Aromatics market
The global aromatics market is made up of several diverse product markets and can be affected by a great many factors.
Benzene is a highly traded and volatile commodity because of its predominantly co-product nature and unpredictable supply. Styrene, benzene’s largest derivative, represents about 50pc of global benzene demand. Anyone involved in the benzene industry – directly or indirectly – needs market and pricing insight to anticipate supply shortages and large swings in pricing.
Meanwhile, the toluene and xylenes isomer markets are intertwined with the global markets for gasoline. Toluene and xylenes are highly traded commodities that create a lot of interest in the industry because of the various factors that affect demand growth. Outside of their inter-relationship with the gasoline markets, the major end-uses for these commodities vary across the world, from polyester fibres and food and beverage packaging to construction. Anyone involved in the toluene and xylenes industries – directly or indirectly – needs insight into how the toluene and xylenes markets can or will impact on their business, from raw material costs or as a price indicator for downstream products.
Argus’ aromatics experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Aromatics services
ARGUS Benzene Daily
See changes to price spreads by region and/or related products with a global view of prices and news every day.
ARGUS Benzene And Derivatives
Access leading benzene and derivatives contract and spot benchmarks, global industry news and analysis of key economic drivers on a weekly basis.
ARGUS Benzene Outlook
Get a 24-month rolling price forecast and forward-looking analysis of global benzene supply and demand, trade flows and inventory levels each month.
ARGUS Benzene Analytics
Take advantage of comprehensive benzene and derivatives data and forecasts, including capacities, trade, and supply and demand balances, plus long-term analysis and access to expert analysts.
ARGUS Toluene and Xylenes Daily
See changes to price spreads by region and/or related products with a global view of prices and news every day.
ARGUS Toluene, Xylenes, and Isomers/PET
Access leading toluene, xylenes and isomers/PET contract and spot benchmarks, global industry news and analysis of key economic drivers on a weekly basis.
ARGUS Toluene and Xylenes Outlook
Get a 24-month rolling price forecast and future-facing analysis of global toluene and xylenes supply and demand, trade flows and inventory levels each month.
ARGUS Toluene and Xylenes Analytics
Take advantage of comprehensive toluene, xylenes and derivatives data and forecasts, including capacities, trade, and supply and demand balances, plus long-term analysis and access to expert analysts.
Aromatics experts
Simon Palmer
VP, Global Aromatics
Chuck Venezia
SVP, Chemical Markets
Anjani Singh
Aromatics Consultant
Santosh Navada
Senior Business Analyst
Jeff Eickholt
Senior Market Analyst
Akash Chavanke
Business Analyst, Chemicals
Monicca Egoy
Editor, Europe Aromatics
Brian Leonal
Associate Editor
Lee Toong Shien
Senior Market Reporter
Alicia Goh
Market Reporter
Jacky Wang
Senior Petrochemical Analyst
Simon Palmer
VP, Global Aromatics
Simon is responsible for steering Argus’ global aromatics coverage. He brings more than 40 years’ experience from across several petrochemical sectors including aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon processing, plastics manufacturing, market consulting and petrochemical trading, plus major project management and strategy/business development roles. He has worked in both Europe and the US and is now based near Houston, Texas. Simon has also worked for ICI plc and Motiva Enterprises (Saudi Aramco).
Simon is responsible for steering Argus’ global aromatics coverage. He brings more than 40 years’ experience from across several petrochemical sectors including aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon processing, plastics manufacturing, market consulting and petrochemical trading, plus major project management and strategy/business development roles. He has worked in both Europe and the US and is now based near Houston, Texas. Simon has also worked for ICI plc and Motiva Enterprises (Saudi Aramco).
Chuck Venezia
SVP, Chemical Markets
Chuck has over 30 years’ experience in the chemicals industry. Prior to moving into a global leadership role, he led Argus DeWitt’s Benzene & Derivatives service. He joined DeWitt & Company in 2002 from CheMatch where he served as Executive Director, Latin America of the online trading platform for bulk petrochemicals. Chuck also worked as Area Manager, Latin America for Chevron Chemical Company, where he managed polymer and chemical sales into Mexico and South America. A native of upstate New York, he holds a degree and a master’s degree from Tulane University and a degree from Union College. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish profici...
