Americas top stories - weekly summary

07 May 2012 15:00  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Americas for the week ended 4 May 2012.

US chemicals, plastics sectors shed jobs in April
The US chemicals and plastics industries both shed jobs in April, the Labor Department said on Friday, but both sectors are well ahead of the same period of 2011 with workforce gains of more than 1% each.

API charges that E-15 blends will damage US fuel infrastructure
US energy sector officials on Thursday charged that the Obama administration’s enthusiasm for biofuels has clouded policy decisions that could cause damage at thousands of retail gasoline stations, endanger public safety and the environment.

Argentina’s 1st cold spell slams natgas supplies, disrupts plants
Low temperatures created the first major disruption of natural gas supply to industrial users in Argentina over the long weekend, industry sources said on Wednesday.

US April ethylene contracts drop nearly 1% to 55.25 cts/lb
US ethylene contracts for April settled at 55.25 cents/lb ($1,218/tonne, €926/tonne), dropping by 0.50 cent/lb from March, market sources said on Tuesday.

Energy Transfer Partners to acquire US Sunoco for $5.3bn
US firm Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) has entered into an agreement to acquire US refiner Sunoco for around $5.3bn (€4.0bn), the two companies said on Monday.

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