The global petrochemical industry has never been more dynamic than it is today. The renewed competitiveness of the Americas petrochemical industry from lower cost feedstocks combined with rapid volume growth in emerging markets requires that producers, marketers and end users stay abreast of the trends in this USD 500 billion market.

For over 50 years, NexantECA consulting professionals have helped clients by providing strategic advisory, commercial, technical and operations consulting services. NexantECA also offers a suite of data, analytics and forecasting tools to help guide decision makers.

Our clientele ranges from major operating companies, governments, and financial institutions to regulator and development agencies and law firms.

The ammonia/urea and methanol industries represent significant and vital components of the chemical economy, providing a significant source of revenues and employment, particularly within countries with significant availability of feedstocks such as natural gas and coal. In addition, the principal application of ammonia and urea within the fertilizer sector is critical to agricultural production and the wider world economy. Derivatives of methanol and ammonia are also vital to numerous everyday products.

Natural gas based chemicals, namely ammonia, urea and methanol and derivatives have been monitored, studied, analyzed and reported by NexantECA for over four decades.

As both the primary feedstock for petrochemicals and the world’s principal energy source this multi-billion dollar industry faces a number of unique challenges and changing dynamics.   

NexantECA has been deeply engaged as a valued advisor to the oil & gas industry and produces numerous special reports on the sector, including a subscription based service though our World Gas Model.

The global plastics and polymers industry is facing its greatest challenge with the drive towards a circular economy and the promotion of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Renew. The overarching vision of the circular economy is the reduction of plastics into natural systems and decoupling from fossil feedstock in the plastic production process. NexantECA’s deep knowledge of the polymers value chain, from commodity polyolefins to advanced thermoset resins, has evolved from over 50 years of technical and commercial partnerships with the polymer industry.

Renewable energy and chemicals is comprised of a diverse group of products, services, and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources and reduce the use of natural resources. The sector includes recycling, wind power, solar power, bio renewable materials, and biofuels.

NexantECA provides in-depth evaluations and reliable data on the technology, cost competitiveness and business developments of biorenewable chemicals and fuels.

This highly diverse sector presents unique technical, commercial and strategic challenges to stakeholders engaged in these complex and global industries. NexantECA has an expert consulting team with many years industrial experience that can support business teams and investors with detailed analysis to help develop robust plans. Commercial excellence and sustainability strategy form a core part of our expertise, as well as innovation and growth via acquisitions. 

In addition to our core expertise in Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomers; Engineering Polymers and Polymer Additives; Care Chemicals, including Surfactants and Fine Chemicals for Agrochemical, Personal Care and Pharmaceutical markets; Solvents and Petrochemical Intermediates; Inorganic Chemicals and Industrial Gases; Advanced Materials, NexantECA also offers a suite of special reports supporting the critical decision making process. 

The world is facing unprecedented challenges. The market landscape is evolving with a heightened emphasis on opportunities offered within the sustainability and circular economy framework, as well as the challenges and risks presented by climate change and the need to meet the increased commitments to achieving net-zero emissions without compromising prosperity.

The need to address climate change, through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and energy transition, offer prospects for new solution technologies and innovation across the value chain which required collaboration between technology developers, suppliers, formulators, producers and brand owners. It also shows the need for resilient systems across the wider ecosystem to enable sustainable future and growth.

Although there is a shift in the market towards science-based practical solutions away from ideology, the landscape is burdened with competing standards and approaches that can be confusing, a symptom of multiple developing industries and a sign of early market. Clear direction on standardised ESG2 measurement and reporting are required as well as waste classification across borders, preferably within a regulated overarching international trade system.

With climate risk affecting asset valuations, the capital market appetite shifted towards investments with good ESG performance and competitive financial returns raises an opportunity to the petrochemical industry. Companies in our sector can see real valuation benefit when they are able to demonstrate strong performance in these areas. There is also a global focus on supply chain traceability, sourcing transparency, operational efficiency, and smart waste recovery. Helping the supply chains to adapt and introduce greater resilience has become a priority metric.

NexantECA Sustainability Champions

At NexantECA, we utilise our expertise, in-depth knowledge, and comprehensive datasets to support clients in addressing the major issues facing our industry across the supply chain, for energy, chemicals, and related sectors. 

As a business with experienced industry professionals based in all key regions globally, we understand the different regional priorities. Our global sustainability champions team of experts are well placed to assist on this strategic and operational journey to enable our clients deliver positive environmental, social, and economic impact. We are helping companies to assess their risk, identify opportunities and implement solutions.

When we talk about sustainability, decarbonisation and circular economy, we discuss the important role our industry can play and its impact on our plant and the environment, the prosperity of our business, the wellbeing of our society, our employees, and the wider community. It is about doing good while doing well.