Chuck has over 30 years’ experience in the chemicals industry. Prior to moving into a global leadership role, he led Argus DeWitt’s Benzene & Derivatives service. He joined DeWitt & Company in 2002 from CheMatch where he served as Executive Director, Latin America of the online trading platform for bulk petrochemicals. Chuck also worked as Area Manager, Latin America for Chevron Chemical Company, where he managed polymer and chemical sales into Mexico and South America. A native of upstate New York, he holds a degree and a master’s degree from Tulane University and a degree from Union College. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish proficiently.
Anjani Singh
Aromatics Consultant
Anjani is an aromatics consultant for Argus’ North America TX coverage. He brings over 25 years of experience in the downstream sector having led annual reports for global refining and petrochemicals. He currently leads the TX Weekly, TX Outlook and TX Analytics reports for North America. Anjani has worked in India for Reliance, in Canada for Aspen Tech and in the US for a major consulting and advisory firm. He has played a key advisory role for crude slate selection, reformer optimization, aromatics extraction, product blending for refined products, fuel specification requirements, octane balances, biofuel volume blending for transp...
Anjani is an aromatics consultant for Argus’ North America TX coverage. He brings over 25 years of experience in the downstream sector having led annual reports for global refining and petrochemicals. He currently leads the TX Weekly, TX Outlook and TX Analytics reports for North America. Anjani has worked in India for Reliance, in Canada for Aspen Tech and in the US for a major consulting and advisory firm. He has played a key advisory role for crude slate selection, reformer optimization, aromatics extraction, product blending for refined products, fuel specification requirements, octane balances, biofuel volume blending for transport fuel, and PX-PTA-PET value chain optimization and forecasting models. Anjani has a masters in Chemical Engineering.
Santosh Navada
Senior Business Analyst
Santosh supports aromatics and related product areas for the Asia-Pacific region and is based in Mumbai. He has market research experience related to chemicals and materials with MarketsandMarkets, Bureau Veritas and AgileIntel. Santosh holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
Santosh supports aromatics and related product areas for the Asia-Pacific region and is based in Mumbai. He has market research experience related to chemicals and materials with MarketsandMarkets, Bureau Veritas and AgileIntel. Santosh holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
Jeff Eickholt
Senior Market Analyst
Jeff is a Senior Analyst in the chemicals sector supporting Aromatics and MTBE. He has also worked for Shell for over 20 years in various analytical roles, most recently as a Risk Analyst in their chemicals division where he advised commercial and finance staff on pricing structures, risk management, and contract development. Jeff holds a certification in Data Analytics from Rice University plus a degree and a master’s degree in Statistics.
Jeff is a Senior Analyst in the chemicals sector supporting Aromatics and MTBE. He has also worked for Shell for over 20 years in various analytical roles, most recently as a Risk Analyst in their chemicals division where he advised commercial and finance staff on pricing structures, risk management, and contract development. Jeff holds a certification in Data Analytics from Rice University plus a degree and a master’s degree in Statistics.
Akash Chavanke
Business Analyst, Chemicals
Akash is involved in improving the granularity of integrated aromatics and olefins derivative markets. He previously spent one and half years at Prismane Consulting in Pune, where he worked on projects related to speciality polymers, bulk polymers, petrochemicals, bioplastics and inorganic chemicals. Akash holds a B.Tech degree in Petrochemical Engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune.
Akash is involved in improving the granularity of integrated aromatics and olefins derivative markets. He previously spent one and half years at Prismane Consulting in Pune, where he worked on projects related to speciality polymers, bulk polymers, petrochemicals, bioplastics and inorganic chemicals. Akash holds a B.Tech degree in Petrochemical Engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune.
Monicca Egoy
Editor, Europe Aromatics
Monicca Egoy is the editor in charge of the aromatics market in Europe, based in London. She mainly covers the benzene and styrene markets, as well as overseas coverage and publication of Argus’ daily and weekly aromatics reports. She joined Argus in early 2013 when it was forming the petrochemicals team and integrating DeWitt, which it acquired in 2012.
