No one in the petrochemical or oleochemical space would describe the past year as quiet. Pricing has moved alongside shifting trade policy; supply balances have tightened in some areas while loosening in others, and sustainability expectations have become more defined as customers reevaluate long term strategy.
These pressures do not stay theoretical for long. They surface in real conversations about availability, sourcing flexibility, storage capacity, and how to remain competitive in a market that continues to evolve.
At CREMER, those conversations take place daily, whether in discussions with customers about oleochemical supply and tolling solutions, or in coordination with carriers and logistics partners to ensure material moves reliably across tank, rail, and bulk networks.
To better understand how we are navigating this environment, we spoke with Norma Brinson, Corporate Account Manager, and Dori Granger, Customer Service and Logistics Manager, whose roles sit directly at the intersection of commercial strategy and supply chain execution.
Together, their perspectives offer a clearer view of what this market truly demands.
“Tariffs have played a big role in 2025, and they are still present in 2026,” Norma explains.
While price competitiveness remains important, it is rarely the only factor shaping customer conversations. Availability, flexibility, and long-term reliability have become equally critical in an environment where market dynamics can shift quickly.
Customers want more than product. They want insight into petrochemical and oleochemical market trends. They want clear communication when pricing is impacted by trade policy. They want solutions that allow them to stay agile without taking on unnecessary operational risk.
That is where conversations often expand into tolling services such as pastillation, flaking, melting, mixing, transloading, and warehousing. These capabilities give customers options. They support new market entry, help manage volume swings, and allow companies to scale efficiently.
As Norma puts it, CREMER is able to support both the oleochemical supply itself and the processing solutions that help customers move forward.
For Dori, the same market pressures show up operationally.
Volume fluctuations driven by tariffs, cost containment initiatives, tank and warehousing availability, carrier capacity, and automation all influence how logistics decisions are made.
“A strong supply chain is made up of end-to-end partnerships,” Dori says. “It is about reliable information and the ability to adapt as conditions change.”
With decades of combined experience in chemical logistics, the CREMER team supports customers through tankage strategy, international shipping coordination, rail and bulk transport, and transloading services. That experience allows commercial commitments to be backed by operational planning that is deliberate and responsive.
The connection between sales and supply chain is what ultimately defines performance. When those teams operate in alignment, customers experience consistency rather than disruption.
In a market shaped by petrochemical pricing shifts, oleochemical supply dynamics, sustainability expectations, and global trade policy, integration has become a competitive advantage.
Customers are looking for partners who understand sourcing flexibility, chemical logistics strategy, tolling services, and market intelligence as interconnected pieces of the same system.
That integrated approach is where CREMER brings value. Market knowledge supports smarter sourcing decisions. Logistics infrastructure strengthens reliability. Processing capabilities such as pastillation and flaking create additional flexibility within the supply chain.
The result is not just product movement but coordinated support across commercial and operational functions.
Industry gatherings such as the AFPM Annual Meeting provide an opportunity to step back from daily execution and discuss broader petrochemical and oleochemical market trends, tariff impacts, storage availability, and growth opportunities for the year ahead.
For Norma, success means identifying new oleochemical and tolling opportunities that strengthen existing partnerships and create room for growth. For Dori, it means deepening relationships with carriers and exploring storage and transportation solutions that enhance reliability across the network.
The objective remains consistent. Understand the market clearly. Respond thoughtfully. Deliver reliably.
If you are navigating tariff impacts, sourcing shifts, capacity constraints, or evaluating tolling solutions such as pastillation or flaking, our team would welcome the conversation.
The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers® (AFPM – afpm.org) represents U.S. refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Its Annual Meeting brings together industry leaders to discuss market trends, policy developments, operational challenges, and the future of the fuel and petrochemical sectors. The conference provides a forum for producers, suppliers, and logistics partners to exchange insight and strengthen industry relationships.