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Ethanol29-Jul-2025
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Executives from Class 1
railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk
Southern (NS) said on Tuesday that their merger
enhances competition and creates a more
reliable and efficient transcontinental service
option, but chem industry trade groups remain
concerned and will actively oppose the deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, UP will
acquire NS in a stock and cash transaction that
must be approved by the US Surface
Transportation Board (STB) and other applicable
regulatory authorities and shareholders of both
companies.
The companies said it will take up to six
months to file the application with STB, which
will then begin its 16-month review process.
The deal is expected to close in early 2027.
Speaking on a conference call to discuss the
deal, UP CEO Jim Vena and NS president and CEO
Mark George said the combined network will span
more than 50,000 miles across 43 states,
serving 10 international gateways with Mexico
and Canada and will operate from 100 ports, as
shown in the following map.
Source: UP
Railroad executives said the merger will
improve single-line service, address
underserved areas like the Ohio Valley and the
Mississippi River watershed, and enhance
competition.
Customers of the combined railroad will benefit
from faster transit times, increased
reliability and improved customer asset
utilization, the executives said.
Source: UP
But chemical industry trade groups shared
concerns about the merger even before it became
official.
In an interview with ICIS
last week, Eric Byer, president and CEO of the
Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) said
rail service issues remain for ACD customers
and should UP and NS merge, it would set the
table for the other two major railroads to
consider doing the same.
“The idea of having Union Pacific and Norfolk
Southern merge means you’re probably going to
have the other two big Class I railroads
merging,” Byer said, likely referring to the
other two major railroad companies, BNSF
Railway and CSX.
Byer reaffirmed on Tuesday the ACD’s opposition
to the merger.
“Following prior rail mergers, freight rail has
not served the needs of its customers who
inevitably pay increasingly high rates for
unreliable and inadequate service,” Byer said.
“Despite persistent deteriorating rail service,
railroads are rarely held accountable for
supply chain disruptions caused by extensive
monopolies and an outdated regulatory system.
Freight rail is already highly concentrated,
and further consolidation will exacerbate
existing challenges while expanding the rail
industry’s market power and profit margins.”
Scott Jensen, director of issue communications
at the American Chemistry Council (ACC), said
his member companies have serious concerns
about the prospect of further consolidation in
the freight rail industry.
“ACC is closely watching the situation and will
actively oppose any merger that would boost
railroad monopoly power,” Jensen said. “Our
industry is one of the largest users of the US
freight rail system, and we need efficient and
reliable service to deliver products that make
people’s lives better, healthier and safer.”
In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent
about 20% of chemical transportation by
tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines
carrying the rest.
In Canada, producers rely on rail to ship
more than 70% of their products, with some
exclusively using rail.
“The four largest freight railroads already
control more than 90% of US rail traffic, with
two dominating in the eastern US and two
dominating in the west,” Jensen said. “A merger
between two of these railroads threatens to
leave American manufacturers, farmers and
energy producers with even fewer options to
ship by rail.”
The combined railroads will be called Union
Pacific, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska,
with Atlanta, Georgia, remaining a key
location, the companies said.
Vena will be CEO, and three NS directors –
including George and Richard Anderson – are
expected to join the UP board of directors
after closing.
Jensen said producing and moving more chemistry
here at home is key to growing the economy.
“From microchips to cars to medicines, if we
want to make more things in America and lead in
global trade, we must do a better job
transporting American-made goods,” Jensen said.
“We call on policymakers to help create more
competitive transportation options, not less.”
Likewise, Byer called on the STB to ensure that
freight rail customers have access to
competitive, efficient and reliable rail
service.
“Approving a transcontinental mega-merger will
benefit the merging rail companies and Wall
Street, at the expense of US chemical
distribution companies who are critical
contributors to the American economy,” Byer
said. “It is hard to see how expanding railroad
monopolies would meet the STB’s high burden to
‘enhance competition’ and serve the ‘public
interest’.”
Additional reporting by Joseph Chang
Ethylene29-Jul-2025
MADRID (ICIS)–EU chemicals will lose out to US
competitors under the tariff regime agreed in
the latest US-EU trade deal, which avoids “for
the moment” a trade war, Germany’s chemicals
trade group VCI said this week.
