Buyers' choice: Global oversupply of single-use plastics makes recycling uneconomical
High density polyethylene product consumption and market behavior are key indicators for consumer spending. The US and major export outlet Asia are climbing out of a price slump created by HDPE oversu...
21 Sep 202312min
El Niño spells dire straits for shippers at the Panama Canal
Draft reduction at the Neopanamax locks and limitations on daily transits at the Panamax lock system have resulted in longer wait times to transit the Panama Canal. Shipowners have been raising freigh...
7 Sep 202319min
Summer slump: Global recycled polymer markets wait for western markets to find solid footing
A sluggish start to the peak summer demand season has disrupted the global recycled PET markets, with subpar demand from beverage bottling in North America, squeezed margins, stiff competition from vi...
31 Aug 202313min
Narrow margins are back for US gas, but will producers slow output?
US Henry Hub natural gas prices have averaged just $2.43/MMBtu this year, pushing many producers close to, or even below, their breakeven price. Mild weather and weak gas demand this past winter were ...
23 Aug 202314min
How have early drought conditions impacted the US harvest?
It's been a rough couple of years for US corn and soybeans. 2022 brought drought, record-low Mississippi River water levels, and ultimately sky-high grains and oilseeds prices. The 2023 planting seaso...
11 Aug 202323min
Is a nickel still worth a dime? Unpacking nickel pricing mechanisms, a year on
A year after a historic short squeeze sent LME nickel metal prices soaring above $100,000/mt, industry players remain divided over their pricing preferences in the nickel market with some still refere...
4 Jul 202319min
It's a bumpy road ahead for North American electric reliability amid energy transition
Up to two-thirds of North America is at an elevated risk of electricity shortfalls this summer in extreme conditions with a high load and high outages, according to the North American Electric Reliabi...
6 Jun 202324min
The Waiting is the Hardest Part: Global polymer markets awaiting rebound in domestic China demand
China was among the last to lift COVID restrictions at the close of 2022, but its polymer exports remain elevated amid continued sluggish domestic demand, creating more global competition for limited ...
18 Mai 202315min