Our Sector Coverage



There is a wide range of concepts and approaches that describe/facilitate the transition in the industry and the implications of sustainability and climate change on our sector. At, NexantECA, we provide clients with a range of offerings to support key strategic and operational decisions driven by changing industry dynamics.

• Resources & Primary Energy 
• Energy & Power
• Chemicals & Polymers
• Carbon Capture and Storage
• Recycling and Waste Management
• Social impact 
• Investment and Finance
• Regulations and Standards

NexantECA is a multinational business with experienced industry professionals based in all key regions, providing services globally.

For over 50 years, through a combination of our business and technical expertise, we have been enabling management teams, investors, and lenders to make better decisions.

Clients can be assured of the expertise our staff bring to each engagement, and benefit from the key insights that we bring from the experience we’ve gained in over 50 years of advising the hydrocarbon sector.

We’ve advised on projects ranging from hydrocarbon resource master planning, through project implementation in refining, gas processing and petrochemicals and fertilizers. To on-going business optimisation support, dispute resolution and transaction support in M&A or disposal situations.

We have helped guide companies on major strategic issues and decision making across all areas and pride ourselves in the trust our clients place in us and the full confidence they demonstrate in our integrity.

Strategic Planning

NexantECA works closely and confidentially with our clients to address real world issues and identify opportunities that add and create value to hydrocarbon assets and the businesses.

With our deep industry knowledge, we are able to help identify actionable and impactful strategic options:

• Country strategy - Ministry level support to masterplan utilisation of key resources
• Corporate and business strategy - Value chain analysis, strategic planning and roadmapping, acquisition/technology screening, business plan review and M&A due diligence (commercial and technical)
• Market and product strategy - Segmentation, competitive positioning, value proposition development
• Commercial strategy - Marketing, pricing and sales excellence
• R&D and technology strategy - Licensing, commercialisation and competitor evaluation of conventional energy and bio-derived fuels, petrochemicals, intermediates and materials

Project Feasibililty

NexantECA can perform project feasibility study quicker and more efficiently without compromising quality due to our extensive in-house information regarding markets, technology and production economics.

NexantECA has an in-house understanding of markets, technology and financial evaluation. We are expertly placed to recommend alternative optimised configurations for consideration by our client, and ensuring the client is guided to make assured decisions based on the outcome of our studies.

The skillset that NexantECA brings to Project Feasibility studies cover:

• Market review including identification, characterization and attractiveness of addressable target markets  
• Profitability and price forecasts, including “netback” forecasts, or the revenue actually received at the plant gate  
• Competitiveness review, both on a cash and landed target market basis  
• Technology reviews, including license availability and cost of production economics 
• Cash flow model (in Excel) resulting in IRR and NPV projections 

Commercial and Market Analysis

Central to the success of any enterprise is the thorough analysis and understanding of markets as they evolve over time. NexantECA consulting staff combine traditional data mining methodologies with primary market research, resulting in deep insight into market developments across the refined products, and natural gas, chemical, polymer and fertilizer markets around the world.

NexantECA's long experience in the industry provides a deep understanding of fundamental markets. We have developed trusted behaviour methodologies that allow NexantECA to provide:

In-depth country specific and global market analyses

Up-to-date assessments of market trends and developments

Soundly based understanding of competition across multiple value chains

Widely accepted profitability and price forecasts

We conduct studies on a wide range of chemical, polymer, fertilizer, refined products, and natural gas markets around the world, ensuring an extensive database of proprietary commercial information to support market analysis.

NexantECA supports clients with:

• Market assessment – including capacity, supply, demand and trade-flow projections, profitability and price forecasts, value chain, and end use analysis regulation
• Competitor analysis, market research (including market participant interview programs)
• Trend analysis
• Unmet customer needs

Technology Evaluation and Management

NexantECA experts track many chemical, refining, and energy technology development efforts…from novel polymer catalyst systems to clean energy technology. Our technology analysis capability ranges from assessing the material performance benefits of novel technologies in contrast to incumbent routes, to preparing competitive economics to assess competitiveness. We can identify world-class technology or practices and recommend a case for action in areas such as:

• Technology analysis, screening and selection
• Identification and appraisal of technology options
• Comparison of new process technology to incumbent routes
• Technology due diligence (i.e. independent opinion on novel technology)
• Competitive technology intelligence
• Identification and development of strategic technology partnerships
• Technology and operational benchmarking
• Cost of production modelling and benchmarking

In clean energy, we have provided technical, environmental, policy and management consulting (e.g., owner’s engineer) services to various global energy industrial sectors and governmental agencies. Our focus is on advanced technology system analysis and end-use application integration. We offer real-world process design, engineering experience and techno-economic analysis on a broad range of energy systems including: advanced clean coal technologies; CO2 capture and sequestration; and cutting-edge renewable energy power generation concepts, including solar thermal, biomass power generation and fuels production.

