Americas
US chemical group sees flat July, dull growth ahead
Data showed production-related chemistry indicators were mixed at best. In addition, trends in plastic resins used in consumer and institutional applications have softened and overall trends suggest slowing US exports. The preliminary July data from the CAB remained steady at 88.5.
TransCanada wins final permit to build Gulf leg of Keystone XL pipeline
With the extension, the company says Gulf Coast refiners can access cheaper domestic production and avoid paying a premium to foreign producers, thereby reducing costs.
Gasoline profits decline for European refiners amid weak demand - analysts
Massimo Vacca, head of investor relations at Italy's Saras, said the recent rise in crude prices and in gasoline stocks had contributed to the squeeze on refiners' profits. Profits on gasoline in Northwest Europe have nearly halved to $10.73/ton from $19.23/ton, the lowest level in over two months.
Smithfield CEO calls for US to cut ethanol mandate
In addition to a temporary waiver of the mandate, Congress should pass a bill that would lower the federal Renewable Fuels Standard when US corn supplies fall below a certain threshold, Smithfield CEO C. Larry Pope wrote. A waiver would ease requirements that refiners blend ethanol with gasoline.
Methanex approves Chile-to-US plant relocation
The Louisiana methanol plant is targeted to be operational by the end of 2014. The expected cost of the project, including all owners' and pre-start up costs, is about $550 million, according to the company.
Air Products to raise LNG heat exchanger capacity with new Florida plant
The new 300,000 square foot LNG manufacturing facility, which will employ approximately 250 employees in a four year ramp-up period, is to be complete and begin operations in late 2013. Air Products says the location's access to port services will facilitate global shipping of the equipment.
Ecuador picks Odebrecht to prepare refinery site
Odebrecht will prepare the construction site for the Refineria del Pacifico, a $13 billion project run by the state oil companies of Venezuela and Ecuador. The refinery, located in the coastal province of Manabi, is scheduled to go on line in 2015 and to reach its complete capacity of 300,000 bpd in 2016.
Bakken crude reaches Louisiana refiners by barge
Kirby Corp. appears to be the first barge operator to use America's famed Mississippi River as a highway for oil from the land-locked Bakken, an oil-rich area in North Dakota. The barges take a week to travel down the Mississippi River to bring the oil to the Baton Rouge, La. area.
US safety board says lapses led to BP oil spill
The CSB said a "robust system of process safety indicators" may have revealed problems that led to the disaster, such as discordant safety controls between BP and Transocean.
US chemical output falls for second straight month
Individual components measured by the index were mixed. Declines in production of plastic resins, fertilizers, adhesives, organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals were offset by gains in the output of inorganic chemicals, industrial gases, consumer products, pesticides, coatings and synthetic rubber.
- TotalEnergies extends its fuel price cap policy in France until the end of April 4/7
- Navigating the montan wax challenge with renewable alternatives for polymers 4/7
- AFR selects Axens as technology provider for Texas (U.S.) refinery 4/7
- Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia's Jubail petrochemical complex, IRGC says 4/7
- Iran's Marvdasht Petrochemical complex attacked by US and Israel 4/7
- Fluor awarded engineering and design contract for America First Refining's refinery in South Texas 4/7