Both EU and US consumers to lose out – VCI
‘Structural imbalance’ to weaken EU
chemicals further – France Chimie
More robust trade barriers need to be
implemented – Spain’s Feique
Deeply-integrated transatlantic chemicals
trade to suffer – Europe-wide Cefic
Other trade groups such as France Chimie were
also skeptical about the deal, although it
noted “contradictory statements” from the US
and the EU, while full details remain unknown.
The Europe-wide trade group Cefic said the deal
“appears to have averted the worst-case
scenario” but will still hurt European
producers’ competitiveness compared with their
US peers and called for “further details” as
soon as possible.
Feique, the Spanish trade group, said the deal
will negatively impact on Spanish chemical
exports to the US and on exports of
intermediates to other EU countries that have
the US as their final destination – “eroding
trade and investment” flows.
STORM BETTER THAN
HURRICANEGermany’s VCI,
representing the EU’s largest chemicals
producer and a key, export-intensive sector for
Germany’s manufacturing sector, was relieved
that a full-blown trade war had been avoided
but added that EU chemical competitiveness will
be hurt given the “high” tariffs that the
industry faces.
“Anyone expecting a hurricane is grateful for a
storm. Further escalation was avoided.
Nevertheless, the price is high for both sides.
Europe’s exports are losing competitiveness. US
customers are paying the tariffs,” said VCI
executive director Wolfgang Grosse Entrup.
“From the chemical industry’s perspective, the
agreed tariffs are too high. At the same time,
however, it is good that even higher tariffs
were avoided. Now the German government must
act even more consistently to offset this
additional burden,” he added.
VCI called for more talks where chemical
tariffs in the US and the EU are “significantly
reduced” and facilitate the
“reindustrialization and transformation” of the
chemical sectors in both the EU and the US.
‘PRECISE CONTENT’
NEEDEDAll trade groups called
for further details of the deal to be published
as soon as possible. However, the latest news
has been enough for most to be worried.
France Chimie said it was observing with
“seriousness and concern” details published so
far, saying in principle, it would put EU
chemicals at a disadvantage.
In addition, it said there had been
“contradictory statements” from both parties
and called for the “precise content” of the
agreement to be released as soon as possible.
It was very troubled, it added, about the terms
and conditions which will determine trade in
chemical products and active pharmaceutical
ingredients due to the lack of detail.
“France Chimie notes with concern that,
according to the information provided, the
agreement would introduce a difference in
treatment between US chemical companies and our
European companies, which would be subject to
additional costs for exporting to the US,” said
France Chimie.
“This structural imbalance would seriously
penalize an already weakened European chemical
industry, unless the ‘zero for zero’ system is
extended to all chemical products.”
France Chimie said it was essential for the
European Commission – the EU’s executive arm –
to strengthen measures announced in its action
plan earlier in July, and insisted it was
“urgent” to implement them.
“[The implementation is key] in order to
restore operating conditions to the level of
competitiveness of other competing areas for
European manufacturers. This involves in
particular: the guarantee of access to
decarbonized energy at a competitive cost, an
essential condition for preserving industrial
activity in Europe.
“Reduction of taxes and charges on
industrial sites, to align them with
international standards; [and]
simplification of the European regulatory
framework and the fight against national
over-transpositions.”
‘AGILITY’ TO IMPLEMENT TRADE
BARRIERSSpain’s trade group
Feique said, subject to full details, the deal
would “exert significant pressure” on Spanish
chemical exports to the US, which in 2024
reached €3.5 billion of total exports of €59.2
billion, including industrial chemicals and
pharmaceuticals.
It said impact was likely to be higher on
exports of commodity chemicals rather than
specialized products due to their greater
exposure to international competition. However,
it said the EU should work hard to lower the
tariffs faced by the chemicals industry.
“It is extremely important for the sector (as
for many other industries) to work
on including chemicals in the
‘zero-for-zero’ agreement, and even to develop
a comprehensive and balanced sectoral agreement
that guarantees favorable trading conditions,
increases predictability, and strengthens the
competitiveness of our industry,” said Feique.
