About
Falling demand for gasoline and other fossil fuels creates a challenge for plastic and chemical producers. As less fuel is produced, petrochemical costs could rise -- and lift prices for plastics in consumer products, from beverage bottles to car components to clothing. Explore what's ahead with analysts from Chemical Market Analytics on OPIS Energy Insights on Barron's Live.

Presenters
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Steve Lewandowski
Vice President, Global Olefins & Derivatives Team Lead
Steve is based in Houston. During a career spanning 30 + years in the refining and chemical industry, Steve has experience across the spectrum of refining and petrochemical hydrocarbon value chains covering a wide array of financial, strategic, technical, and commercial roles. Before his move to CMA, Steve was Senior Manager of Base Chemicals at TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining, Inc. In that capacity, he managed the P&L of the base chemicals business including joint venture relationships, strategic guidance to the partnerships, plant operational interfaces, project development, and the commercial responsibility for olefin and aromatic monomers including styrene.

Prior to the Base Chemical Senior manager role, Steve had increasing responsibilities within the
Petrochemical business at TOTAL. The Latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels Belgium, responsible
for global aromatics long-term commercial business activity. The assignment included P&L responsibility
and strategic project development for TOTAL around the world. Prior to the Belgian assignment, he worked as manager of the US aromatics business. Before 2000 Steve was involved in the refining and fuels side of the Hydrocarbon chain both for what was then FINA Oil and Chemical and for Star Enterprise [a joint venture between Texaco and Saudi Aramco] working as a process engineer, optimization engineer, fuels blending optimizer, branded/unbranded fuels marketing and supply lead, and in a business development role.

Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1987 and an MBA with focus on finance and economics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.
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Luka Powell
Senior Research Analyst, Energy & Feedstocks, Chemical Market Analytics
Luka Powell is the Senior Research Analyst of Energy Insights at Chemical Market Analytics. In this role, Luka contributes to the development of energy market content to help Chemical Market Analytics clients navigate the complexities of the oil, gas & natural gas liquids markets. Previously, Luka was responsible for the management and publication of the Chemicals Advisory Service (CAS), a product designed to primarily meet the needs of the Buy-side investment community, utilizing the in-depth market knowledge and analysis from the chemicals franchise. Luka is also a producer and co-host of the North America Light Olefins Weekly Podcast.

While currently based in London, U.K., Luka has lived in Bahrain, Australia and the UAE. Before joining the IHS Markit Base chemical business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), Luka graduated from King’s College London with a BA (hons) in International Relations.
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Nick Vafiadis
Vice President, Global Plastics & Polymers Team Lead
Nick Vafiadis is the Vice President of the Plastics & Polymers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Nick is a 30-year veteran of the chemical industry and manages Chemical Market Analytics's global plastics practice. His daily responsibilities encompassed analysis, consulting, and reporting on the global polyolefins market, as well as managing the operations associated with producing and developing the report. Concurrently, he contributed to single-client projects and studies related to the polyolefins industry. In his earlier assignments, he was responsible for consulting duties associated with the Chlor-alkali and vinyl product chain. He contributed to the Monomers Market Report, the Chlor-Alkali Market Report, and the Global Plastics & Polymers Market Report.

Nick has been with IHS Markit base chemical business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), and its predecessor CMAI since 2002. Before joining CMA, he had spent twelve years with Vista Chemical Company [now Condea Vista Chemical Company], where he held assignments in marketing, product management, and sales management in both the vinyl and surfactant business areas. Mr. Vafiadis holds a Management BBA from The University of Texas at Austin, United States.
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