As we bid goodbye to what was one of the most challenging years in recent history, we look back on the most read pieces in 2020 which aimed to provide insight into the implications from the coronavirus pandemic, the changes in the chemicals market landscape as well as the economy. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 dominated the headlines in the last 12 months, with petrochemical leaders across the region and globally seeking to gain more clarity into the ongoing impact from the pandemic on their supply chains, petrochemical and feedstock prices, workforce, and production as well as chemical markets abroad. In this compilation of the ‘Top, most read pieces in 2020’, we present you with the 10 most visited articles on the GPCA website over the last 12 months and a summary of their contents.

#10 Covid-19’s impact on chemical supply chains: How to emerge stronger
By Arun Bruce, Managing Director and Partner; Benjamin Wahl, Principal; and Mayank Saxena, Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
In a poll conducted as part of the recent BCG-GPCA webinar, over 96% of respondents indicated that they had experienced some delay in procuring items, with over 35% reporting a considerable impact on production as a result of such delays.

#9 Top 10 digital innovations to disrupt the chemical industry
By Aditya Krishnan, Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan
As with all other industries, digital technologies are being rapidly implemented in the global chemical industry. In this piece, we look at the top 10 digital innovations which are poised to disrupt the chemical landscape in the coming years.

#6 IMO 2020: It wasn’t supposed to be like this
By David Fyfe, Chief Economist, Argus
January 2020 saw the introduction of tighter marine bunker fuel sulphur specifications overseen by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Current market disruptions mean enforcement may be very different from what was originally imagined.

#3 Impact of COVID-19 on the specialty chemicals industry
GPCA analysis
Specialty chemicals play an important role in maintaining public health and safety and national security. How is COVID-19 impacting the specialty chemicals segment, what are the recovery recommendations, and what are the lessons for the GCC specialty chemicals industry?