“The Commission must redouble its efforts
to develop the EU’s free trade agenda,
with the aim of opening new markets. In this
context, Europe must also be more agile
in implementing trade defense measures,
especially by monitoring strategic products and
applying anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures
when necessary.”
Earlier this month, director general Juan Labat
told
ICIS that the EU must redouble
efforts to protect its domestic industry,
lowering taxes and upping public support for
energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals, and
tackle the high energy cost problem.
“Despite increased renewable generation and
lower operating costs, electricity prices have
doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels, and
gas prices have consolidated at the same rate,
fundamentally affecting basic industrial
activities across the continent and seriously
jeopardizing strategic autonomy,” concluded
Feique.
INVESTMENTS HINDEREDIn
Brussels, the EU capital, trade group Cefic
said it required more details about the deal
before it could make a complete assessment, but
it warned that tariffs on chemicals could
jeopardize investments on both side of the
Atlantic.
However, it said the inclusion of some
chemicals in the ‘zero-for-zero’ agreement was
an “encouraging” sign on which the Commission
could continue building upon, adding
“beneficial trade terms” were needed for all
chemicals.
“While the deal appears to
have averted the worst-case scenario, the
additional US tariffs on EU exports risk
further eroding the competitiveness of
the EU chemical industry. This is another
reminder that the recently published Chemical
Industry Action Plan needs to be urgently and
fully implemented. There is no time to waste,”
said Cefic.
“Additional tariffs hinder trade and investment
flows across the Atlantic. This
is highly problematic for such
an integrated transatlantic chemical
industry with a significant amount of
intra-industry and intra-company trade. Raw and
input materials are regularly being shipped
back and forth across the Atlantic, adding
value at each stage of production.”
Front page picture: Chemicals park in Marl,
in the German state of North
Rhine-Westphalia
Source: Hans
Blossey/imageBROKER/Shutterstock
Focus article by Jonathan
Lopez
Ethylene29-Jul-2025
HOUSTON (ICIS)–The US is approaching a 1
August deadline to conclude tariff negotiations
with several countries, after which it will
likely proceed with more duties on specific
products such as lumber, copper and
pharmaceuticals.
Earnings for US chemicals have already fallen
because of the uncertainty caused by US trade
policy.
Dow cut its dividend in half and reported a
Q2 net loss of $801 million after proposed
tariffs caused exports of polyethylene (PE) to
evaporate in April.
Olin warned that it is vulnerable to
retaliatory tariffs that Brazil could impose on
US imports of caustic soda.
WHERE NATIONAL TARIFFS
STANDThe US has already reached
frameworks with Japan and the EU, two of its
major trading partners. Talks are ongoing with
India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and Brazil
as the US approaches a 1 August deadline to
conclude talks.
The following table shows the tariffs that the
US proposed and the subsequent trade agreements
that it announced.
Country
Proposed rate
Trade Deal
Algeria
30%
pending
Bangladesh
35%
pending
Bosnia and Herzegovina
30%
pending
Brazil
50%
pending
Brunei
25%
pending
Cambodia
36%
pending
Canada
35%
pending
EU
30%
15%
Indonesia
32%
19%
Iraq
30%
pending
Japan
25%
15%
Kazakhstan
25%
pending
Laos
40%
pending
Libya
30%
pending
Malaysia
25%
pending
Mexico
30%
pending
Moldova
25%
pending
Myanmar (Burma)
40%
pending
Philippines
20%
19%
Serbia
35%
pending
South Africa
30%
pending
South Korea
25%
pending
Sri Lanka
30%
pending
Thailand
36%
pending
Tunisia
25%
pending
On 12 August, the US will reach another
deadline to reach a trade agreement with China
to prevent the two countries from reviving
triple digit tariff increases.
The US proposed these tariffs under the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(IEEPA). A pending court case could eliminate
the legal basis for the IEEPA-based tariffs.
If the courts overturn the national tariffs,
the US could resort to other provisions to
introduce new duties, although this will take
time and they may not be as broad as the
IEEPA-based tariffs.
