Polyester conference presentations 2019

1) Global economy: treading softly

• Has global recession been avoided?
• Low and slow: as good as it gets for Europe?
• Will the 2020 US election spell the end for trade wars?

2) Key trends and uncertainties in feedstock markets

• How long will the rapid growth in US liquids supply and exports continue?

• What impact will the IMO 2020 marine fuel quality regulations have on feedstock and freight markets

• When will we see the next wave of consolidation in European refining?

3) Paraxylene: In the eye of the storm

• What will set the cost floor in PX through this period of overcapacity?
• What are the main sources of volatility?
• Why should the polyester industry be interested in benzene?
• How will the growing PX deficit in the Western Hemisphere impact supply & pricing?

4) Global ethylene: too much, too quickly

• Analysing the investment cycle in global ethylene industry
• The location and drivers behind significant capacity additions
• Global economics – prices, costs and margins

5) Global Ethylene Oxide/Glycols – production excess & trade conflict effects

• New US low feedstock cost MEG plants come on line in 2019 and 2020 adding substantial capacity to MEG output.
• Chinese coal based technology improving adding more capacity to make MEG.
• US and Chinese import tariffs on PET and chemicals mess up global MEG trade, and producer and consumer plans.
• Can US replace Middle East as key supplier during US China trade dispute.

6) PTA: Riding the wave on 2019, will it last?

• How long will the current Asia PTA margin strength remain?
• Is there room for PTA investments in the western hemisphere amid another massive capacity wave in the East?
• Will Middle East PTA investments threaten European regional supply?

7) Global polyester industrial filament: the rise of the Super-Companies

• European fibre markets and changes in global trading landscape
• Technology and consolidation as drivers for polyester fibre markets
• Impact of recycling trends upon polyester fibre business

8) PET: Changing climates and consumer trends

• Are we beginning to see a real shift in PET demand or simply changes in short-term seasonality?
• How are changes in consumer behaviour impacting the PET market: from soft drinks to functional waters.
• Will the latest European regulations on single-use plastics impact the PET resin market?

9) Has RPET demand fully materialised in a supply constrained market?

- Brand owner commitments/regulatory requirements – Demand

• Collection story – bale quality, collection rates – Supply
• Current capacity/investment landscape for Europe – Supply
• Outlook for the European market – Pricing and RPET balance
• Trends in packaging, recycling, chemical recycling and biomass and implications for recycle – key themes and implications