Petrochemicals: Part I - 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: Part II - 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. This course is held in partnership with Nexant ChemSystems.

The first session explores the markets for the three main olefins – ethylene, propylene and butadiene – and their main derivatives. This includes coverage on the four bulk polymers – polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. We will discuss market growth factors, production growth by region and trade for the main products.

This is followed by a presentation of methanol and ammonia which are also considered to be building block chemicals. We will look at the main uses and market growth factors for these chemicals.

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. Long term factors which influence future prices are also covered.

Those who need to attend include:

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

Petrochemicals & Polymers: Part II - The Next Level

A deeper understanding of commodity polymer markets, prices, costs and profitability

This intermediate level petrochemical course has a focus 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 course is held in partnership with Nexant ChemSystems.

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 follow this with a look at the market dynamics of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate. This includes consumption drivers, production, regional issues and trends.

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

The discussion next turns to polymer pricing with a look at polymer price structure and price setting mechanisms, inter-regional prices and inter-material competition. The structure of ethylene and propylene markets is also covered.

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 looks at the drivers and constraints in forecasting polymer demand with an introduction to long-term forecasting.

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

Petrochemical Essentials

Ever felt you or your staff need more time to grasp the basics of what makes the petrochemical industry tick which cannot be provided by only attending a one-day training programme?

Do you need a more detailed understanding of technologies, feedstock choices, how pricing markets function and industry structure?

Building on our highly successful one-day Introduction to Petrochemicals Part I, ICIS training provides you with a day-and-a-half course - Petrochemicals Essentials - which has been developed in reponse to customer feedback.

We give you the chance to ask questions in a less time-pressured environment (and to take part in a quiz and extended and revised exercise).

The ICIS training team will provide a more in-depth insight into petrochemical technologies and olefin, aromatics and derivative markets.

We also examine in more detail the oil and petrochemicals interface - and explore other feedstock alternatives.

As always, we will provide you with a bang-up-to-date view of the direction of the industry through detailed analysis of the major players and their strategies and who is building what, when and where.

Introduction to Petrochemical Feedstocks

This new one-day course, Introduction to Petrochemical Feedstocks, gives an overview of the upstream industries that provide the raw materials for making petrochemical building blocks. Subjects covered by the course include crude oil refining and economics, natural gas processing and liquefaction, use of coal in petrochemicals and biochemical routes to petrochemicals. It also outlines the technologies used to convert these raw materials into petrochemicals.

The morning session starts with crude oil and its role as a major petrochemical raw material. The rise of National Oil companies, OPEC, crude oil consumption and production, and major crude types set the stage for the refining sections. Refining operations that produce chemical feedstocks like paraffins, olefins and aromatics are explained in concise terms without the technical jargon. Refinery profitability indicators and economic trade-offs between fuels and petrochemical feedstocks are covered as part of the refinery economics section.

The afternoon session provides a focus on gas, coal and biomass sources as raw materials for petrochemical feedstocks. The natural gas industry is explained with emphasis on natural gas processing where the natural gas liquids (NGLs) are separated out. The use of coal in making chemicals is explored with examples given. All the different products from oil, gas and coal are drawn together to show how they can be used to make petrochemical building blocks. The course concludes with a glimpse of where future petrochemical feedstocks may be obtained.

Asian Markets Seminar

The world has turned upside down. An unprecedented collapse in petrochemical pricing and demand - on the back of the worst global recession since perhaps the Great Depression - has left the Asian industry shellshocked.

How on earth do you do business in this new environment?

The ICIS training team can help. Our in-depth knowledge of olefin, polyolefin and aromatics markets will help you make sense of the new realities.

In our Asian Markets seminar we will also give you a view on crude oil and its likely direction, how the global industry has reacted to the crisis and the state of demand in key markets such as China and India.

Take the opportunity to be brought bang-up-to-date with what’s happening in these exceptional times, and gain some ideas on how to manage this crisis, away from the pressure of the office.

Asian Aromatics & 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.

Asian Aromatics & Derivatives Essentials & Markets Outlook

The Asian aromatics industry is expanding. A great deal more capacity is coming on stream which needs to be sold, regardless of the very difficult economic environment – and this will need additional sales and marketing and support staff with the right level of expertise to make businesses successful.

For those companies not expanding they need to protect earnings in this historically difficult climate. The right knowledge and skills set are therefore crucial.

On-the-job training helps to a limited degree, because, at the end of a long working day, will anyone really have the energy and focus to spend a great deal of time getting to grips with industry fundamentals? A lack of knowledge of these fundamentals - from what drives the oil price to refinery regulations and how pricing markets function - will cost you money.

ICIS training provides you with the basic training your teams through our cost and time-effective one-day seminars with ongoing support via email and telephone calls from our trainers.

