FIND YOUR CONSULTANT
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
FIND YOUR CONSULTANT
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Industries > 

Chemicals & Advanced Materials > Basic Chemicals & Petrochemicals Practice

Basic Chemicals & Petrochemicals Practice

Umbrex connects providers of basic chemicals & petrochemicals to independent consultants with deep experience in the industry.

Over 90% of our Basic Chemicals & Petrochemicals Practice consultants are alums of McKinsey, Bain, or BCG.

Finding the right consultant should be this easy.

1

Tell us about your project

2

Interview candidates

(We’ll provide bios within 48 hours on average)

3

Select your consultant and start work!

Find a consultant in our Basic Chemicals & Petrochemicals Practice

Prefer email? Write to [email protected]

Client Segments Umbrex Serves

  • Integrated Refinery–Petrochemical & Cracker Operators: Owners of steam crackers and aromatics complexes, often refinery‑integrated; optimizing feedslates, energy intensity, reliability, turnarounds, LP optimization, and capex to defend global cost leadership.
  • Methanol, Ammonia & Large Inorganics Producers: Producers of methanol, ammonia/urea, nitrates, soda ash, sulfuric/nitric acid; optimizing natural gas/CO2 strategy, energy efficiency, reliability, byproduct valorization, and decarbonization pathways including CCS and e‑routes.
  • Chlor‑Alkali & Vinyls Chain Producers (Up to VCM): Integrated chlorine/caustic, EDC and VCM producers; improving power procurement, membrane conversions, reliability, brine logistics, EDC/VCM integration, and commercial strategy—excluding PVC polymerization (addressed in Plastics/Resins).
  • Commodity Intermediates & Solvents Producers: Producers of ethylene/propylene derivatives, MEG, styrene, phenol/acetone, acrylonitrile, oxo alcohols, and solvents; optimizing feedstock economics, integration, turnarounds, and hedging—excluding polymer resins.

Selected Capabilities of our Basic Chemicals & Petrochemicals Practice

Strategy & Corporate Development

  • Corporate Strategy And Portfolio Repositioning: Set where-to-play across steam crackers, aromatics complexes, olefins, derivatives; reshape portfolio via integration, carve-outs, and adjacencies; align to demand shifts, energy transition, and regional policies.
  • Feedstock And Energy Strategy: Optimize feedstock slates across ethane, propane, naphtha, NGLs, off-gases; model relative economics, carbon costs, hydrogen availability, and power; secure advantaged cost positions and resilience.
  • Derivative Slate And Integration Strategy: Configure derivative portfolio—polyethylene, polypropylene, glycols, styrenics, acrylates—aligned to crackers and refineries; maximize integration synergies, co-product value, and margin uplift across cycles.
  • M&A And Joint Venture Strategy And Diligence: Develop theses; diligence cost curves, feedstock access, health, safety, security, environment liabilities, offtakes; quantify synergies and carve-out costs; inform joint venture (JV) structures and bids.
  • Capital Allocation And Scenario Planning: Allocate capital across brownfield debottlenecks, greenfield complexes, and recycling adjacencies; build commodity-cycle scenarios and stress tests; maximize risk-adjusted net present value (NPV) and cash returns.

Operations

  • Steam Cracker Furnace Optimization And Yield Uplift: Optimize furnace severity, coil skin temperature, decoke strategy, and feed blending; extend run length, raise ethylene yield, cut coking and fuel consumption.
  • APC And Real-Time Optimization Performance Recovery: Audit and retune APC and Real‑Time Optimization; strengthen inferentials and constraint handling; reduce variability; lift throughput, recovery, and energy efficiency on crackers, reformers, and aromatics.
  • Reliability-Centered Maintenance And Turnaround Optimization: Implement Reliability‑Centered Maintenance, criticality and PM optimization; tighten turnaround scope, frozen windows, and critical‑path control; cut unplanned downtime, TAR duration, and maintenance cost.
  • Energy And Utilities System Optimization: Optimize steam-power balance, fired heater efficiency, hydrogen networks, flaring, and cooling water; implement heat integration and loss accounting; reduce energy intensity and utility cost.
  • Low Capex Debottlenecking And Constraint Management: Map constraints across compressors, heat exchangers, columns, and logistics; apply operating envelopes and minor mods; unlock throughput and reliability without major capital.

