2026 Regional Chemical Processing Outlook with Trends, ESG, and Hydrogen Insights | IIR Podcast

Are we witnessing a fundamental recalibration in chemical processing investment, or just another cyclical adjustment? With ESG spending plateauing, tariffs reshaping supply chains, and traditional petrochemicals staging a comeback, the sector is navigating significant headwinds and tailwinds simultaneously.

In this episode, Shaheen Chohan sits down with Trey Hamblet (Senior VP of Chemical Processing Research) and Jean-Baptiste Mauduit (EU Research Manager for Alternative Fuels & Chemical Processing) to break down what's really happening beneath the surface. From the Gulf of Mexico's ongoing offshore buildout to Europe's structural cost disadvantages, they explore where capital is flowing and where it's stalling.

Key Insights Covered:

• Why ESG project probability scores have shifted from medium to low, and what that means for the green hydrogen pipeline.
• How tax incentive changes in the U.S. are reshaping blue vs. green commodity investments.
• Where traditional petrochemical spending is quietly rebounding, and which building-block commodities are leading the way.
• Europe's defensive investment strategy: rationalization, compliance, and the offshore wind question.
• Why maintenance spending is hitting new highs in late 2026 through mid-2027.