Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 21 March.

Mexico’s ethane terminal to raise raw materials availability, benefiting wider petrochemicals – CEO
Mexico’s new ethane import terminal in the state of Veracruz is poised to transform the country’s struggling petrochemical sector by alleviating critical raw material shortages, according to the chief at the facility.

AFPM ’25: US PVC to face headwinds from tariffs, economy
The US polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market is facing continued headwinds as tariff-related uncertainties persist heading into this year’s International Petrochemical Conference (IPC). The domestic PVC market is expected to grow between 1-3% in 2025 but continues to face challenges in housing and construction. Meanwhile, export markets continue to wrestle with the threat of protectionist policies and tariffs at home and abroad.

INSIGHT: Major macro reversal as Europe and China prepare to ramp up stimulus while US aims to cut spending
In the global chemical and economic landscape, the US has for many years been the ‘cleanest shirt in the dirty laundry basket’ with slowing but steady GDP growth, abundant and cheap energy, big government stimulus for infrastructure projects and a tilt towards reshoring.

INSIGHT: US sustainability companies hit by two bankruptcies
US sustainability companies are starting to buckle, with a chemical recycling plant and a bioplastic producer both going bankrupt.

US sanctions first China teapot refinery for alleged Iran oil purchases
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned a teapot refinery in Shandong, China for allegedly “purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil”.

AFPM ’25: US polyurethane industry braces for cascade effect of tariffs
US polyurethane prices for toluene diisocyanate (TDI), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and a variety of polyether and polyester polyols continue to see increase pressure as the market assesses the impacts of potential tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, heading into this year’s International Petrochemical Conference (IPC).

AFPM ’25: Summary of Americas market stories
Here is a summary of chemical market stories, heading into this year’s International Petrochemical Conference (IPC). Hosted by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the IPC takes place on 23-25 March in San Antonio, Texas.