Daily Chemical Reaction
Neon Eyes – Chemical Sector Profit To Stay Elevated Near Term, Specialties To Likely Outperform In 2H21
Key Points:
- US consumer demand for durable goods remains elevated, and we discuss several relevant findings from global commodity, specialty, and end-product markets that ring in favor of chemical sector profit strength near term.
- Input cost inflation remains a broad-based issue for specialty chemical and broadly for sector product consumers – we find commodity inflation is not only occurring in chemical markets & flag metals and lumber as examples.
- US spot propylene and benzene values remain higher WoW, while we find USGC spot ethylene taking a step lower amid a derivative production issue.
- We highlight pertinent chemical sector corporate items (e.g., Lanxess, Hexion, Tokai Carbon, Occidental, & Kurita Water business updates).
- Carbon prices in Europe hit a record level, global ESG ETF inflows reach a new high in 1Q21, & global industry Capex mounts targeting renewables.
- The Baltic Index hits an 11-year high amid continued freight rate strength.
See PDF below for all charts, tables and diagrams