Issue 15, 2016 - Global Chemicals Quick Review

Global Chemicals Quick Review

2016 Global Top 50 Chemical Industry Freshly baked

A few days ago, the American Chemical Society's "Chemical and Engineering News" magazine "2016 Global Top 50 Chemical Ranking" was newly released, which ranked
each company according to the previous year's chemical sales.
BASF topped the list for the tenth time with sales of $63.
7 billion, Dow held second with $48.
8 billion and Sinopec ranked third
with $43.
8 billion.
Affected by the decline in oil prices, the selling prices of chemicals also fell, resulting in a sharp decline in chemical sales revenue, and the consolidated sales revenue of the world's top 50 chemicals in 2015 was 775.
2 billion US dollars, down 10.
8%
year-on-year.
However, profits increased significantly over the same period, with 44 of the top 50 companies reporting their 2015 earnings, totaling $96.
7 billion, up 15.
1 percent from 2014 and improving margins to 13.
5 percent
.

The Middle East's strategy to compete for oil market share is starting to work

It is reported that the monthly oil market report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that the Middle East has once again become the world's leading oil production region
.
The Middle East's market share rose to 35% in June, and oil production rose to 31.
5 million barrels per day, the highest level since the late 70s of the 20th century, suggesting that OPEC's strategy to defend market share is beginning to pay off
.
In recent years, the rapid growth of U.
S.
shale oil production has weakened the dependence of oil importers on Middle Eastern crude
.
But strong growth in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran crude production so far this year, as well as a sharp decline in U.
S.
shale oil production due to low oil prices, has changed that
.

Global chemical M&A activity will remain strong

Global chemical M&A activity is expected to remain strong
.
According to data from Chemweek, since the beginning of this year, the world has announced 7 chemical mergers and acquisitions with a transaction value of $1 billion or more, excluding Dow and DuPont mergers and acquisitions
.
Nadim Qureshi, general manager of U.
S.
investment firm WL Ross & Co.
LLC, said that global chemical industry M&A deal activity in the second half of the year is likely to be as strong as the first half, and this strong momentum will continue into 2017
.
Investment banks said that while macro risks are hitting fundamentals, executives in the chemical industry are still firmly pursuing their M&A plans because they see M&A activity as an effective way
for companies to grow their business, expand their target markets and improve their business.

Saudi Arabia plans to address gas production "shortboard"

Saudi Arabia has long lagged behind its rivals
in gas production.
After years of misguided decision-making, Saudi executives say Saudi Arabia's power production will become less
dependent on crude oil as some major natural gas projects come online.
Saudi Aramco, for example, has signed a contract to implement a $13.
33 billion natural gas project, which means that Saudi Arabia has made progress
in increasing natural gas production capacity.
The current production capacity is about 12 billion cubic feet per day, and Saudi Arabia's natural gas capacity may increase to 17.
8 billion cubic feet per day
by 2020.
Over the next decade, Saudi Arabia wants to increase its natural gas production capacity to 23 billion cubic feet per day
.