The White House announced on 14 May that it would increase tariffs on $18 billion worth of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses.

How will this latest development impact China’s LPG supplies from the US, which was the second largest LPG exporter to China in 2023, following the Mideast.

In 2018, China raised the import tariff on US LPG from 1% to 25% in retaliation to tariffs hikes implemented by the former US president Donald Trump.

In this podcast, ICIS Analyst Lillian Ren shares insights on the potential impact on Chinese imports of LPG, including propane and butane.

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- The ample supply of propylene in Asia as well as some new polypropylene (PP) capacities in China is expected to weigh on discussions in SE Asia in the coming months.

• Asia C3 to see length from China PDH restarts, SE Asia volumes
• China PP exports to weigh on SE Asia discussions
• Asia PP prices to come under pressure in June-July

In this podcast, ICIS editors Julia Tan, Jackie Wong and Lucy Shuai discuss some of the trends in the Asian propylene and PP markets and what we can expect going forward.

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Asian oxo-alcohols buyers maintained a wait and watch approach, amid the possibility of added capacities in China weighing on market sentiment.

The acrylonitrile (ACN) market continues to see limited spot demand in the northeast Asia market. Even as downstream acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) has seen higher production rates recently, ACN producers were unlikely to increase operating rates.

For the acrylates downstream, butyl-A market in Asia continues to take direction from Chinese domestic prices. With India's Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements preventing Chinese origin imports, cargoes from China were flowing into SE Asia and NE Asia.

In this podcast, ICIS editors Julia Tan and Corey Chew discuss trends in the Asia propylene and derivatives markets.

Phosphates prices have been under pressure in India recently, while demand is expected to return strong soon. Meanwhile, the lack of ammonia spot demand globally is weighing down on the market.

Phosphates editor Chris Vlachopoulos talks to senior editor Sylvia Traganida about the state of the phosphates market ahead of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) annual conference (20-22 May).

The closure of chemical plants in Europe and elsewhere could remove essential raw material supplies, threatening the future of downstream industrial value chains.

- Global oversupply, driven by China, forecast to reach over 200 million tonnes/year by 2028

- Interconnected value chains threatened if important raw materials cease production

- Globally 20 million tonnes of ethylene capacity may need to be shut down by 2030

- In Europe 5.6 million tonnes/year of polypropylene (PP) capacity may need to close

- Integrated chemicals sites under threat if parts shut down

- Industry associations could help plan to maintain critical raw materials supplies

- Anti-dumping measures could protect exposed markets

- China polyvinyl chloride (PVC) overcapacity may increase exports globally

It is a rarity to see sulphur or sulphuric acid take centre-stage in Europe when discussing a lack of feedstock for downstream petrochemicals - but tight supply for both has become a key talking point through the first and second quarter of 2024.

ICIS' Senior Editor for sulphuric acid, Andy Hemphill, and Julia Meehan, Managing Editor of ICIS Fertilizers, discuss what caused this tightness and explore what options the industry has to counter the crippling shortages.

Join European Senior Editor/Manager Vicky Ellis, as she talks to European and African PE/PP Senior Editor Ben Lake and Turkey PE/PP Senior Editor/Manager Samantha Wright.

The group discuss the coming month, as players see sentiment cool from a hectic first quarter.

Senior Analyst, Lorenzo Meazza also drops in to react to Lyondell Basel's announcement that it plans to "review" all European polymer and olefin assets. Following on from announcements of closures of Exxon and Sabic crackers.

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Sustainable finance is a key interest for companies that are seeking to enter the market or expand their current capacities. Despite the various available financial instruments, the absence of a clear entry point often results in confusion.

In this podcast, ICIS Analysts Chua Xin Nee and Joshua Tan explore the different types of sustainability related loans available and their successful use cases.