Agenda

The global economy enters a pivotal phase marked by decelerating growth, shifting trade dynamics, and persistent geopolitical tensions. This session provides a comprehensive outlook on macroeconomic trends shaping the next 12–24 months, including inflation trajectories, interest rate policies, energy transitions, and regional divergence in recovery patterns. With mature markets largely demonstrating economic resiliency and emerging markets facing tighter financial conditions, we explore the implications for the global economy.

Geopolitical disruptions have intensified in scale and scope, with far-reaching implications for the global industrial landscape. From the ongoing U.S.–China rivalry reshaping trade dynamics, to the protracted Russia–Ukraine war, and rising tensions in the Middle East, instability is becoming more widespread and entrenched. This session will explore what these developments mean for the global industry, examining the risks, ripple effects, and strategic adjustments required to navigate this new era of geopolitical complexity.

Global energy markets face near term surplus, while in the long term, significant concerns about inadequate investments in developing new capacity exist. Energy transition continues to navigate the trilemma between security, equity (affordability and access) & sustainability, and continues to evolve at varying paces in different regions. The expected transformation of the transportation sector from ICE to hybrid/electric vehicles face new challenges and directional changes.

The turmoil caused by the various geopolitical events and the subsequent disruptions in the global energy markets has forced nations to reassess how — and how long — the evolution from fossil fuels to renewables will play out. Further adding to this uncertainty is the rise of interest rates and the stalling of EV adoption. Given these dynamics, there is growing confidence that traditional hydrocarbon-based fuels will still be a critical piece of the global energy mix. In essence, the world will still need oil, but the real questions are how much and can the transition accelerate in the current environment. Join us as we discuss the current and forward pace of change within the energy markets.

Over the past five decades, modern global chemical value and supply chains have thrived under a rules-based trade system, emerging as key beneficiaries of the WTO-driven era of globalization. However, the ongoing U.S. trade war and broader efforts to reconfigure the global order signal a dramatic shift. As protectionist policies and rising trade barriers take hold, and China pursues an export oriented strategy, the implications for the chemical industry could be profound. Will supply security and self-sufficiency begin to outweigh the long-standing pursuit of efficiency? To what extent will global investment flows & trade flows shift in response? This panel will provide a timely and dynamic discussion on the evolving role of tariffs and the future of chemical supply chains.

The chemical sector globally faces several challenges that makes being at the helm of a chemical company not for the faint-hearted. Globally, each region has its own set of opportunities & challenges. With several pivotal changes occurring in an environment where the industry is already struggling through a generational downcycle, what are the takeaways in terms of short term and longer term strategic choices? Join us for two discussions with executives from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas who bring their unique perspectives and views of the future.

Global uncertainty, driven by geopolitical tensions, trade volatility, and perceived oil surpluses, is reshaping the path from fossil fuels to renewables. Inflation and slowing EV adoption further complicate the outlook. The world does still need oil, but how much will the world need – and can the transition accelerate in this current environment? Join us to explore the shifting pace of change in mobility and energy markets.

As the energy and chemical industry faces an era of profound recalibration, today’s discussions have made one thing clear: resilience must be redefined. Trade tensions, shifting tariff regimes, and supply chain realignments intersect with the demands of sustainability, energy transition, and regional competitiveness. As the day concludes, we tune into the signals that matter—charting how the industry can convert disruption into direction. From reimagined policy frameworks to intelligent, agile operations, we chart a path toward a chemical sector built for the future.

The future of the chemical industry is being reshaped by the evolving landscape of feedstocks—NGLs, naphtha, and emerging alternatives are no longer just inputs, but strategic levers. As the global push for energy transition accelerates, shifting trade flows, regional production shifts, and supply-demand realignments are creating new uncertainties—and fresh opportunities. This session dives deep into the latest trends in feedstock availability, pricing, and competitiveness, with a spotlight on propane, butane, ethane, and naphtha. Join us for an engaging discussion on how producers are adapting sourcing strategies, controlling costs, and making smarter investment decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

The olefins industry is familiar with cyclical margins, but the unprecedented capacity expansion over the last five years—expected to continue into the next three—has pushed the market into a prolonged trough. In response, market participants are adopting short-term survival strategies while reassessing long-term growth plans. This session will examine how industry players are managing this difficult environment and preparing for recovery.

This session will explore the changing global landscape for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), as the industry continues to face oversupply, margin compression, and shifting trade flows. Industry experts will discuss which producer profiles and which regions are best equipped to handle current challenges, considering factors like feedstock flexibility, integration, and cost competitiveness. The discussion will also consider potential factors that could influence the market’s future, such as demand recovery in key end-use sectors, policy changes, or consolidation and capacity rationalization.

The shift to electric vehicles and the resulting decline in gasoline demand are already impacting some regions, leading to the rationalization of refining capacity and the closure of reformers. However, growth in aromatics demand will create opportunities for diversification for some refiners, including exports. Strong aromatics growth in Asia may be limited by feedstock constraints, and choices will be made between gasoline and aromatics production. The panel will discuss the expected strategies for different regions and the evolving market dynamics.

Chlor-alkali and vinyls markets are deeply intertwined, with approximately one-third of global chlorine production consumed in the manufacture of PVC. As a result, margin dynamics for integrated vinyls producers often oscillate between PVC (chlorine) and caustic soda, shaping the cyclical nature of the chlor-alkali market. Yet beyond traditional supply-and-demand cycles, the industry is undergoing structural shifts—marked by changing centers of demand growth and supply increasingly aligning with these new geographies. In this evolving landscape, the longstanding build-to-export model may be losing momentum. This panel will explore the complexity of two globally traded commodities—PVC and caustic soda—and consider whether the chlor-vinyls sector is facing a prolonged downturn similar to other base chemicals, or if it can defy the oversupply trend with a recovery path that diverges from historical patterns.

Several sub-sectors of the global chemical industry are experiencing a generational downturn, one expected to last for the coming years. Contributing factors include a slowdown in Chinese demand, increasing Chinese self-sufficiency, ongoing energy cost pressures in Europe following the Russia–Ukraine conflict, and a persistent oversupply of key chemistries. As these structural challenges intensify, signs of the long-anticipated industry restructuring are surfacing, with deal activity starting to increase. Listen to a timely discussion with industry leaders about what’s driving this change and what it means for the future.