US PROPOSES POLITICAL TARIFFS ON
BRAZILThe US proposed tariffs on
Brazilian imports were an exception because
they were based on the nation’s politics. The
US actually has a trade surplus with Brazil,
unlike the other nations that were targets for
tariffs.
The US use of tariffs to influence other
countries’ policies creates the possibility
that it could employ similar tactics to other
countries – even if it already negotiated trade
agreements.
WHERE SECTORAL TARIFFS
STANDThe US is also considering
tariffs on product families under section 232.
These tariffs are not covered by the IEEPA
lawsuit so they will prove more durable.
Under section 232, the government investigates
whether imports of specific products threaten
national security. The US has 270 days to file
a report on the investigation, after which the
president can choose to impose tariffs or take
other actions in response to the findings of
the report.
The following table summarizes the pending
section 232 investigations and the deadlines to
complete them.
Product
Start of investigation
Report Due
Copper
10-Mar
5-Dec
Timber, lumber
10-Mar
5-Dec
Semiconductors
1-Apr
27-Dec
Pharmaceuticals
1-Apr
27-Dec
Medium duty trucks
22-Apr
17-Jan
Heavy duty trucks
22-Apr
17-Jan
Critical minerals
22-Apr
17-Jan
Commercial aircraft
1-May
26-Jan
Jet engines
1-May
26-Jan
Polysilicon
1-Jul
28-Mar
Unmanned aircraft systems
1-Jul
28-Mar
Source:
Bureau of Industry and Security
The US has also broadened and increased tariffs
on previously completed investigations, as
shown in the following table.
Product
Tariff
Automobiles
25%
Auto parts
25%
Steel
50%
Aluminium
50%
Source: President
These tariffs have exceptions based on the
country of origin and their portion of
domestically produced content.
CHINESE TRADE RESTRICTIONS
PERSISTThe US and China had
opened a new front in their trade war by
restricting exports of critical materials.
China had since resumed shipments of rare earth
minerals, and the US is allowing exports of
ethane, a feedstock that some Chinese crackers
use to make ethylene.
However, China has apparently maintained
restrictions on other critical minerals
minerals.
Among them, antimony is used as a catalyst to
make polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and
bismuth metal is used as a catalyst for
polyurethanes and as a radiopaque additive for
plastics used in medical devices.
Since 3 December, China has banned the
export of the following minerals:
Antimony
Gallium
Germanium
This strengthened the restrictions on antimony
shipments that China
imposed on 15 September 2024.
Since 4 February, China has restricted
shipments on the following minerals:
Bismuth
Molybdenum
Indium
Tellurium
Tungsten
US TARIFFS SLOW GROWTH, PARALYZE
DECISION MAKINGThe on-again,
off-again nature of US tariffs and their vague
characteristics have injected uncertainty into
the economy, causing companies and consumers to
delay purchases and investment decisions.
When the US does make an announcement about
tariff rates, it is done on the president’s
social media page with few details.
Chemical companies have said that uncertainty
has caused more disruptions to their businesses
than the actual tariffs. They also do not know
if their sizeable exports will be subject to
retaliatory tariffs.
All of this slows growth, and economists have
lowered their forecasts for 2025 GDP following
the tariff announcements.
Businesses need certainty so they can plan,
especially for small companies that bring in a
couple of containers each quarter, said Eric
Byer, president and CEO of the Alliance for
Chemical Distribution (ACD).
If the US can reach agreements with China,
India, Canada and Mexico by the Labor Day
holiday in September, that could go a long way
in providing certainty to the economy, Byer
said.
The US needs to resolve its trade disputes soon
because retailers and consumers will start
planning for upcoming holidays, such as
Halloween at the end of October and Christmas
at the end of December, Byer said.
Insight article by Al
Greenwood
Thumbnail shows shipping containers, which
feature prominently in international trade.
Image by
Shutterstock.

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Speciality Chemicals29-Jul-2025
BARCELONA (ICIS)–The permanent closure of
SABIC’s cracker and other facilities at Wilton,
UK, shows how tough conditions are in Europe
with recyclers also feeling the pinch.