Supply Chain

  • Integrated Business Planning For Petrochemical Chains: Implement IBP aligning cracker and derivative plans, feedstock availability, turnarounds, and demand; improve OTIF, forecast accuracy, inventory turns, and working capital.
  • Network And Terminal Footprint Optimization: Design distribution across tank farms, pipelines, marine terminals, rail transloaders, and warehouses; optimize service, cost-to-serve, inventory, and resilience to weather disruptions.
  • Railcar Fleet Sizing And Cycle Time Reduction: Model fleet needs by lane and seasonality; optimize loading, dwell, cleaning, and returns; cut leases, demurrage, and stockouts while protecting service.
  • Marine And Berth Scheduling With Demurrage Control: Optimize vessel sizing, laycans, berthing windows, and loading rates; improve nominations and line-ups; reduce demurrage, detention, and contamination risk.
  • Constrained ATP And Customer Allocation: Redesign Available-to-Promise and allocation across grades and co-products; embed campaign schedules and logistics limits; reduce expedites, cancellations, and margin leakage.

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing

  • Feedstock And Energy Category Strategy And Sourcing: Build strategies for ethane, propane, naphtha, natural gas liquids (NGLs), hydrogen, natural gas, power and steam; source advantaged slates; diversify supply; lower cost and volatility.
  • Formula Pricing And Indexation Contracting: Design price formulas indexed to Platts, Argus, ICIS, crude and NGL baskets; set floors/collars, pass-throughs; improve transparency, deflation capture, and margin stability.
  • Catalyst, Chemicals, And MRO Strategic Sourcing: Run should-costs, e-auctions, and negotiations for catalysts, adsorbents, maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) services, and packaging; consolidate suppliers; reduce TCO, lead time, and stockouts.
  • Marine, Rail, And Trucking Procurement: Source time charters, voyage charters, barges, rail contracts, and bulk trucking; optimize Incoterms and fuel surcharges; cut freight cost, demurrage exposure, and service risk.
  • Supplier Risk, ESG, And Performance Management: Establish supplier segmentation, scorecards, audits, and risk monitoring; enforce Responsible Care, human-rights diligence, and traceability; improve continuity, compliance, and performance.

Organization

  • Enterprise Operating Model And JV Governance: Design enterprise and joint-venture operating model for integrated petrochemical complexes; clarify decision rights, governance cadence, RASCI, and shared services; accelerate decisions, accountability, and partner alignment.
  • Spans And Layers And Role Architecture: Optimize spans, layers, and role clarity across operations, maintenance, technical, and logistics; standardize job families and competencies; increase agility, supervisor capacity, and career progression.
  • Workforce Planning And Capability Building: Build workforce plans for console and field operators, reliability and APC engineers; design academies, certification, and multiskilling; reduce hiring bottlenecks, overtime, and time-to-competency.
  • Performance Management And Incentive Design: Implement tiered daily management and KPI cascades tied to safety, energy intensity, flaring, utilization, and cost; align incentives; strengthen accountability and sustained performance.
  • Centers Of Excellence And Knowledge Management: Stand up process engineering, reliability, and Advanced Process Control CoEs; codify standards and playbooks; run communities of practice; replicate wins and reduce variability across sites.

