The Chemical Show: Where Leaders Talk Business

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply today.
Grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind

Examining Q1 2026 earnings in the chemical industry, Victoria Meyer, host of The Chemical Show, breaks down what company reports really reveal about demand, pricing, and outlook for the rest of the year. Victoria focuses on the critical signals from Q1 and what business leaders should watch as market disruptions continue.
This episode tackles the nuanced difference between stabilization and true recovery, drawing from public earnings calls and direct conversations at recent industry events. Victoria explains that while some companies have seen volume and pricing lift, much of the activity reflects inventory pre-buying rather than fundamental demand. North American petrochemical producers are benefiting from feedstock advantages, whereas Asian and European producers are facing unique challenges, from feedstock constraints to lingering regulatory issues. The episode also highlights how defensive management remains the norm, with a strong emphasis on cost discipline, restructuring, and risk management as companies look to navigate ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and regionally diverse market conditions.

Join us to learn more about the following topics this week:
Q1 2026 Earnings: What the numbers actually show about recovery versus stabilization
Demand Signals: Inventory rebuild or genuine end-market momentum?
Pricing Trends: Where pricing power exists, and why North American producers are “winning”
Regional Differences: Contrasting scenarios in North America, Europe, and Asia
Distributor and Specialty Market Performance: Who’s passing on costs and maintaining margin?
The Management Playbook: How leaders are prioritizing cash generation, cost-cutting, and strategic readiness
What’s Next: Key risks to watch in Q2 and beyond—including the threat of inventory hangover and profit margin compression
 
Killer Quote: “The biggest risk as we go forward into 2026 isn’t weak demand or tepid margins. It’s making decisions and assumptions as if recovery has already arrived, as if the rest of the year is painting itself with clarity—because the old way is not coming back.”  - Victoria Meyer
Other Links:
Subscribe to The Chemical Show for weekly insights and analysis from chemical industry leaders.
Want more? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com
Like the show? Leave us a rating or review.

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply today.
Grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind

Five years of volatility have reshaped how chemical businesses define advantage. On this 5th anniversary episode of The Chemical Show, Victoria King Meyer uncovers the industry's most significant shifts since 2021, including the normalization of disruption, the move from efficiency to resilience in supply chains, and the new balance between global and local strategies. She shares how AI is transitioning from a side project to a core business driver, even as the industry lags behind, and why bold promises around sustainability are giving way to more disciplined action.
*****
Ready to reshape your advantage in the chemical industry? Join Victoria Meyer and top leaders at this year’s Chemical Summit, happening September 29th and 30th in Houston, Texas. The theme:  Reshaping Advantage – with insights tools & discussions on how leaders gaining the upper hand through technology, leadership, talent, and more.
Join the waitlist. Seats are limited, with priority for sponsors, past attendees, and those on the waitlist. Don’t miss your chance to be first in line when tickets become available—join the waitlist now at thechemicalsummit.com.
***** 
Victoria outlines the traits of future winners in the chemical sector: those who act early, build operational resilience, and invest in new talent and digital transformation. Discover what it takes to not just respond to change, but to reshape your business and thrive in an environment where disruption has become business as usual.

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply today.
Grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind

Once considered a back-office function, supply chain management has become crucial to business strategy as disruptions and geopolitical events reshape the chemical industry. Host Victoria Meyer is joined by Jennifer Jewson (LyondellBasell), Claudia Moshiri (Brenntag), and Chad Burke (Economic Alliance Houston Port Region) live from AFPM International Petrochemical Conference to discuss how companies are adapting—emphasizing flexibility, optionality, and visibility to stay resilient and competitive. 
The panel shares practical approaches to risk management, compliance, and digitization, while examining the challenges of infrastructure constraints and the rapid evolution of the global landscape. With insights on real-time disruptions like the Strait of Hormuz, the conversation offers valuable takeaways for industry professionals looking to strengthen supply chain resilience and capability for the future. 
Subscribe to The Chemical Show on YouTube 
 
Listen in this week as Victoria and the Supply Chains Under Stress Panel discuss the following: 
 Supply chain moves to boardroom priority  
 Navigating real-time global disruptions  
 AI and data in decision making  
 Infrastructure and workforce under pressure  
 Building resilience and flexibility forward
 
Killer Quote: "Supply chains aren’t just operational; they're not just back office. They're really strategic. They're really a strategic part of our businesses and the ability to make those tradeoffs, understand constraints, and really understand those consequences." — Victoria Meyer

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply today.
Grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind

Trade uncertainty, regulatory hurdles, and rail consolidation are reshaping the U.S. chemical sector’s path to competitiveness. Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, sits down with host Victoria Meyer to break down how shifting tariff policies, global supply chain complexity, and potential rail mergers are influencing costs, innovation, and industry alignment. 

Chris and Victoria also examine the urgent need for TSCA reform to speed up chemical approvals and keep American manufacturing globally competitive. The conversation highlights how effective advocacy, targeted regulation, and smarter infrastructure policies will be critical for the industry’s future success. 

Additional Links:  

Sustainability Starts with Chemistry with ACC CEO Chris Jahn 
Subscribe to The Chemical Show on YouTube 
 
Join us this week as Victoria and Chris discuss the following: 
In-Person connections drive industry alignment  
Trade policy uncertainty impacts U.S. competitiveness  
Rail mergers threaten costs and agility  
TSCA delays hinder U.S. chemical innovation  
Leadership Focus: Prioritizing through industry complexity 
 
 
Killer Quote: "If you're waiting for all the information to be certain that you're right, you're never going to move quickly enough because that uncertainty is never going to go away. So you have to make the best decision you can with the information you have and then have the agility to pivot and move as you need to going forward." - Chris Jahn  
***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. 
***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.
***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply today.
Grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind

Scaling up chemical recycling technologies is transforming how the industry tackles plastics waste and circularity. Eric Appelman, Chief Revenue Officer of Aduro Clean Technologies, joins Victoria Meyer to discuss Aduro’s journey, from innovative pilot projects to a commercial demonstration plant in the Netherlands, following their NASDAQ listing. The conversation covers the challenges of commercializing and financing new technology, the crucial role of established partners, and the value of risk management in scaling sustainable solutions. 
Victoria and Eric also dig into how regulations, market expectations, and infrastructure are impacting the adoption of recycled plastics. Their discussion offers practical insights for business leaders looking to build resilient, growth-oriented companies in the evolving landscape of chemical recycling. 
 
Additional Links:  
How To Scale Sustainable Technology
Subscribe to The Chemical Show on YouTube
 
Listen in as Victoria and Eric discuss the following: 
Aduro’s breakthrough approach to plastics recycling   
 Moving from lab innovation to commercial plant  
 Market shifts: from promises to practicality  
 Regulation’s impact on plastics circularity  
 Leadership lessons for chemical industry startups
 
Killer Quote: "You as a leader, are you able to take the blows? Because in the 10 to 15 years to market, the world is going to go through at least 3 radical changes… That ability, that agility is crucial.” - Eric Appelman