LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets continue to face blighted downstream sentiment in May tied to ongoing US trade developments and wider domestic economic malaise pertaining to principle end user segments including automotive, constriction and wider paints & coatings business.

Better availability has facilitated further price pressure in May with few signs of a let up in the short term. Supply changes remain critical for price discovery.

Glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and acrylate esters editor Mat Jolin-Beech about conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.

As the 12 June deadline for entries to the ICIS Innovation Awards approaches, a judge and a 2024 winner describe why this topic is so important for the future of the chemical industry and society.

- Innovation breaks down silos, encourages collaboration

- Enables industrial value chains to decarbonise

- Chemical industry provides essential raw materials

- Awards are a chance to get external recognition for your innovations

- Deadline is 12 June, entry is free and quick - click here for full details

Participants at the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) expect chronic oversupply conditions hurting the chemical sector will start to rebalance by 2028-2030.

- China overcapacity, trade war is causing an unprecedented crisis

- Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), paraxylene (PX) in structural oversupply

- Hopes for rebalancing by 2028-2030 as plants shut down, capacity build slows

- Demand is flat but India is the exception – a beacon of growth for the region

- Taiwan, Thailand struggle to compete against China, Middle East

- Trade war will cause “cataclysmic” changes in global trade

- Sustainability still seen as a growth driver, especially for polymers

- Growing reliance on US ethane for chemical production in Asia