  • Price Architecture And Indexation Design: Define list, floor, target prices and formula pricing indexed to Platts, Argus, ICIS; segment by grade, region, volume; stabilize margins through cycles.
  • Regional Netback And Export Parity Pricing: Model regional netbacks, export parity, freight, duties, and tariffs; optimize arbitrage across channels; maximize contribution margin, utilization, and market share.
  • Contract Strategy, Surcharges And Rebates Governance: Design contract terms, surcharges, escalators, indexation, take-or-pay, and rebates; improve price realization, reduce disputes, and protect EBITDA amid feedstock volatility.
  • Price Increase Execution And Governance: Build pricing playbooks, cost-justification packs, and governance cadence; sequence increases by customer and grade; lift realization and shorten dispute resolution cycles.
  • Price Waterfall And Leakage Management: Build price-waterfall and pocket-margin analytics; fix leakage in freight, accessorials, rebates, and surcharges; improve netbacks, profitability, and cash.

  • Price Architecture And Indexation Design: Define list, floor, target prices and formula pricing indexed to Platts, Argus, ICIS; segment by grade, region, volume; stabilize margins through cycles.
  • Regional Netback And Export Parity Pricing: Model regional netbacks, export parity, freight, duties, and tariffs; optimize arbitrage across channels; maximize contribution margin, utilization, and market share.
  • Contract Strategy, Surcharges And Rebates Governance: Design contract terms, surcharges, escalators, indexation, take-or-pay, and rebates; improve price realization, reduce disputes, and protect EBITDA amid feedstock volatility.
  • Price Increase Execution And Governance: Build pricing playbooks, cost-justification packs, and governance cadence; sequence increases by customer and grade; lift realization and shorten dispute resolution cycles.
  • Price Waterfall And Leakage Management: Build price-waterfall and pocket-margin analytics; fix leakage in freight, accessorials, rebates, and surcharges; improve netbacks, profitability, and cash.

Sales

  • Key Account Management And Share Expansion: Build Key Account Management (KAM) program—account plans, stakeholder mapping, call cadence, cross-selling; secure specification positions, multi-year offtake share, and growth in petrochemicals.
  • Route To Market And Channel Design: Redesign direct, trader, and distributor mix by region and product; set coverage, service levels, exclusivity; lower cost-to-serve and improve reach in fragmented petrochemical markets.
  • CRM Enablement And Sales Pipeline Productivity: Implement Salesforce or Dynamics with standardized stages, lead scoring, activity KPIs, and dashboards; improve forecast accuracy, win rates, pipeline velocity, and salesperson productivity.
  • Tendering, Bid, And Contract Lifecycle Excellence: Industrialize RFQ/RFP response, bid/no-bid criteria, Incoterms selection, volume commitments, and contract governance; shorten cycle times, raise hit rates, and reduce post-award disputes.
  • Technical Service And Specification Selling: Integrate technical service with Sales for trials, application support, qualification testing, and value documentation; win specifications, reduce churn, and capture premiums in basic chemicals.

Finance

  • Margin Analytics And Cost-To-Serve: Build plant/grade/channel profitability, netback, and cost-to-serve models separating feedstock, energy, conversion, logistics; inform pricing, portfolio, and asset utilization decisions.
  • Working Capital And Cash Conversion Cycle Optimization: Redesign order-to-cash and procure-to-pay; set inventory policies; fix railcar billing, demurrage, claims; reduce days sales, inventory, payables outstanding imbalances; unlock cash.
  • Commodity And FX Risk Policy And Hedging: Map exposures to crude, naphtha, NGLs, power, FX; define policy, limits, value-at-risk (VaR); execute hedges, hedge accounting; stabilize EBITDA and cash flows.
  • Capital Structure And Liquidity Optimization: Design capital structure, credit facilities, and covenants; deploy receivables securitization, supply‑chain finance, letters of credit (LC) programs; optimize cost of capital and resilience.
  • Project And JV Finance Structuring: Structure SPVs, project finance, export credit agencies (ECAs), and green bonds; align offtake terms and credit enhancements; lower WACC and fund crackers, derivatives, recycling adjacencies.

