Petrochemicals – A Beginner's Course

This beginner’s course starts with the assumption that the delegates have no knowledge of petrochemicals. During the day, their knowledge is built up so at the end they have an understanding of the key fundamentals that drive the petrochemical business.

The first session explains that essentially six building block chemicals are used to make petrochemicals and the everyday items that we use in our lives. We discuss the raw materials required and processes used as well as some of the commonly used terms.

We then look at the development of the oil industry and its relationship with petrochemicals. Oil refinery processes are discussed and the role petrochemicals play in the refinery. Information on crude oil and natural gas reserves, production and consumption is included.

The global petrochemical business is examined looking at chemical production and growth, and who are the main players. In this, we look at the growing influence of China and the increasing role the Middle East with its huge competitive advantage will play in the business.

A session introduces pricing and markets covering factors that influence price and how prices are set in the market. Types of pricing and price jargon are explained.

A break-out session gives delegates the opportunity to put some of the learning into practice. Working in groups with help from the presenters, you are given a task to develop a project in a selected part of the world. Presentations allow for group discussion on issues and topics not covered earlier.

The day concludes with an overview of the course and the strategies of the big chemical companies. A glimpse at future trends is given.

Petrochemicals - The Next Level (Europe/US Version)

This course follows on from the beginner’s programme taking a deeper look into the main petrochemical markets and understanding what constitutes the cost of making petrochemicals, the influence on prices as well as profitability and margins. Delegates will be given a task to calculate the cost of producing a petrochemical.

The first session explores the markets for the three main olefins – ethylene, propylene and butadiene – and their main derivatives. We will discuss market growth factors, production growth by region and trade for the main products.

A polymers session covers polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. We look at the processes to make these polymers, the markets with an outlook, and consumption data.

Our attention next turns to the main aromatics – benzene, toluene, orthoxylene and paraxylene. We look at the processes to make aromatics and how to balance aromatics production with demand. A look at the market includes the main derivatives, consumption and trade.

We then get down to explaining the cost of production. The components of fixed and variable costs are described and how to build up the costs to a final figure. Cost curves and leader and laggard concepts are explained, and how theoretical prices are set.

The class room exercise enables delegates to practice some cost calculations with an end task of deciding whether to produce an incremental amount of a petrochemical.

A follow-on session looks at different measurements of profitability and types of margins. The concept of value chains is also explained.

The concluding session turns to petrochemical pricing with a discussion on price setting mechanisms and inter-regional prices. Both short term and long term factors which influence future prices are covered.

Time permitting, there is a review of the day and a short quiz.

Petrochemicals Part II: The Next Level (Asian Version)

This one-day training course provides you with a deeper understanding of the feedstock options in making basic petrochemicals: refined crude oil, natural gas and gas products, coal, and other materials. The petrochemical processes that upgrade the value of these basic materials are then described with a focus on quantifying the added value of such operations. We then look at technology and logistics and how they effect economics. Detailed financial models are described, and a "live" model is provided to help with a basic understanding of valuing petrochemical processes. MMSA will lead the discussion for these segments of the training.

And understand critical events and their impact on the future based on the ICIS 12-month view on the direction of olefins, aromatics and derivative pricing. This is provided by our team of ICIS pricing editors - http://www.icispricing.com/ who will also be available at the events to network and exchange views on markets.

Find out who is building what, when and where in China, India and the Middle East through projects data gathered by our global team of reporters and editors. This data is placed in the macroeconomic and downstream context with demand and supply estimates.

And then learn about how long-term and short-term price forecasts are compiled.

And finally, you will be broken into teams to produce your own price forecasts based on what you have learnt during the day, using these to input into a live model in an interactive session with the trainers.

Those who need to attend are:

• Anybody who attended the first day's programme who wants to build on their knowledge
• Those who have done beginners courses previously, or who have gained basic on -the-job experience, who want to take the next step
• Experienced marketing and sales staff new to the petrochemical industry
• Technical staff looking for a broad and quantified overview of the petrochemical industry
• Analysts searching for tools to help them in their jobs
• Planners needing to learn the planning process

Petrochemicals & Polymers – The Next Level

A Deeper Understanding of Commodity Polymer Markets, Prices, Costs and Profitability

This intermediate course focuses on the commodity polymers business. It takes a deeper look at the feedstocks and markets for polymers and gives an understanding of the cost elements in the manufacture of polymers as well as profitability and margins. This learning is reinforced with an exercise in calculating the cost of making a polymer.

The first three papers cover the fundamentals of the commodity polymers business. There is an introduction to plastics explaining their structure, the polymerisation processes and basic market trends.

We discuss the production and markets of two basic raw materials – ethylene and propylene – used to make polymers.

The third paper looks at the market dynamics of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate.

The discussion next turns to environmental issues surrounding polymers with delegates invited to add their thoughts and experiences to this topical and often controversial subject.

We then get down to explaining the cost of production. The components of fixed and variable costs are described and how the costs are built up to a final figure. Cost curves and leader and laggard concepts are explained, and how theoretical prices are set.

The class room exercise enables delegates to practice some cost calculations with an end task of deciding whether to produce an incremental amount of a polymer.

A follow-on session looks at the different measurements of profitability and types of margins. The concept of value chains is explained.

The concluding session turns to polymer pricing with a discussion on price setting mechanisms, inter-regional prices and inter-material competition. Long term factors which influence future prices are covered.

