Chemical News
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Crude oil lower to start week in US; ICE Brent still above $70/b Mar 27,2018
The oil complex was lower in US morning trading Monday, pulling back from last week when a rally lifted crude futures to highs last seen in late January when front-month contracts reached three-year highs. At 1439 GMT, NYMEX May crude was 31 cents lower at $65.57/b. ICE May Brent was 28 cents lower at $70.17/b. NYMEX April ULSD was down 31 po...>>>
New Jersey gets additional natural gas supplies as latest Transco expansion comes online Mar 27,2018
Williams said Monday it had placed into service a natural gas pipeline expansion that will boost delivery of natural gas to New Jersey by 180,000 Dt/d. The project is part of efforts to increase takeaway capacity from the US Northeast. Numerous infrastructure projects have been added in recent years, including several tied to Williams' Transcont...>>>
UK day-ahead power prices drop on weaker NBP spot prices Mar 27,2018
UK day-ahead prices fell significantly Monday, dragged down by weaker NBP gas prices coupled with forecasts for milder temperatures and higher wind output Tuesday. * Wind during peak times Tuesdy at 7.6 GW * Demand seen steady day on day at 41.3 GW Tuesday At 11 am London time, baseload was at GBP48.35/MWh, down GBP3.45/MWh day on day, wit...>>>
US January power generation jumps 9.3% on year: EIA Mar 27,2018
The US generated 373.2 TWh of power in January, up 7.9% from 345.9 TWh in December and 9.3% higher than the same month in 2017, Energy Information Administration data showed Monday. The monthly total was the highest amount in January since 377.3 TWh was generated in January 2014. Coal generation totaled 118.7 TWh in January, up 11.4% from 106...>>>
AFPM 2018: USGC still an attractive place for future petrochemical investments Mar 27,2018
The US Gulf Coast remains to be the most attractive location for petrochemical investments in North America, despite a growing Appalachian region, executives said Monday. "Marcellus offers plenty feedstock capabilities, but the vast majority of the projects have been in the US Gulf Coast," said Chet Thompson, CEO of American Fuel and Petrochemi...>>>
AFPM 2018: Mexican polyethylene buyers expect lower import pricing in April - sources Mar 27,2018
Mexican polyethylene buyers enter April with expectations for lower import pricing on the strength of anticipated improved US export availability, sources said Monday. US-based traders, however, are not as optimistic about a sudden flood of US resins after an extended period of limited availability, which was ushered in by Hurricane Harvey in S...>>>
AFPM 2018: Mexico's polypropylene demand could grow 4%-6% again in 2018 - producer Mar 27,2018
Polypropylene demand in Mexico is again poised for strong growth in 2018 despite uncertainty surrounding the upcoming presidential election, a source with producer Indelpro said Monday. The growth was expected despite stifled buying appetite in early Q1 on the back of rising feedstock propylene prices, the source said on the sidelines of the Am...>>>
South Korea, US reach deal on steel imports, set quota: reports Mar 27,2018
The US and South Korea have reached an agreement to revise a trade deal between the countries and extend South Korea's exemption from the US' newly imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, South Korea's trade ministry said Monday, according to media reports. The two countries have reached an agreement "in principle" on changes to the US...>>>
100 Spot Commodities Price Chart - 26/03/2018 Mar 27,2018
It was assessed by SunSirs that in the tracked 100 spot commodities,17 commodities increased in prices, 42 fell and 41 remained unchanged on 26/03/2018.The largest rises were Hydrochloric acid (30.31%),MTBE (1.38%),Chloroform (1.30%),while the largest ...>>>
China's coastal coal freight rates mixed in week to Mar 27 Mar 28,2018
Freight rates for shipping coal from northern China's Qinhuangdao port to the other Chinese ports of Zhangjiagang, Shanghai and Guangzhou in eastern and southern China were mixed in the week to March 27, port operator Qinhuangdao Port said Tuesday. The freight rate from Qinhuangdao to Zhangjiagang in eastern China's Jiangsu province for 20,000-3...>>>
