create markets for new products. The full report is available here: Policy Proposals for Facilitating the Transition to Renewable Carbon.

S&P Global Commodity Insights research directors Andy Orszynski and Yazmine Khan join price reporter Daniel Pelosi to discuss the outlook in Europe after June 10's European Petrochemical Luncheon in Munich. Key topics include ongoing capacity rationalization, what LyondellBasell's cracker divestiture means for efforts to sell European assets, and whether there is any case for optimism in the industry. This episode was recorded on June 20, and references some recent events.

S&P Global Commodity Insights experts Adam Bland and Kevin Micoine join Chemical Week specialties editor Sotirios Frantzanas and host Vincent Valk to discuss the role of specialty chemicals in industrial policy. Key topics include how sustainability and decarbonization goals intersect with specialty chemicals, how the industry can grow to supply critical sectors like semiconductors, and the impact of trade tensions the complex supply chains for specialties.

Joe Dettinger, vice president/manufacturing and commercial programs at specialties trade group Socma, joins the podcast to dicuss the impacts of trade tensions and uncertainty on specialty chemical producers. Key topics include how companies are contending with supply chain issues, the impact of uncertainty on demand, and whether the recent softening of tensions has meaningfully improved the outlook.

Ian Young, Vincent Valk and Daniel Pelosi join host Jameson Croteau to discuss key takeaways from first-quarter earnings season for chemicals. The impact of tariffs is a major theme, with producers flagging significant uncertainty despite relatively few changes to official outlooks. This episode was recorded on May 7, before the US and China struck a temporary deal to reduce tariff rates.

Chemical Week editors Rob Westervelt, Mark Thomas and Clay Boswell join the podcast to discuss key takeaways from this year's World Petrochemical Conference. Key themes include ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, including tariffs, the evolution of energy transition, European capacity rationalization, the long-term outlook for feedstocks. This episode was recorded on March 24, and references some recent events.

S&P Global Platts price reporters Mujidah Yahaya and Andre Mikhail join host Vincent Valk to discuss the impact and implications of the Trump administration's drastic new tariffs on the petrochemicals sector. Topics include the impact of rolling uncertainty on markets, the potential for major shifts in trade flows, and how tariffs could further weaken an already-soft demand environment.

Dow CEO Jim Fitterling and S&P Global Commodity Insights co-president Mark Eramo chat with Chemical Week editor Rob Westervelt at 2025's World Petrochemical Conference. Topics include the market outlook, the role of energy transition in an era of geopolitical tension, and a glimpse of the chemical industry's long-term future.

Clay Boswell, Chemical Week's Americas markets lead, and Mark Thomas, Chemical Week's European markets lead, join the magazine's editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt for a discussion on the state of the petrochemical industry ahead of the World Petrochemical Conference hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights and held in Houston from March 17-21. Topics in this podcast include the significant downturn in global operating rates, geopolitical tensions due to US tariffs, and the need for capacity rationalization, particularly in Europe, as well as the long-term outlook for the sector, including anticipated capacity additions in China and the Middle East, and the implications of evolving trade policies and the push for sustainability in the industry. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Eric Appelman, Aduro Clean Technologies' chief revenue officer, joins S&P Global senior price reporter Daniel Pelosi and S&P Global chemicals market reporter Tareen Kazi for a discussion on circular recycling. Topics include advanced recycling challenges faced by region, how to improve economic scalability of advanced recycling, and the importance of creating incentives and a market for circular products. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive. Learn more about Aduro Clean Technologies here.

Chemical Week markets editor, Mark Thomas, sits down with Editor in Chief Rob Westervelt for a discussion around the evolving landscape of the petrochemical industry amid the energy transition. Topics include petrochemicals as a crude oil demand driver, technologies buildout needed for the energy transition, and how major chemical companies are planning to reduce emissions in the years ahead. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp, a company specializing in pyrolysis and chemical recycling technology, joins the podcast with S&P Global Commodity Insights editors Daniel Pelosi and Dias Kazym for a discussion on the European chemical recycling landscape in 2025. Topics include technology advancements, advanced recycling competitiveness against virgin polymers and what is needed among stakeholders to drive the chemical recycling market forward.

Chemical Week executive editor Ian Young and markets editor Mark Thomas join editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt to discuss the current state of the chemical sector in Europe and China and what both regions need to focus on as 2025 begins. Topics include Europe's challenges of high energy costs, weak demand, and global overcapacity. In China, substantial government stimulus has spurred activity in construction and specialty chemicals, although trade tensions with the US and overcapacity in petrochemicals pose risks to recovery. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Woldemar D'Ambrieres, Arkema's global market manager for batteries, joins Chemical Week's Vincent Valk for a discussion on the state of the battery sector. Topics include Arkema's recent acquisitions, the challenges of the dynamic pace of technology developments, as well as the state of the battery market by the end of the decade. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Jiryes Haddadin, S&P Global pricing specialist EMEA chemical and polymers, and Mark Thomas, Chemical Week's markets editor, join with Abdulaziz Ehtaiba, S&P Global petrochemicals pricing manager, for a discussion ahead of the 18th annual Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association Forum in Muscat, Oman. Topics centered around the challenges facing the Middle Eastern petrochemical market, which include increased competition from Asian producers, slowing global demand and continued inflationary pressures. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

