High water levels on Mississippi river delaying some chemical shipments

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Some chemicals shipped by barge on the Mississippi river are seeing delays after heavy rains in the region.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the Mississippi river upstream and downstream from St Louis, Missouri, which remain in effect.

The elevated river levels have delayed the delivery of some barges moving feedstock orthoxylene (OX) from the US Gulf to phthalic anhydride (PA) plants located near Chicago, market participants told ICIS.

There is no rain in the forecasts for the region over the next several days, which should allow water levels to recede.

Thumbnail image shows the Mississippi river. Image by Shutterstock