LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s phenol, acetone and derivatives markets have entered 2026 under pressure, with weak demand and rising costs shaping the markets.

Jane Gibson covering the Acetone and phenol editor Jane Gibson is joined by Mat Jolin-Beech covering MMA, Heidi Finch senior editor covering the European BPA and epoxy resins, Sam Lovatt covering PC and Michele Bossi - analyst for the chain.

Join Egor Dementev, ICIS EMEA recycling analytics team lead, as he asks Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and President of industry association Chemical Recycling Europe, and ICIS senior editor recycling Mark Victory about Chemical recycling regulation following the passing of the implementing act on mass balance accounting under the Single Use Plastic Directive, and the future of the industry.

• The Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) implementing act which sets out the mass balance approach for chemically recycled PET
• End of Waste Status for pyrolysis oil and the Winter Package
• The need for investment in chemical recycling regardless of regulatory clarity
• The volume of recycled material needed for food-contact applications by 2030 and 2040
• Chemical recycling demand through to 2030

Improving sentiment in manufacturing, especially in the US, raises hopes of a turning point, but industry needs strong action to save it, especially in Europe.

- Big jump in US purchasing manager indices (PMIs) with Europe and China moving in the right direction

- New report by Roland Berger highlights Europe’s chemicals crisis

- Rising costs, poor demand, continue to pressurise margins

- New Antwerp Declaration expected next week

- Storms, cold weather bring chaos to Europe, disrupting logistics

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.