Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 16 July.

OUTLOOK: Latin America PP H2 demand limited by H1 inventory buildup, low economic activity
Latin America polypropylene (PP) demand is expected to be less strong in H2 for several regional markets amid lower distributor sales and slowing activity in major economies.

ACC calls for 30% recycled plastic by 2030, scaling of chemical recycling
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) on Tuesday announced its comprehensive five-point plan to accelerate the growth of recycling to reduce plastic waste.

US supply chain disruptions to take longer than anticipated to clear up – Fed
Supply chain disruptions that have persisted throughout the pandemic and were intensified by Winter Storm Uri are likely to take longer than anticipated to clear up, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

UP to suspend eastbound rail traffic between US west coast, Chicago to help clear container backlog
Union Pacific Railroad will temporarily suspend eastbound movement from West Coast port terminals to Chicago beginning Sunday and lasting for seven days in an effort to ease inland congestion.

INSIGHT: US EPR policy in focus after states pass legislation
As the US state of Maine becomes the first state to enact an extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for plastic packaging, momentum behind recycling legislation only seems to be strengthening as a chemical trade group association backs an “American-designed” producer responsibility system to develop a circular economy.