Robert stuyt, secretary general of the International Chemical Trade Association, is helping connect distributors with counterparts in other regions in the world, with a particular current focus on India and China.

Chemical trade is increasingly and perhaps even inherently an international business. Many distributors have networks of suppliers and customers across continents. In 2005 the world was predicted to become “flat” in a bestseller by Thomas Friedmann. He stated that economies would converge towards a global level playing field with increasingly interconnected supply chains across the world. Although chemical supply chains have indeed continued to internationalise, there are still significant differences between companies and regions. Not only do they differ in a commercial sense, but also in their capacity to work safely and responsibly with chemicals. By building bridges across regions, the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA) aims to make our industry “flatter”. ICTA helps chemical distribution companies connect with counterparts in other regions of the world, at the moment in particular in India and China.

ICTA is building the capability in all regions to work safely and responsibly. By helping create higher and more uniform safety standards, ICTA hopes to simplify trade across regions. Currently, ICTA’s members are based in Latin America, North America and Europe. These include national associations and chemical distribution companies. Among them are distributors at the top of the ICIS 100 Ranking (Azelis, Brenntag, Univar Solutions, etc) as well as companies that are smaller, such as Brainerd, Cornelius, GB Chemie and Krahn. Given the importance of Asia in the chemical supply chains, ICTA is working hard to establish contacts in India and China.
 
ICTA has partnered with the Indian Chemical Council (ICC), which represents all branches of the chemical industry in the country. Following last year’s memorandum of understanding, both associations are organising workshops on safe and responsible chemical distribution in India.
ICTA is also teaming with the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF). At its Responsible Care meeting in April, the importance of supply chain responsibility was emphasised by the Chinese vice minister for Chemical Industry. ICTA has been invited to participate in a CEO roundtable with key players in the global chemical industry this autumn.

ICTA is active in representing the interests of the industry at international policy making forums. It is closely involved with developing the global policy framework for sustainable chemicals management. This framework will deter-mine the efforts of the UN related to chemicals for a decade to come. In a joint effort with other industry associations, ICTA is lobbying for rules that achieve real sustainability benefits without unnecessarily hampering industry.

Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 7-13 June 2019