A ceasefire in the Gaza conflict could potentially end attacks in the Red Sea, reopening the Suez Canal and normalising the Asia-to-Europe container shipping route.

- Gaza ceasefire could stop Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping

- Route via Cape of Good Hope takes 10 days longer than Suez Canal

- Reopening Suez would add 10 days of chemicals inventory to the market

- Europe would be open to more Asia exports

- Freight rates could fall as container capacity is freed up

- ‘Stunning’ levels of overcapacity expected in China in 2025

- New Cefic report highlights need for new Europe industrial deal for chemicals

Chemicals leaders must plan for a year in which powerful trends will alter the markets they serve, promising another period of rapid change across the industry landscape.

- Global overcapacity will get worse this year, ICIS Supply & Demand data shows

- Depressed demand set to continue

- Donald Trump tariffs may change trade flows, fuel inflation

- China economy will continue to struggle

- Disinformation will make it difficult to navigate trends

- Look for pockets of growth from low carbon agenda

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Asia ethylene editor Josh Quah and analyst Aliena Huang talk about the Asia outlook for ethylene arbitrage cargoes for 2025 with markets editor Damini Dabholkar.

• Ethylene loadings from US in December continue to favour southeast Asia destinations
• More intra-Asia tradeflows between northeast and southeast Asia expected for H1 2025
• Increasing ethane competitivity and demand may curtail US ethylene exports to Asia