Global LNG market avoids 'glut,' now supply crunch nears: HSBC Mar 28,2018
The global LNG market has avoided a supply "glut" thanks to strong Asian demand, but the dearth of new project approvals is set to lead to a supply crunch around 2022-23, analysts at HSBC said in a report published Tuesday. Report backs Shell view of LNG market balance Lack of supply FIDs to trigger shock in 2022-23 Suggests new financing flex...>>>
EU ETS CO2 emissions seen rising 0.5% in 2017: Analysts Mar 28,2018
Carbon emissions from power plants and factories covered by the EU Emissions Trading System rose 0.5% to 1,757.3 million mt in 2017, according to a poll of six market analysts by S&P Global Platts. It was the first time since 2011 that emissions were estimated to have risen, after industrial production slumped in the wake of the financial crisis...>>>
East Kentucky Power Cooperative seeks up to 300,000 st of coal Mar 28,2018
East Kentucky Power Cooperative is seeking proposals for up to 300,000 st of spot coal for delivery at its Spurlock power plant near Maysville, Kentucky, according to a solicitation issued Tuesday. The utility is seeking spot deliveries of up to 100,000 st/month beginning May 1, for a term of up to three months. The company's specifications f...>>>
European benzene Apr contract price likely to be settled at a decrease Mar 28,2018
The European contract price of benzene for April is likely to be settled lower than March, S&P Global Platts data shows. Recently reported spot trades in Europe also point to a decrease. The Platts benzene contract price indicator was last assessed at $883.50/mt, or $14.50/mt below the March settlement of $898/mt. The indicator is a rolling five...>>>
US-EU styrene export interest emerges as US prices fall sharply Mar 28,2018
Interest in exporting styrene from the US to the EU has emerged after a sharp fall in US prices over the week, pointing to an opening of an arbitrage window between the two regions, according to S&P Global Platts data. The USG styrene prompt spot price was assessed at 60.80 cents/lb ($1,340/mt) on Monday, down from 67.60 cents/lb ($1,490/mt) las...>>>
AFPM 2018: China trade critical to petrochemicals Mar 28,2018
The prospect of how a potential trade war with China could affect petrochemical trade has dominated discussions at the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers' International Petrochemical Conference, as market participants watch for fallout from sometimes heated rhetoric. China is a critical market for many US polymer exports, and will bec...>>>
Iranian DRI, semi-finished steel output surges: ISPA Mar 28,2018
Iran's direct-reduced iron (DRI) production rose by 24% year on year to 24 million mt over the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (to February 19), according to the Iranian Steel Producers' Association. Some 19.8 million mt of DRI was consumed by domestic steel producers in the same period, 4% lower year on year, ISPA said in a report...>>>
European aluminum billet premiums remain firm amid strong consumer demand Mar 28,2018
European aluminum billet spot and second-quarter premiums remained firm throughout March on the back of strong consumer demand, sources said. "Demand is very good," a trader said, adding that two of his customers had asked for earlier metal deliveries in March, which could indicate they would need extra metal in April. A Middle-East based sup...>>>
Canada looks to crack down on steel, aluminum imports in wake of US tariffs Mar 28,2018
Canada is taking steps to prevent the transhipment and diversion of steel and aluminum imports into its market as a result of the US' newly imposed metals tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office said Tuesday. The US began implementing a 25% tariff on imports of steel and 10% tariff on imports of aluminum March 23. Canada has bee...>>>
China's ethanol imports surge to 21-month high of 197,652 cu m in Feb Mar 29,2018
China's ethanol imports surged by 64% month on month to 197,652 cu m in February -- the highest in 21 months, data released Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs showed. Imports were last higher in May 2016 at 263,388 cu m, the data showed. Chinese ethanol imports have been robust so far this year, with volumes surging to 318,354 c...>>>