AI, Data & Analytics

  • Petrochemical Data Platform And Contextualization: Build lakehouse unified with historian and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and ERP; contextualize assets and events; enable self-serve analytics, governance, and time-series AI.
  • Yield And Energy Optimization With Machine Learning: Build soft sensors and machine learning on furnace severity and column profiles; augment Advanced Process Control; reduce energy intensity, increase recovery and throughput.
  • Predictive Maintenance For Compressors And Rotating Equipment: Deploy anomaly detection on vibration, current, and process signals; predict surge, seal failures, fouling; cut unplanned downtime and maintenance cost across compressors, turbines, and pumps.
  • Digital Twin And Scenario Simulation For Steam Crackers: Create physics-informed twins and run plan optimizers for steam crackers; simulate feeds, severity, constraints, emissions; maximize margin, utilization, and reliability.
  • Quality Prediction And Grade Transition Optimization: Use machine learning to predict off-spec and optimize grade sequences; reduce transition losses, reblend, lab retests, and customer complaints.

Transformation

  • Enterprise Transformation Blueprint And Value Capture: Set value tree, initiative waves, OKRs, and benefits tracking; mobilize cross-functional sprints; deliver EBITDA uplift from yields, energy, reliability, logistics, and SG&A.
  • Cycle-Proof Performance Turnaround For Petrochemicals: Run turnaround for cracker and derivative complexes; raise utilization, reduce flaring and energy intensity, cut off-spec and rework; protect margins across commodity cycles.
  • Cost Transformation And Zero Based Budgeting: Execute zero-based budgeting and design-to-cost for operations, maintenance, utilities, and support; reset service levels; institutionalize savings with governance and playbooks.
  • Digital And Lean At Scale: Deploy daily management, visual controls, tiered meetings, and digital workflows; standardize loss eradication; lift throughput, yields, and schedule adherence across sites.
  • Post Merger Integration And Synergy Delivery: Integrate assets, teams, and systems; safeguard customers and Health, Safety, Security, Environment; deliver procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and SG&A synergies with disciplined tracking.

Sustainability

  • Net Zero Roadmap And Abatement Program: Define Scope 1–2 decarbonization for crackers and derivatives; model abatement curves; deploy electrification, heat recovery, fuel switching, flaring reduction, renewable PPAs; cut CO2e intensity.
  • Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage Strategy: Screen capture opportunities, source-sink matching, hub participation, transport and sequestration options; model economics and incentives; de-risk CCUS execution for fired heaters, reformers, and crackers.
  • Circularity And Chemical Recycling Integration: Integrate pyrolysis oil and depolymerized feedstock; qualify co-processing, contaminants, and specs; secure ISCC PLUS mass-balance certification; enable recycled-content claims, premiums, and low-carbon grade positioning.
  • Life Cycle Assessment And Product Carbon Footprints: Build cradle-to-gate LCAs and Product Carbon Footprints per ISO 14040/44; verify datasets; support customer disclosures, eco-labels, and green premium pricing strategies.
  • Methane, Flaring, And Fugitive Emissions Abatement: Design methane and VOC leak detection and repair, flare gas recovery, flare minimization, and real-time monitoring; reduce Scope 1 emissions, penalties, and product losses.

Compliance

  • Enterprise Compliance Operating Model And Risk Assessment: Establish enterprise compliance program—risk assessment, policy framework, training, monitoring, investigations, and reporting; embed governance and metrics; reduce violations and enforcement exposure.
  • Global Trade And Sanctions Compliance: Build trade compliance for sanctions screening, export controls, HS classification, origin/valuation, broker governance, AEO/CTPAT; cut customs holds, penalties, and shipment delays.
  • Antitrust And Market Conduct Compliance: Design antitrust compliance for price announcements, benchmarks, industry associations, and information sharing; implement training, guardrails, dawn-raid protocols; prevent cartel risk and fines.
  • Anti Corruption And Third Party Risk Management: Deploy FCPA and UK Bribery controls for agents, distributors, logistics providers; risk scoring, due diligence, contract clauses, audits; prevent bribery, fraud, and debarment.
  • Derivatives And Energy Trading Compliance: Implement Dodd-Frank, EMIR, REMIT, MAR compliance; trade surveillance, position limits, reporting, recordkeeping; strengthen market conduct, reduce regulatory risk in commodity and FX hedging.

