Terpenes – the aromatic compounds found not only in cannabis, but a wide range of plants – are a largely untapped source of revenue for firms across a wide range of industries. As more isolate-based cannabis products enter the market, producers are seeking to keep the chemical profiles of their products true to nature by reintroducing the natural terpenes before retail.
August 7, 2019In the US, a considerable number of cities and counties have passed ordinances banning foodservice disposables made from polystyrene foam. Some localities have even banned a wider range of consumer products made of polystyrene foam, such as beach and pool toys, coolers, egg containers, and marine navigation markers. While polystyrene foam bans have not made a large impact on total US demand yet, an increase in bans throughout the US by municipalities and foodservice companies could impact sales in the future.
January 14, 2019Between 2014 and 2017, polyethylene production expanded as chemical companies opened new facilities. Production is further expected to expand through 2022 as companies such as LyondellBasell and Shell bring even more capacity online. However, the US market for polyethylene is mature and saturated. So why are these companies still ramping up production?
January 7, 2019Suppliers of polypropylene resins and compounds continue to invest in compounding and processing improvements to boost the resin’s competitiveness with alternative materials such as steel and aluminum. The addition of reinforcement materials (e.g., glass and carbon fibers) increase the resin’s impact resistance and strength, while also offering the weight reduction and corrosion resistance advantages plastics have over metals
October 17, 2018Price-competitive globally, US producers of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) found extensive opportunities abroad over the past decade, particularly as China and other developing countries built out their infrastructure. In 2017, China accounted for 11% of US PVC exports. As the Trump administration outlines its tariff plans, China has readied its own. Both countries have added a list of second-tier tariffs – primarily focused on chemicals – to be imposed on a case-by-case basis. Will PVC resin make the cut?
July 27, 2018Aerospace equipment shipments are projected to see growth through 2022. However, as these aircraft are increasingly designed with lighter composite materials, metal service centers may have trouble adapting to this decline in demand from aircraft producers.
June 20, 2018Demand for soybean products is projected to reach 45.9 million tons in 2022. Amid a sea of regulations impacting the use of soybean products in applications ranging from food to fuel, suppliers have begun to develop crops with specific traits in order to produce soybeans and soybean products with more desirable attributes suitable for specific roles.
May 7, 2018Over the 2006-2016 decade, pigment prices saw considerable volatility, growing significantly in the 2009-2012 period, but declining through 2016. In particular, the prices of carbon black and titanium dioxide pigments experienced the fastest gains and the steepest declines. Key factors that propelled these trends included rising global demand, supply constraints, and increases in the cost of key raw materials.
January 9, 2018Due to continued competitive pressures, such as a slow-growing market for their products, the US paper and paperboard industry - already dominated by large, vertically integrated firms - continues to consolidate.
September 18, 2017US demand for fertilizers is forecast to fall to 28.1 million metric tons in 2021. As structural changes in agricultural markets lead to declining acreage of planted crops, less fertilizer will be needed to sustain plant growth. Additionally, fertilizers are improving such that higher crop yields can be obtained with smaller volumes of fertilizer, inhibiting demand.
July 18, 2017