Duel*(s): Trade, Stimulus and Climate (including ESG)
With the change of administration behind us, the focus changes to what happens next. Three of the topics that matter to the chemical industry are in the headline: all will see change and all require a negotiated and clear path forward.
Consumer focused stimulus, because of its short-term nature, can be a Democrat decree; but for economic stability, the anticipated dueling around everything else above needs agreed bipartisan policy with more than a 4-year lifespan.
Meanwhile, chemical markets in Asia are weakening in many product groups and it is possible that February price increases in the US, if they happen, will be the last for a while. Early 4Q results show the expected very strong end to the year.
Last week we discussed 32 Chemical and related products and 105 Companies