S&P Global market reporters Tara Olaleye, Paulina Wiener and Daniela Morales join Chemical Week's Rob Westervelt to discuss the impact of recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts on petrochemical and polymer markets, particularly in housing and construction; the cautious optimism for recovery in 2025; and the current levels of consumer confidence. The panel emphasizes that despite some positive indicators, significant market improvements are unlikely until mid-2025, as high inflation and ongoing economic pressures continue to challenge consumer spending. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

S&P Global Commodity Insight's Daniel Pelosi, EMEA chemicals editor; Aleksandra Zhagrina, EMEA petrochemicals associate editor; and Chemical Week's executive editor Ian Young join Chemical Week's Rob Westervelt for a discussion of the recent European Petrochemical Association annual meeting and the state of Europe's chemical industry. Topics include the challenges facing the European petrochemicals, the need for industry restructuring and innovation, and the potential impacts of regulatory changes and competition from expanding capacities in China. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Corey Tyree, CEO of Trillium Renewable Chemicals, joins Chemical Week's Vincent Valk for a discussion of on Trillium's partnership with INEOS, the production methods behind Trillium's new bioacrylonitrile, and how start-ups can scale successfully towards commercialization. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Dorothee Arns, director general of European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC), joins S&P Global Commodity Insights' senior commodities pricing specialist Abdulaziz Ehtaiba ahead of FECC's annual congress for a discussion of the stat of European distribution. Topics include how disruptive geopolitical events exacerbated the industry's weak demand and poor production margins, how distributors are focusing on improving their supply chain excellence to navigate these challenges, and how distributors can adapt to Europe's increasing regulatory demands and consumer expectations for sustainable products. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues impacting the global chemicals sector, hosted by the editors of Chemical Week and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Subscribe to the Chemical Week podcast on your favorite platform, or visit chemweek.com/podcast to view our episode archive.

Vincent Valk, senior editor at Chemical Week, joins the magazine's Rob Westervelt for a discussion surrounding Chemical Week's Billion Dollar Club 2023 rankings. Topics include a challenging year marked by double digit percentage drops in operating income and revenues, China's continued position as the industry's center of gravity, and how M&A and sustainability will play a role in rankings to come.

Chemical Week's Rob Westervelt and S&P Global Commodity Insights' Neirin Gray Desai and Mujidah Yahaya join the podcast to discuss key takeaways from second-quarter earnings season and read the tea leaves for the rest of the year. Key topics include the diminishing prospects for recovery in stalled demand, the coming of capacity rationalization in Europe, and the possible impact of a sluggish operating environment on industry's investment plans.

Louis Besland, partner and head of chemicals practice at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, joins Chemical Week's Rob Westervelt for a discussion of CEO succession and talent management in the industry. Topics include building a diverse talent pipeline, the evolution of skill sets needed for effective leaders, and the need for future-oriented thinking around CEO succession.

S&P Global Commodity Insights reporters Mark Astley and James Burgess join Chemical Week's Mark Thomas and Jameson Croteau for a discussion of the clean ammonia market. Key themes include difficulties in getting projects off the ground, the role of regulatory uncertainty and financing incentives in developing the market, and the ambiguities around whether blue ammonia is truly 'clean.'

Sophie Casenave, policy affairs manager at environmental trader and consultancy Strive by STX, joins the podcast to discuss the the latest alphabet-soup of climate regulations. These include the EU's new reporting directive, some new reporting rules in the US, and carbon border mechanisms in the EU. We discus what the different rules mean for industry, how reporting and regulatory requirements are changing, and the impact of new rules on chemical companies' decarbonization strategies.

Polyfluoroalklyl substances (PFAS) have been the subject of litigation and controversy due to mounting evidence of their long-term impact on human health. PFAS are, perhaps, most well-known for applications in films, packaging, and electronics - but they have also played a crucial role in the renewable energy sector. In this episode cross-posted with S&P Global Commodity Insights' Energy Evolution podcast, reporter Camilla Naschert takes a look at the role of PFAS in the renewable energy sector, talking with industry leaders and academics about what they do and whether it is possible to have a clean energy future without them.

Christian Krueger, head of global sustainability and advocacy for chemical recycling at BASF, joins S&P Global Commodity Insights editors Abdulaziz Ehtaiba and Iris Poon for a conversation about chemical recycling. Topics include the key differences between chemical and mechanical recycling, the investment environment for chemical recycling in the US and Europe, and the role of legislation and governments to incentive a maturing industry.

Thomas Watters, managing director/oil, gas and chemicals at S&P Global Ratings, joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of credit conditions and the industry's outlook. Topics include the impact of 'higher-for-longer' interest rates, what Europe's weak operating environment means for credit, and the impact of China's relentless capacity additions.

CW editor Jameson Croteau joins the podcast to discuss Chemical Week's net zero tracker and the industry's so-far-fitful progress towards reaching its climate goals. Topics include regional differences in goal-setting and the gap between the targets and implementation. You can check out Chemical Week's net-zero tracker here: https://chemweek.com/document/show/phoenix/5077186/Push-for-net-zero-plateaus-in-2023-While-industry-makes-strides-to-curb-Scope-3-implementation-lags-behind-ambitions