Special Reports

Construction markets have their own specific challenges and opportunities but all are exposed to global energy and commodity prices. In this special report, S&P Global Platts explores some of the factors driving construction markets and how developments in commodities such as oil, gas and steel play a key role in determining whether projects get built, and how much they may cost to develop.

The Americas petrochemicals industry is heading into 2019 amid uncertainty regarding trade flows due to geopolitical concerns. Combined with economic uncertainty, this may have a far-reaching impact across the petrochemical chain, as well as new cracker and derivatives capacities that are slated to come online.

The European petrochemicals industry is heading into 2019 on increasingly global terms, braced for ever changing trade flows amid continued geopolitical uncertainty. Growing international supply competition and extensive cracker maintenance in local markets together set the stage for a volatile year ahead.

The US chemical industry is in the crosshairs of escalating trade tensions between the US and China that have spawned tariffs on hundreds of products from both countries. From steel and parts needed to build multibillion-dollar plants to numerous raw-material chemicals and plastics produced, tariffs have affected hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce between the world's two largest economies, and markets are responding accordingly.

Uncertainty about the potential impacts of escalating trade tensions with China are at the forefront of Americas petrochemicals markets heading into the second half of 2018, particularly as some are still wrestling with changing dynamics that have come with recent capacity expansions.

Firming feedstock prices and strong domestic buying also have proved noteworthy, and have contributed to strengthening pricing in the region.

This special outlook report takes a look at the key themes expected to shape key Americas petrochemicals markets in the months ahead.