Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 24 March.

AFPM ’23 – INSIGHT: US petchem exports poised to hit record on capacity, logistics and cost advantage

With the last wave of new capacity additions and easing of logistics constraints, the US petrochemical sector has a clear path to boosting exports to new records in 2023, heading into this year’s International Petrochemical Conference (IPC).

Global petrochemicals demand to remain challenging in 2023 – Braskem

Global demand for petrochemicals will remain “challenging” in 2023 and the recovery will only come from 2024 onward, the CFO at Brazil’s petrochemicals major Braskem said on Thursday.

INSIGHT: US Fed undeterred from 2% inflation goal means more tough times ahead for chemicals

Even amid a regional banking crisis, the US Federal Reserve remains undeterred in its goal of bringing inflation down to its 2% target.

Corrected: Canada’s NOVA plans $2-4bn in sustainable investments

NOVA Chemicals plans to invest $2bn-4bn in such areas as sustainable products, decarbonisation and mechanical recycling as part of its plan to become a top 30 company in Canada and to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the polyethylene (PE) producer said on Wednesday.

US DG Fuels mulls biomass-to-fuels plant in Louisiana

DG Fuels has secured an option for land in Louisiana where it may build a $3.1bn biomass-to-fuels plant that will rely on a suite of technologies to bring the site’s carbon emissions close to zero, the state said on Tuesday.

INEOS, unions reach tentative deal over strike at US TiO2 plant

INEOS reached a three-year labour agreement with two unions at one of its pigment plants in Ohio, the company said.