Adapt or Be Left Behind: Chemical and Ag Sectors Grapple with a New Era of Uncertainty
12 August 2025 Forget business as usual. For the chemical and agribusiness sectors, the name of the game is navigating relentless change; a sentiment that permeated the Specialty & Agro Chemicals America show in Savannah, GA. Held from 29-31 July 2025, the event served as a focused forum for professionals to network and discuss trends in chemical manufacturing and technology based in the U.S. Against a backdrop of economic volatility and geopolitical flux, industry leaders delivered a clear message: adapt or be left behind.
Cocktail Reception at the Specialty & Agro Chemicals America show in Savannah, GA
The mood was perhaps best encapsulated by Kevin Swift, Managing Director of Swift Economics, who, in a sharp macroeconomic outlook, nominated “uncertainty” as the year’s defining word. And for good reason. Swift, a respected industry economist, pointed to the highest tariff levels since 1930 as a primary driver of this instability, noting that they’re depressing key markets like housing and automobiles.
While he offered a cautiously favorable outlook for the U.S. specialty chemical market, citing the U.S. advantage in basic chemicals due to lower natural gas costs, his central point was clear. The market is unpredictable.
China and India Growth
Franklin J. Fisher, President of SC Chem, provided a “boots on the ground perspective” that served as a masterclass in global market history. He recounted the dramatic rise of China following its 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization, a trajectory now complicated by instability from environmental crackdowns and a catastrophic plant explosion.
In contrast, he described India’s slower, more stable growth, fueled by infrastructure investments. Europe, a historical leader in organic chemistry, has seen its market share in specialty chemicals flatten under the weight of high energy and labor costs and complex regulations.
Fisher’s takeaway was blunt and pragmatic: companies can no longer afford to wait for stability. Success now hinges on making decisions within this market chaos.
Ag Tech Drivers
Alex Polinsky, Chemical Tolling Consultant, presented on the agricultural sector, where he highlighted the growing value of the global crop protection market. Polinsky emphasized how farmers’ planting decisions—particularly for key U.S. crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat—create a ripple effect across the chemical supply chain. He also detailed the technological revolution underway in farming, citing AI, drones, and GPS as key drivers.
The takeaways from the Specialty and Agro Chemical America show were unmistakable: the chemical and agribusiness industries are at a crossroads. From the high-stakes world of global trade to the precision of modern farming, the presentations underscored a new reality. Companies that thrive will be those that embrace flexibility, strategic foresight, and a deep understanding of the legal, economic, and technological forces shaping the future.
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