ICIS Blogs : us

China borrowing from the future?

Asian Chemical Connections — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:16:53 GMT

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement over the rebound in the Chinese economy and miss underlying weaknesses which point to some major problems ahead. To some extent, in a desperate effort to compensate for collapsing export trade, China might...(read more)

Pacific Ethanol

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:49:31 GMT

Video from WSJ Marketline about Pacific Ethanol's Plant in Stockton, California . Production at the Stockton was suspended in February. It is now mothballed. Too much capacity, margins too thin, seem to be the story. This isn't the first time...(read more)

It's about scaling down rather than up

Asian Chemical Connections — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:06:31 GMT

One of the new skills being learnt in this current crisis is how to run plants efficiently at low operating rates. "It's funny that for years now, we've worried about how to scale up profitably. Now industry is faced with just the opposite...(read more)

How long can bear-market rallies last?

Asian Chemical Connections — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:26:49 GMT

The current run-up in equities might go on and on - perhaps even for several years, according to economist Russell Napier. But he warns, in this excellent video interview with FT journalist John Authers, that an extended boom in equities doesn't necessarily...(read more)

25x25 warns on restricting cellulosic biomass

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:55:31 GMT

25x25 a pressure group in the US is warning that some proposed legislation in the US could severely restrict the amount of cellulose available for biofuels in what is effectively a call for managed woodlands. I can see why the Waxman-Markley proposal...(read more)

Aussie on a losing wicket

Asian Chemical Connections — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:25:54 GMT

The timing of when to strike the ball is everything in the wonderful sport of cricket - and also, apparently, in the American pastime of baseball. An Australian banker is fond of reminding the English how much better his country is at playing cricket...(read more)

Micro-management gone too far?

Asian Chemical Connections — Fri, 08 May 2009 06:26:49 GMT

"Nobody can see until the end of the month - never mind into the third quarter," commented an olefins trader recently. "The reason is that very senior managers are too busy micro-managing everything, from getting involved in trying to track...(read more)

Should solar manufacturers invest in the US?

Green Chemicals — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:30:34 GMT

If the US is expected to become one of the largest solar market, then shouldn't we be investing in solar manufacturing instead of having the solar materials imported? That is one of the ongoing debate being discussed at consulting and tax firm Deloitte...(read more)

Reasons to be cheerful?

Asian Chemical Connections — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:48:09 GMT

Any excuse to make a reference to the late, great and wonderful Ian Dury. I sent the following email to my friend in response to the stock market rallies and the green shoots of optimism seemingly turning into beautiful May flowers: "I take it nothing...(read more)

US-Asia Propylene arbitrage closes

Asian Chemical Connections — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:07:21 GMT

As flagged up on this blog last week, ICIS news has confirmed that the US-Asia propylene arbitrage has shut following a rise in US domestic refinery-grade C3 prices. This could be good news if West-East arbitrage in general becomes more difficult. During...(read more)

California looks at emissions from crop to tail pipe and legislates

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:16:28 GMT

California's newly adopted low-carbon fuel standard may mark the beginning of the end of ethanol, according to a report on Planet Ark. The new legislation examines the carbon impact from seed to tailpipe, which seems sensible. Read More......(read more)

The relationship between corn, ethanol and autofuel replacement US-style

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:20:30 GMT

There is a direct relationship between the volume of corn converted to ethanol with the % of gasoline replaced in the US. Its shown more clearly if you click the line which contains the mysterious word Thi at the bottom of this poor thumbnail. I've...(read more)

Interactive US map of advanced fuels

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:31:28 GMT

I saw this map from the Natural Resources Defense Council on Robert Rapier's i-r-squared blog and couldn't resist it. I guess it is incomplete, but it looks pretty good. Read More......(read more)

NW Biodiesel Network Forum in May

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:30:43 GMT

I've just come across the NW Biodiesel Network. It will be holding a forum in Seattle on May 2 0. The East Side Chapter has meetings at the North Bend Railroad Depot every second Wednesday. (Which looks a lot better than it sounds) Read More......(read more)

It really is a Mad World

Asian Chemical Connections — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:47:35 GMT

As the potential swine flu pandemi threatens more lives - and even more damage to the global economy - it's time to watch American Idol re-runs. It would be great if we could all collectively retire to some paradise island where Manchester Utd and...(read more)