Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 2 June.

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended [date] [month]

LyondellBasell Circular and Low Carbon Solutions to take multi-pronged approach for growth – EVP

LyondellBasell will take a multi-pronged approach to boost production and sales of recycled and bio-based plastics as demand accelerates through 2030, the head of its Circular and Low Carbon Solutions business said.

INSIGHT: Q2 peak season fails as industry slides into summer lull, demand collapse persists

Chemical markets around the world are reeling from collapsed demand conditions in what would, traditionally, be the strongest quarter of the year for many markets.

INSIGHT: Case remains for LyondellBasell to convert refinery to sustainability hub

LyondellBasell still can make a strong case for converting its refinery in Houston into a sustainability hub, even though it is delaying its exit from the refining business to the end of the first quarter of 2025.

LyondellBasell delays exit from Houston refinery

LyondellBasell plans to delay the exit from its Houston-based refining business to no later than the end of Q1 2025, the international petrochemicals major said in an update on Wednesday.

Permit reform in US debt-ceiling bill should benefit energy projects

A US bill that would raise the nation’s debt ceiling includes provisions that would reform the nation’s permitting regime, which should make it easier to develop infrastructure that would provide the chemical industry with feedstock as well as speed up renewable energy projects.

Global weekly spot IPEX maintains downtrend on regional declines

The global spot ICIS Petrochemical Index (IPEX) fell by 2.5% in the week to 26 May, after declines in all regions.

Brazil’s Unigel rating lowered on ‘sharp, simultaneous’ downturn in petchems, ferts

Brazilian producer Unigel’s debt rating was downgraded over the weekend by two credit rating agencies on the back of a “sharp and simultaneous” downturn in both its petrochemicals and fertilizers divisions, according to Fitch Ratings.