Prior to joining Argus, Monicca was an editor at S&P Global Platts, covering polymers and olefins. Additionally, she has years of experience covering the energy and financial markets, having worked at AFX Financial News, Thomson Financial News, and ThomsonReuters in Europe and Asia....
Monicca Egoy is the editor in charge of the aromatics market in Europe, based in London. She mainly covers the benzene and styrene markets, as well as overseas coverage and publication of Argus’ daily and weekly aromatics reports. She joined Argus in early 2013 when it was forming the petrochemicals team and integrating DeWitt, which it acquired in 2012.
Prior to joining Argus, Monicca was an editor at S&P Global Platts, covering polymers and olefins. Additionally, she has years of experience covering the energy and financial markets, having worked at AFX Financial News, Thomson Financial News, and ThomsonReuters in Europe and Asia.
Monicca holds a master’s degree in Global Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Management from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Brian Leonal
Associate Editor
Brian Leonal is responsible for the coverage of benzene and styrene in Asia Pacific. He has seven years of experience in the hydrocarbon industry. Most recently he was a corporate banker in DBS Bank covering oil and gas as well as petrochemical markets. He has been involved in a diversity of transactions, including asset-backed, project, trade, and M&A financing, as well as clean corporate loans. He started his career in Argus in 2015 as part of the petrochemical team, with exposures to olefins, aromatics, and polymers.
Brian Leonal is responsible for the coverage of benzene and styrene in Asia Pacific. He has seven years of experience in the hydrocarbon industry. Most recently he was a corporate banker in DBS Bank covering oil and gas as well as petrochemical markets. He has been involved in a diversity of transactions, including asset-backed, project, trade, and M&A financing, as well as clean corporate loans. He started his career in Argus in 2015 as part of the petrochemical team, with exposures to olefins, aromatics, and polymers.
Lee Toong Shien
Senior Market Reporter
Toong Shien is a senior reporter based in Singapore who is responsible for ethylene, propylene and toluene markets in Asia. He joined Argus in 2018 where his focus back then was octane boosters such as toluene, solvent xylenes and MTBE, before taking more responsibilities for other market coverages including olefins. Prior to that, Toong Shien worked as a relationship manager in the banking and finance sector. He graduated from National University of Singapore as a Bachelor of Science majoring in statistics.
Toong Shien is a senior reporter based in Singapore who is responsible for ethylene, propylene and toluene markets in Asia. He joined Argus in 2018 where his focus back then was octane boosters such as toluene, solvent xylenes and MTBE, before taking more responsibilities for other market coverages including olefins. Prior to that, Toong Shien worked as a relationship manager in the banking and finance sector. He graduated from National University of Singapore as a Bachelor of Science majoring in statistics.
Alicia Goh
Market Reporter
Alicia is based in Singapore and is responsible for paraxylene and isomer-grade mixed xylene in the Petrochemicals team. Prior to Argus Media, Alicia worked for international trading firms as physical trades operator and has more than 10 years’ experience in petroleum and petrochemical operations. She has an extensive network across the supply chains and is fluent in English and Mandarin.
Alicia is based in Singapore and is responsible for paraxylene and isomer-grade mixed xylene in the Petrochemicals team. Prior to Argus Media, Alicia worked for international trading firms as physical trades operator and has more than 10 years’ experience in petroleum and petrochemical operations. She has an extensive network across the supply chains and is fluent in English and Mandarin.
Jacky Wang
Senior Petrochemical Analyst
Jacky Wang is a Senior Petrochemical Analyst, based in Shanghai. He is a member of the aromatics team and mainly covers the Asian polyester chain markets. He has extensive experience in PTA, PET production and trading. Before joining Argus, Jacky worked for international trading firms and petrochemical producers, leading petrochemical product sales and marketing. He has more than 10 years of experience working with the polyester chain and has a deep understanding of Chinese and Indian markets.
Jacky Wang is a Senior Petrochemical Analyst, based in Shanghai. He is a member of the aromatics team and mainly covers the Asian polyester chain markets. He has extensive experience in PTA, PET production and trading. Before joining Argus, Jacky worked for international trading firms and petrochemical producers, leading petrochemical product sales and marketing. He has more than 10 years of experience working with the polyester chain and has a deep understanding of Chinese and Indian markets.