Those who need to attend include:

• Experienced sales and marketing staff new to the polymers business
• Buyers and converters of commodity polymers
• Purchasers in end-user industries using and consuming polymers
• People providing support functions and services to this sector
• Technical staff looking for a broader overview of the polymer sector
• Delegates who have attended the beginner’s course or more experienced people looking for a refresher course

Asian Polyolefins - A Beginner's Course

Nowhere else will you find such a cost-effective one-day programme which provides you with all the essential information on polyethylene and polypropylene.

We begin, as always, with the basics - feedstock and technology choices, plus an analysis of how crude oil and other fundamentals influence pricing as you move down the value chain.

These elements of the course are ideal for beginners or those with experience who want to refresh their knowledge.

ICIS insight Asia, the business set up to provide Asian training programmes, provides a unique combination of basic technical knowledge and market information.

And so anyone involved in buying or selling polyolefins will also find this course invaluable. Senior editors from the ICIS pricing team present papers on the outlook for olefins and polyolefins markets over the next 12 months.

In addition, we give industry planners data and analysis on global project activity over the next 2-5 years.

Introduction to Base Oils

This beginner’s course starts with the assumption that the delegates have no in-depth understanding of lubricant base oil manufacturing. The course provides an overview of the various base oil refining processes, and the economics that drive today’s base oil manufacturing decisions. Combining this information with product qualities and market demand segments, course attendees gain a broad understanding of the lubricant base oil market and its fundamental drivers.

The first session sets the stage with an overview of refining and its role in the crude oil value chain, as well as crude types and terminology. An overview of major refinery fuels units provides insight on the co-existence and competition between lube base oil units and fuels units. Global base oil refining capacity within the worldwide refining industry gives context to how base oil manufacturing fits into the refining puzzle.

Additional morning sessions provide information on solvent processing as well as hydroprocessing for the manufacturing of lube base oils. Combination or “hybrid” processes that use both solvent and hydroprocessing are also covered. A comparison of key API Group I, II and III base oil properties is provided to highlight the similarities and differences among the different types of base oils.

The morning session concludes with a quiz, allowing delegates to test their memory and understanding of key base oil manufacturing and product quality concepts.

The afternoon begins with information on refinery interactions between fuels and lube units, since crude selection and shared refinery resources often lead to decisions that may not be the most desirable for lube base oil production. An introduction to the manufacturing economics for Group I and Group II / III base oils explores the impact of raw material selection, product slates and by-products.

The course moves from the manufacturing and supply side to the demand and trade components of the base oil business. An overview is provided covering regional trade and major market segments, including the transportation, industrial and process oils. These base oils are combined with additives to make finished lubricants, and a session on the role of additives in finished lubricant manufacturing completes the value chain.

The day concludes with a glimpse at future perspectives on the base oil industry. This includes current developments for each global region, future trends, and a discussion of today’s most influential base oil suppliers.

• New and experienced base oil marketing and sales staff, and those in support functions such as supply, accounting, planning and logistics
• Base oil refiners, additive suppliers, finished lubricant formulators, and other technical staff who want to broaden their knowledge of base oil refining processes and the overall base oil industry
• Senior executives who are new to base oils or finished lubricants

Asian Aromatics & Major Derivatives - A Beginner's Course

Anyone who is starting out in the aromatics industry or who needs to refresh their knowledge will find this course invaluable.

Those involved in buying and selling aromatics and derivatives and the planners who need to track projects will also find this one-day programme of great use.

The ICIS insight Asia team and our global training partner, the consultancy Nexant ChemSystems, come together to provide you with a basic understanding of technologies and the links between the refinery and aromatics industries.

Senior editors from ICIS pricing will also give you their views on price direction over the next 12 months in the benzene, styrenics, paraxylene and PTA markets.

We also analyse company strategy and give you our view of global project activity and demand growth over the next 2-5 years.

Emerging Markets

Emerging Markets looks at the Asian olefins, aromatics and derivatives markets and focuses on developments in China, India, Vietnam and Southeast Asia, as well as the influence of the Middle East.

Our series of Emerging Markets Seminars gives you bang-up-to-date analysis and data on what's happening in the petrochemical industries in China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam. We also include a comprehensive study of the status of all the projects in the Middle East and look at trade flows out of the world's most important production region.

These one-day programmes are presented by our team of chemical industry journalists who have more than 20 years experience in covering the industries in Asia and the Middle East.

We give you a 12-month view of the direction of olefins, aromatics and derivatives markets in Asia.

We look at supply and demand balances in each country - including comprehensive data and analysis on who is building, what, when and where.
We also place the industry in a wider context - looking at downstream industries and economic, political, social and environmental issues,

The data you will receive - and get to take away in PDF and hard copy format - is compiled by our 95-strong global team of reporters and editors, including teams in Singapore, Shanghai and Mumbai.

Biofuels

Whether climate change is a fact or just a theory is irrelevant. What matters is that governments have long term policies in place that guarantee a bright future for the biofuels industry for energy security and geopolitical and environmental reasons.

Introduction to Biofuels provides delegates with an essential guide to what will be one of the biggest industries of the 21st Century. We look at technology - both the current technologies and those under development - and provide an assessment of economic viability.

We give you project lists for biodiesel and ethanol globally, examine existing governnent policy and likely changes to government policy, and provide an explanation of how pricing markets work for biodiesel and ethanol. We will also give you a view on price direction.

This course is essential for anybody entering the biofuels industry. If you are already working in the industry, the course will refresh and add to your knowledge. The course material is constantly updated by our team of presenters based on information gathered by our 95-strong global team of reporters and editors.

And anybody who is thinking of investing in the industry, whether from a chemical company looking to diversify or from the financial community, also needs to attend.