Europe top stories: weekly summary

LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended 16 April.

Trafigura, MAN Energy Solutions to make ammonia engines for ships
Global commodity trading major Trafigura Group on Thursday announced it will co-sponsor the development of MAN Energy Solutions’ ammonia-fuelled engine for maritime vessels.

German chemicals firms push for role in vaccination drive
Larger German chemicals firms are pushing for a more direct role in the deployment of vaccines in Germany, while the country’s chemicals major BASF has received the green light for a pilot project to inoculate employees at Ludwigshafen flagship site.

German economic recovery slow and steady as lockdowns cause short-term delays
Germany’s economic recovery is on the horizon but renewed shutdowns and slow vaccination rollouts may act as a roadblock, a cohort of economic researchers on Thursday.

Crude demand gains strength, pandemic still downside risk – IEA
Global oil demand is gaining strength as vaccine campaigns in rich countries gather pace and as major US stimulus policies are likely to pass, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday.

Veolia, Suez merger to create global waste management, recycling major
Veolia and Suez have reached an agreement in principle on a proposed merger that would create the world’s largest waste management and recycling group by revenue, with €37bn/year in sales, the two firms said on Tuesday.

UK’s chems orders, output up in Q1 but mid-term risks inflation, regulation post-Brexit
The UK’s chemicals industry – including pharmaceuticals – weathered the lockdown in the first quarter with sharp rises in orders and output, as exports to overseas markets outside the EU rose, the country’s trade group Chemical Industries Association (CIA) said on Monday.