Project Finance

The skillset that NexantECA brings to Project Feasibility studies cover: 

• Market review including identification, characterization and attractiveness of addressable target markets 
• Profitability and price forecasts, including “netback” forecasts, or the revenue actually received at the plant gate 
• Competitiveness review, both on a cash and landed target market basis 
• Technology reviews, including license availability and cost of production economics
• Cash flow model (in Excel) resulting in IRR and NPV projections 
• Alternative configuration evaluation. 

NexantECA has an in-house understanding of markets, technology and financial evaluation. We are expertly placed to recommend alternative optimised configurations for consideration by our client, and ensuring the client is guided to make assured decisions based on the outcome of our studies.

Mergers and Acquisitions

NexantECA is a leader in strategic M&A support for chemicals, energy and clean energy transactions, providing independent commercial and technical due diligence services. As a result of our deep sector experience we have immediate insight into the issues which drive value. NexantECA’s analysis is based on both market and product level knowledge as our project teams are staffed by chemists, chemical engineers, economists and professionals with relevant industry experience.

When acting on the sell-side, NexantECA has deep insight into the energy and chemicals industries and is well-placed to anticipate purchasers’ areas of concern and value. We are confident that our commercial due diligence support will:

• Increase sale proceeds  
• Minimize surprises during the sales process which favor bidders  
• Accelerate the timetable and reduce disruption to management

If appointed on the buy-side, NexantECA typically performs a risk-based analysis on the seller’s claims and investigates the issues that have the greatest impact upon the deal. We will check market dynamics, industry structure and competitive landscape, technical risks, and business plan assumptions; and we will provide an opinion on the prospects for the business under new ownership.

Our transaction support services cover a wide range of topics:

• Technical and commercial review/forecast 
• Cash flow and profit margin projection 
• Asset valuation and appraisal 
• Synergy analysis 
• Fair market value and orderly liquidation value opinion 
• Technology and competitor assessment 
• Industry, business sector analysis, and strategy formulation 
• Coordination with other expert opinions (environmental, audit)

Independent Expert/Litigation and Expert Witness

NexantECA has successfully provided expert analysis and testimony for governments, law firms and operating clients.

Our experience covers the full range of expert services, including the following: 

• Contract, quality and pricing disputes 
• Full range of industry-expert consulting services, historical fact and damage reviews, and valuation aspects of litigation support 
• Economic damage assessments 
• Litigation and arbitration support in patent cases 
• Trade and lender claims in bankruptcy proceedings 
• Extensive technology capabilities and experience to provide expert reports and expert testimony

Key litigation cases where NexantECA has provided expert advice is with the environmental impact of MTBE on groundwater contamination. NexantECA has provided technical assessment of the characteristics of MTBE as a gasoline blendstock, its production processes, transport systems of gasoline with MTBE, and the linkage between production sources at refineries and on-purpose merchant plants through to fuels terminals and retail stations.

Market and Profitability

NexantECA Subscriptions and Reports business provide clients with comprehensive analytics, forecasts and insights for the chemicals, polymers, energy and cleantech industries. 

Using a combination of business and technical expertise, with deep and broad understanding of markets, technologies and economics, we provide solutions that our clients have relied upon for over 50 years. 

Our Subscriptions and Reports business comprises three program areas:

Markets and Profitability provides accurate data, insightful analysis and dependable long-term forecasts of the profitability, competitive position and supply/demand/trade for over 60 petroleum, gas, petrochemical, polymers, chemical intermediates and fertilizer products

Technology and Costs comprises the Technoeconomics – Energy & Chemicals (TECH) program, the Biorenewable Insights program (BI), the Sector Technology Analysis, and the new Cost Curve Analysis. These programs provide comparative economics of different process routes and technologies in various geographic regions.

Special Reports analyse issues of topical importance to the energy and chemicals industry. Each special report explores the subject matter in detail to provide an up-to-date and thorough understanding of the related issue, allowing investment decisions and new business strategy to be formulated.

Training creates and provides world-class training courses, both online, publically and in-house, that aid progression, development and a greater understanding of today's chemical industry.

NexantECA provide industry leading Online, In-House and Public training courses globally Our team of experts have helped train over 10,000 industry professionals. We are widely recognized as the original and most comprehensive training provider to the Energy and Chemicals industries. 

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