The US has gone from a net chemical importer in 2011 to an exporter with anticipated export revenue of almost $30 billion by 2018, thanks in large part to comparatively cheap natural gas and power prices. “US groups such as ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, Chevron and Phillips 66 are among the leaders in investing in new capacity, but even producers from Asia and the Middle East such as Formosa Plastics of Taiwan, and Sabic of Saudi Arabia, have been looking at projects in the US.” [Financial Times]

Poland is looking to incentivize shale gas development after regulatory uncertainty and the existing tax regime caused some international firms to leave the country. “Starting from 2020, Poland wants to charge two special taxes on gas and oil production, one of them a fixed tax linked to production value and the other ranging from zero to 25% on earnings from oil or gas production, depending on production costs.” [Wall Street Journal]

This piece considers US vs. Canadian LNG export projects and determines US facilities have a slight cost advantage. “Long-term export agreements are generally being negotiated on a Henry Hub price basis plus liquefaction costs and an uplift tied to the JCC or oil price, with North American supplier maintaining a degree of supplier power…. The current B.C. natural gas royalty regime is price-sensitive, with a price ceiling and floor in place…. An uplift in the average sales price through LNG exports, under the current royalty structure, would effectively raise this posted minimum price for all B.C. producers regardless of whether the gas is consumed domestically or sold at a premium for export.” [Alberta Oil Magazine]