Buyers of chemicals always need to know what’s happening in their markets, and more importantly what will happen, to make informed purchasing decisions. The problem is that forecasting chemicals markets is more of an art than a science, and well-structured (but subsequently erroneous) predictions have made some of the best analysts look like novices [...]

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On December 30th, the EPA announced plans to place greater restrictions on 4 types of chemicals; phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluorinated chemicals. To quote the EPA’s press release:
EPA intends to establish a “Chemicals of Concern” list and is beginning a process that may lead to regulations requiring significant risk [...]

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The Shared Services & Outsourcing Network (SSON) has asked me to present the “Top Categories to Source Now” in a webinar next week (details & registration here). As those of you who have seen other iterations of this presentation know, the categories themselves and strategies for approaching them change as market conditions shift. The big [...]

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We all watched the price of oil plummet last quarter as global demand dropped and the USD’s value rose (which is the currency world markets use for oil trading). Not only did this cause massive price drops at the gas pump, it also created sourcing opportunities for plastics, rubber and raw materials. The glut of [...]

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We’ve posted a great deal of analysis on the buyer’s market conditions that currently exist in direct and indirect spend categories. This Thursday, members of our category management team will host a webinar where they’ll identify the top sourcing opportunities and strategies for each of them. You can register for the Top 5 Categories to [...]

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