Chemicals
August 25, 2026
What drove higher chemical margins in the second quarter?
Featuring Staff , Vincent Valk, Sotirios Frantzanas, and Nayana Khosla
HIGHLIGHTS
Middle East tensions disrupt global supply chains
Specialty chemicals show resilience amid weakness
Semiconductors and data centers drive new growth
Chemical Week editors Vincent Valk and Sotirios Frantzanas and S&P Global Energy price reporter Nayana Khosla join host Jameson Croteau to discuss second-quarter chemical earnings. The panel examines how Middle East geopolitical tensions and related supply disruptions temporarily tightened global markets, lifting margins for many North American and European producers despite weak underlying demand. Topics include supply chain shifts, the resilience of specialty chemicals, continued weakness in housing and automotive demand, and emerging growth areas such as semiconductors, data centers, aerospace and defense.