Program & Portfolio Management

  • Enterprise PMO For Petrochemical Complexes: Run enterprise PMO for multi-site programs; enforce stage gates, integrated master schedule, risk and change control; improve schedule adherence, tie-in readiness, and time-to-benefit.
  • Capital Portfolio Prioritization And Governance: Prioritize capex across debottlenecks, reliability, energy efficiency, and grassroots; apply risk-adjusted NPV and constraints; optimize sequencing, funding, approvals; maximize value, throughput, and resilience.
  • Turnaround And Outage Portfolio Integration: Govern turnaround portfolio and project tie-ins; coordinate windows, critical path, materials and contractor readiness; reduce duration, rework, and startup issues; protect production and safety.
  • Resource Capacity And Scenario Planning: Model constrained operators, maintenance crews, inspectors, contractors, scaffolding, cranes; run what-if scenarios; balance demand and capacity; de-risk critical-path milestones and seasonal peaks.
  • Benefits Realization And KPI Governance: Set baselines, targets, and ownership; track NPV, EBITDA, utilization, energy intensity, and on-time delivery; audit benefits; sustain results with cadence, dashboards, and escalation.

Information Technology

  • S/4HANA For Petrochemicals And ERP Modernization: Design and implement SAP S/4HANA PP-PI, QM, EWM, TM, SD, MM, FI/CO; harmonize master data; standardize order-to-cash and plan-to-produce; accelerate traceability and financial close.
  • MES And Operations Integration For Continuous Plants: Deploy MES integrated with Distributed Control System (DCS) and historians; digitize shift handover, logbooks, workflows, grade genealogy; improve OEE, production accounting, and audit readiness.
  • ETRM And Hydrocarbon Accounting Integration: Implement Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM) and hydrocarbon accounting; integrate with ERP, terminals, and pipelines; enhance trade capture, scheduling, settlement, and inventory valuation.
  • IT OT Cybersecurity And Network Segmentation: Assess OT assets; implement IEC 62443 zones, secure remote access, patching, monitoring; integrate Security Information and Event Management; reduce ransomware risk, downtime, and compliance findings.
  • Master Data Governance And Integration Architecture: Establish master data governance for materials, customers, equipment, and locations; deploy Integration Platform as a Service and APIs; improve data quality, interoperability, and time-to-value.

Capital Projects

  • Front End Loading And Techno Economic Assessment: Develop FEL 1–3 for crackers and derivatives—process route, site and plot plans, utilities/offsites, constructability, permitting path, risked NPV, and stage-gate deliverables.
  • EPC Strategy And Contracting Model Design: Select EPC versus EPCm, alliance, or modular contracts; define performance guarantees for ethylene yield, energy intensity, and onstream factor; align incentives, change control; prevent claims.
  • Cost Estimating Controls And Schedule Risk: Build AACE Class 5–1 estimates, WBS, earned value, 4D BIM, and risk registers; run Monte Carlo; reduce overruns, change orders, and slippage.
  • Advanced Work Packaging And Modularization: Deploy Advanced Work Packaging and workface planning; optimize module strategy, laydown, and logistics; improve craft productivity, safety, and tie-in readiness on congested brownfield sites.
  • Commissioning Startup And Performance Test Readiness: Plan systemization, pre-commissioning, dynamic commissioning, and punchlist; manage turnover to operations; conduct performance tests against guarantees; accelerate safe startup and ramp to nameplate.

