Vivien (Wei) Yang, Director, Specialty Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Vice Chairman, China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation

Mark Eramo, Head of Fuels, Chemicals & Resources Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Mark Eramo, Head of Fuels, Chemicals & Resources Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Under the pressure from the Covid-19 pandemic and the property slump, Mainland China's economy is unlikely to meet the 5.5% growth target in 2022. With domestic headwinds continuing, reform targets unchanged and global growth subdued due to high inflation and monetary tightening, policy support is crucial to China's economic stability over the next year.

Yating Xu, Principal Economist, S&P Global Marktet Intelligence

The global oil market is in a delicate state with the looming fear of recession on one side and supply tightness on the other. Oil prices could swing widely with changes in Russian export volume and destinations amid Russia - Ukraine conflict. As prospects for supply growth remain dim for the rest of this year, the changes in the perception of demand strength or weakness have an outsized impact on prices—both up and down. Oil prices and economic growth are the major factors that influence the petrochemical demand, shaping the petrochemical feedstocks market. The presentation discusses the current oil market and petrochemical feedstock market challenges and the potential path forward in the coming months.

Premasish Das, Research and Analysis Executive Director, Downstream, S&P Global Commodity Insights

The northern hemisphere is about to face its first heating season since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Will global LNG supply guarantee the seasonal swing in market demand, and are natural gas and LNG prices heading into significant fluctuations? This seminar will deeply analyze the current international LNG market dynamics, helping market participants better judge the development trend of the industry, and effectively control market risks.

Xiao Lu, Associate Director, Gas, Power & Climate Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Specialty chemicals are products sold on the basis of their performance or function rather than their composition, and they are closer to the consumer than commodity chemicals. The global specialty chemicals market contracted 3% in 2020 with winners and losers due to Covid-19, and recovered 6% in 2021. Despite various economic headwinds, pent-up demand for specialty chemicals remains strong to support another positive year for 2022 and continued growth in 2022-27.

The energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables began to accelerate in 2020. Between now and 2050, nonhydro renewables will account for over 95% of new power generation capacity globally, becoming the dominant source of power capacity. Solar and wind power will represent almost all new renewable additions. Specialty chemicals enable the development of renewable energy.

Dr. Maoshi Guan, Director, Specialty Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights

This presentation will provide an overview of the global olefins markets through an analysis of capacity, production and demand growth dynamics plus cost and margin implications for different feedstocks like naphtha, imported ethane from US and Chinese coal to chemicals. An update will also be given on the new projects that are slated to start-up across the near term. The issues surrounding pathways to sustainable growth will also be outlined.

Larry Tan, Chemicals Insight, APAC Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Growth in the PTA and PX industry in China was on a previously unseen scale during recent years, radically changing China's role in the global PTA market. In 2022, the industry has been further challenged by competition for feedstocks from the gasoline industry and possible recession looms on the horizon. As new major integrated chemical complexes continue to come on-stream, we consider how producers outside of mainland China are riding the wave of PX and PTA capacity as well and consider similarities and contrasts to the impact of the new wave of styrenics capacity on global markets.

Katie Elliot, Aromatics Lead - EMEA Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights

This session presented by S&P Global Commodity Insights editorial team provides an overview of our price assessment processes and the dynamics of the specific commodity markets we cover. We will be examining the role benchmark prices place in commodity markets, and how benchmark prices drive market transparency and efficiency. We will also be delving into the Platts Market on Close process and how it is applied to yield a robust, representative and repeatable value at the close of trading each day.

Frank Zeng, Senior Engagement Lead, APAC Oil, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Yating Xu, Premasish Das, Maoshi Guan, Xiao Lu, Tony Potter, Larry Tan, Katie Elliot, Frank Zeng

Moderator: Vivien (Wei) Yang, Director, Specialty Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Tony Potter, Chemicals, Derivatives, Plastics & Materials Lead , Chemicals Insight

Moderator: Vivien (Wei) Yang, Director, Specialty Chemicals, S&P Global Commodity Insights