These one-day seminars also contain bang-up-to-date analysis of where the key aromatics markets are heading. We give you value-added assessments of historic pricing and of where we think pricing is heading based on a comprehensive view of all the key drivers from feedstock to finished-goods markets.

Asian Polyolefins - An In-depth 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.

Asian Olefins & Polyolefins Essentials & Markets Outlook

The Asian olefins and polyolefin industries are expanding. A great deal more capacity is coming on stream which needs to be sold, regardless of the very difficult economic environment – and this will need additional sales and marketing and support staff with the right level of expertise to make businesses successful.

For those companies not expanding they need to protect earnings in this historically difficult climate. The right knowledge and skills set are therefore crucial.

On-the-job training helps to a limited degree, because, at the end of a long working day, will anyone really have the energy and focus to spend a great deal of time getting to grips with industry fundamentals? A lack of knowledge of these fundamentals - from what drives the oil price how the conversion industry functions - will cost you money.

ICIS training provides you with the basic training your teams through our cost and time-effective one-day seminars with ongoing support via email and telephone calls from our trainers.

These one-day seminars also contain bang-up-to-date analysis of where the key aromatics markets are heading. We give you value-added assessments of historic pricing and of where we think pricing is heading based on a comprehensive view of all the key drivers from feedstock to finished-goods markets.

Fibre Intermediates Essentials & Markets Outlook

The Asian fibre intermediates industry is expanding. A great deal more capacity is coming on stream which needs to be sold, regardless of the very difficult economic environment – and this will need additional sales and marketing and support staff with the right level of expertise to make businesses successful.

For those companies not expanding they need to protect earnings in this historically difficult climate. The right knowledge and skills set are therefore crucial.

On-the-job training helps to a limited degree, because, at the end of a long working day, will anyone really have the energy and focus to spend a great deal of time getting to grips with industry fundamentals? A lack of knowledge of these fundamentals - from what drives the oil price to how the textiles and garments industry operates - will cost you money.

ICIS training provides you with the basic training your teams through our cost and time-effective one-day seminars with ongoing support via email and telephone calls from our trainers.

These one-day seminars also contain bang-up-to-date analysis of where the key aromatics markets are heading. We give you value-added assessments of historic pricing and of where we think pricing is heading based on a comprehensive view of all the key drivers from feedstock to finished-goods markets.

A Crash Course in Base Oils

BASE OILS II: The Next Level

Product Qualities, Blending Options, and Next Generation Issues
My Energy / Amy A. Claxton, P.E.

WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK ...

These are volatile times. You’ve kept up with the rapid changes in the global Base Oils market. You know the difference between Groups I, II and III base oils. But what about the differences between suppliers - and why do some Group II or Group III stocks formulate differently than others? Why do some buyers and sellers require PAO for high quality engine oil formulation, while others claim to use only Group I, II or III stocks? What are the base oil product offerings by major suppliers around the world?

Get these and other questions answered by joining ICIS for a day of training with Base Oils II: Volatile Times, led by an industry consultant with over 30 years of experience in base oil refining, international crude selection, and global lube supply and demand. This course is a welcome follow-up to the ICIS Base Oils: A Crash Course for Beginners. Link up with others involved in Base Oil and Finished Lubricant marketing, refining and supply who want to know more about the global revolution in the quality and manufacturing of base oils.

The morning session will focus on base oil quality, including detailed product quality measurements for base oils, the truth about straight grades versus blends, and typical base oil grades used in consumer automotive, commercial automotive, and industrial oil applications. You’ll try your luck at formulating on-spec 5W engine oil in a group class exercise. The afternoon session will focus on critical issues facing today’s global market. These include regional supply and demand imbalances, shortfalls in heavy neutrals and Bright Stock, and a global oversupply of Group I light neutrals. Product quality comparisons will highlight the differences between the major suppliers of Group I, II, III and PAO. We’ll close the session with a look at future trends and give an assessment about the future of traditional Group I base oils.

The landscape is changing. Base Oils: The Next Level offers the opportunity for both formal and informal discussions on these and other topics.

This course is appropriate for:

• New and experienced base oil marketing and sales staff, and those in support functions such as supply, accounting, planning and logistics
• New and experienced finished lubricant buyers and sellers
• New and experienced personnel in the terminalling, storage, and shipping industry
• Base oil refiners, additive suppliers, finished lubricant formulators, and other technical staff who want to broaden their knowledge of base oil product qualities and the overall base oil industry
• Senior oil industry executives who are new to base oils or finished lubricants
• Personnel in Equity Firms in the energy sector, who are involved in base oil or finished lubricant evaluations

Introduction to Oil & Refining

This one-day highly interactive programme is an ideal basic introduction for beginners and a refresher for those with experience.

This is a course designed for those with a non-technical background. Everything is explained using exactly the right amount of chemistry and refinery engineering to make the course highly accessible.

But whether or not you have a technical background, you will also benefit from our bang-up-to-date analysis of crude and crude-product markets.

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.