Quality Management Systems

  • Global QMS Design And ISO 9001 Readiness: Build ISO 9001-compliant QMS for petrochem assets; process maps, procedures, audits, management review; achieve certification, improve consistency, reduce nonconformances and customer audit findings.
  • Specification Governance And Change Control: Standardize grade specifications, analytical methods, and tolerances; institute change control and customer notifications; cut off-spec production, mislabeling, and disputes.
  • Laboratory Quality Management And LIMS Enablement: Harmonize ASTM/ISO test methods, calibrations, proficiency testing; implement LIMS workflows and control charts; reduce retests, COA errors, and lab cycle time.
  • Quality Traceability And Genealogy For Bulk Logistics: Map tank, pipeline, and railcar genealogy; integrate MES, LIMS, ERP; enable batch traceability, segregation, and recall readiness; lower contamination risk and write-offs.
  • Complaint, Deviation, And CAPA Excellence: Standardize complaint intake, deviation handling, root cause analysis and 8D; implement effectiveness checks; shorten closure cycle times and prevent recurrence.

EHS & Process Safety

  • Process Safety Management System And Seveso Compliance: Design integrated PSM aligned to OSHA PSM and Seveso III, covering MOC, PHA, mechanical integrity, PSSR; reduce major accident hazard risk and regulator findings.
  • Hazard Identification And Risk Analysis Excellence: Lead HAZOP, LOPA, SIL determination, bowtie analysis for crackers and derivatives; prioritize independent protection layers and ALARP mitigations; de-risk changes and capital projects.
  • Asset Integrity And Relief System Adequacy: Implement risk-based inspection, corrosion management, and relief/flare system verification; correct PSV sizing and disposal capacity; cut loss-of-containment, trips, and turnaround surprises.
  • Process Safety Performance And Barrier Management: Build leading indicators, barrier health dashboards, and audit cadence; embed learning teams and safety leadership; improve Serious Injury and Fatality prevention and culture maturity.
  • Emergency Response, Crisis Management, And Incident Investigation: Develop emergency response plans, drills, mutual aid, and Incident Command System; institutionalize root cause analysis and corrective actions; reduce recurrence and community impact.

Regulatory Affairs & Product Stewardship

  • Global Chemical Registration And Market Access: Plan multi-jurisdiction registrations under REACH, UK REACH, TSCA, K-REACH, KKDIK, CSCL; strategy, Only Representative, dossiers, tonnage bands; secure market access for monomers, intermediates, and additives.
  • Safety Data Sheets And Hazard Communication Program: Standardize SDS and labels per GHS and CLP; determine classifications and exposure scenarios; manage Poison Centre Notifications and UFI; improve compliance, acceptance, and transport readiness.
  • Restricted Substances And Microplastics Stewardship: Govern SVHC, PFAS, microplastics restrictions, VOC limits, Proposition 65, SCIP; assess risk, prioritize reformulation and supplier shifts; preserve revenue and customer approvals.
  • Food Contact And Migration Compliance For Polymers: Establish compliance to EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR, Swiss Ordinance; manage positive lists, NIAS, migration testing; enable declarations of compliance for packaging resins and additives.
  • Dangerous Goods Classification And Transport Compliance: Set UN numbers, packing groups, and provisions; align IMDG, IATA, ADR for liquids, gases, and solids; optimize packaging and documentation; reduce delays, penalties, rejections.

Connect with the right consultant

Umbrex rapidly connects you with independent professionals who combine top‑tier consulting experience at firms such as McKinsey, Bain, Boston Consulting Group with hands‑on roles.

Find a consultant in our Basic Chemicals & Petrochemicals Practice

Prefer email? Write to [email protected]

Thought Leadership

Industry Insights from Umbrex:
How the Industrial & Specialty Chemicals Industry Works

How the Industrial & Specialty Chemicals Industry Works

How to Analyze a Chemicals Company

How to Analyze a Chemicals Company