Howlin’ For You – US Prices Lure Polymer Imports, Demand Optimistic, ESG Efforts Continue to Surge

Daily Chemical Reaction

Howlin’ For You – US Prices Lure Polymer Imports, Demand Optimistic, ESG Efforts Continue to Surge

Key Points:

• We have discussed US polymer price inflation relative to Asia regularly during the past few weeks. This report discusses the surge in US polymer imports, and we flag polypropylene trends to provide a stand-out example.
• We flag pertinent chemical sector corporate items (e.g., Chandra Asri profit update; Braskem Idesa production update; Multiple other facility updates, price hike announcements, & capital deployment forecasts)  
• This report’s other relevant items include ACC views of US commodity and specialty chemical production to start the year, the positive momentum in ESG initiatives surrounding the chemical sector, and broadly positive global demand trends but lingering production issues in some areas, such as autos.

See PDF below for all charts, tables and diagrams