4 - 5 March 2010
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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The global petrochemicals business has been shaken to the core. Even for an industry that is used to radical cycles, the turbulence and disruption of the past year or two has seen players struggling for superlatives. The favorite word, clearly, is “unprecedented” — chosen by one major after another to describe the challenges and the strategies for coping with them. The “unprecedented drop in demand”, “unprecedented inventory destocking”, “unprecedented fall in all major petrochemical product prices” - and “the unprecedented volatility in raw materials costs” blamed for pushing one major producer into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. All against a background of “unprecedented global economic downturn” as well as severe credit and liquidity issues.

And yet — as this year has progressed, there have been plenty of positives. First of all, the firefighting has been successful, European companies say, with capacity adjustments, plant shutdowns and flexible work models being implemented quickly. Government initiatives and economic stimulus have helped recovery of margins and profitability. There’s also been a raft of encouraging economic data in Europe and the US. And even the construction and automotive industries, key consumers of petrochemicals products, are showing signs of resurgence after near-meltdown. But don’t pop the champagne corks just yet, say industry experts and analysts, highlighting everything from the huge new capacity set to come on stream in the Middle East to the continuing margin squeeze and price volatility, as well as questioning the strength of underlying demand and whether the battle against the credit crunch and economic crisis has been decisively turned.

At this pivotal time for the industry, Platts innaugural European Petrochemical Markets conference brings together global and regional leaders to address all these issues, to share their experiences and to map out their visions for the future. The conference will examine all possible market scenarios, pricing issues, ways to adapt the supply chain to the new market order or to diversify product portfolios, improve operational environments and tackle logistical and supply costs and constraints. The program also offers examples of best practice in restructuring existing production capacity and asset operations. And explores a huge range of significant issues from sustainable development solutions or responding to the new capacity expected in the Middle East and prospects for demand growth to product innovation and the debate about switching focus from commodities and pursuing specialty products.

Issues to be explored:

Confirmed speakers include:

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