Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 19 July.

Canada’s Methanex to move forward with US methanol project
Methanex’s board of directors has reached a unanimous decision to build a 1.8m tonne/year methanol plant in Geismar, Louisiana, where the Canadian company has two existing methanol facilities, the company said.

US PetroLogistics II plans to build new PDH unit on Gulf Coast
PetroLogistics II plans to construct a 500,000 tonne/year propane dehydrogenation (PDH) facility on the US Gulf Coast based on a new process technology, the company said.

China auto demand poised to pop on US-China trade deal – PPG CEO
China automotive demand is poised for a sharp rebound if a US-China trade deal is reached, said the CEO of US-based coatings producer PPG.

US Ashland sees market weakness, lowers guidance
Ashland had lower-than-expected sales in personal care and certain industrial end markets within its specialty ingredients business, which will see it report weaker fiscal Q3 and full-year results, the US-based international specialty chemicals company said.

INEOS’s US ACN plant restart likely to ease global tightness
The restart of INEOS Nitriles’ Green Lake, Texas, acrylonitrile (ACN) plant is expected to gradually ease supply concerns and push down prices in the US amid a seasonal lull in global derivatives markets.

US soda ash producer declares force majeure after earthquake
Searles Valley Minerals has declared force majeure on soda ash after an earthquake disrupted water and electrical service and severed rail and highway links, shutting down all operations at the complex.

US Barry weakens: some roads, bridges out, chem plants running
Almost three dozen weather-related highway and bridge closures associated with Barry remained in Louisiana on Monday after the storm grew briefly into a hurricane before being downgraded to a tropical storm and now a depression heading into northern Arkansas, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

US MMA market likely to benefit from Sherwin-Williams expected growth in paints and coatings
The US methyl methacrylate (MMA) market could benefit from strong home remodelling rates.