The global market for green packaging - comprising recyclable, reusable and degradable packaging - is predicted to grow at a combined annual growth rate of more than 7 percent through 2020, according to Technavio.

The business of American chemistry expanded 3.6 percent in 2015 despite global headwinds that included a strong appreciation of the U.S. dollar and a weakness in several key global markets.

The credit profiles of rated Latin American chemicals companies are expected to remain stable during 2016 despite low petrochemical prices.

The U.S. is expected to change from a net importer of natural gas to a net exporter, with those exports destined for different regions of the world, especially Asia. It's a development that could see the nation building 100 new ships, a prospect that the Government Accountability Office says could take 30 years.

New U.S. and Middle East methanol production capacity being added over the next two years will have serious implications for chemical shipping trade flow patterns, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.