Closure of UK polymer recycling facilities
has been a shock to the industry
European recyclers find it hard to compete
against imports, more support for local
recycling needed
Regulations are helping recycling sector,
but more action needed
Outlook for Europe recycling more positive
than for base chemicals
Chemical plant closures remove good quality
jobs which are tough to replace
Wilton, UK site is perfect for development
of circular economy
EU-US 15% tariff deal removes threat of 30%
but many questions remain
In this Think Tank podcast, Will
Beacham interviews James
McLeary, managing director for Biffa
Polymers and ICIS Insight Editor
Tom Brown.
Editor’s note: This podcast is an opinion
piece. The views expressed are those of the
presenter and interviewees, and do not
necessarily represent those of ICIS.
ICIS is organizing regular updates to
help the industry understand current market
trends. Register here.
Read the latest issue of ICIS
Chemical Business.
Read Paul Hodges and John Richardson’s
ICIS
blogs.
Speciality Chemicals29-Jul-2025
SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Here are some of the
stories from ICIS Latin America for the
fortnight week ended on 28 July.
Brazil chemicals faces
long downturn as Braskem battles structural
challenges –
Moody’sBrazil’s
petrochemicals sector is set to suffer a
prolonged slump that will threaten
profitability if government does not
intervene, according to an analyst at credit
ratings agency Moody’s.
Brazil’s Petrobras
wants a say in Tanure’s takeover bid for
BraskemPetrobras has
appealed to Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE
to secure its participation in Nelson
Tanure’s bid to control petrochemicals major
Braskem, according to the Brazilian
state-owned energy major.
Abiquim proposes
increase in external common tariff on caustic
soda in BrazilThe
Brazilian Chemical Industry Association
(Abiquim) has submitted a new request to the
federal government seeking to raise the
External Common Tariff (TEC) applied to
imports of caustic soda in aqueous solution
(NCM 2815.12.00), currently set at 7.2%, to
18%.
US
proposed 50% tariff on Brazil and threat of
retaliation a concern – ACC
officialThe proposed US
tariff of 50% on imports from Brazil, and the
potential for retaliation as Brazil has
suggested is a major concern for the US
chemical industry, said an American Chemistry
Council (ACC) official.
Mexico’s Orbia Q2
metrics worsen as markets remain
depressedOrbia’s markets
remain very challenging but there had been
certain stabilization and “pockets” of growth
in some segments, management at the Mexican
chemicals producer said this week.
Argentina’s macro
indicators keep improving but currency
pressures mount ahead of
electionsArgentina’s
economic indicators are showing mixed signals
ahead of a mid-term election in which
President Javier Milei puts many hopes to
increase his party’s presence in parliament.
INSIGHT: Brazil faces
impasse over US tariffs, potential economic
hit at R259 billionBrazil
confronts a diplomatic deadlock over US
tariffs with a week remaining before 50%
levies take effect, while economic studies
warn of the potential hit to GDP of up
Brazilian reais (R) 259 billion ($47 billion)
over 10 years if both countries implement
reciprocal measures.
US
‘political’ tariffs on Brazil may be reversed
before 1 August –
Moody’sThe latest US
tariffs on Brazilian goods due to come into
force on 1 August are related to “political”
issues rather than trade and could still be
revised or revoked, according to credit
ratings agency Moody’s.
Crude Oil29-Jul-2025
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Sika’s January-June 2025
profit decreased by 3.9% year on year amid a
weaker US dollar, despite a sales increase in
local currencies, the Switzerland-based
international construction chemicals major said
on Tuesday.
in Swfr (million)
Jan-Jun 2025
Jan-Jun 2024
% change
Sales
5,676.4
5,834.8
–2.7
EBITDA
1,070.4
1,092.9
–2.1
Operating profit
798.1
822.2
–2.9
Profit after taxes
554.4
577.1
–3.9
Globally, Sika grew by 1.6% in local currencies
for the first half of 2025, with 0.6%
attributed to organic growth and 1.0% to
acquisition effect.
A weaker US dollar was predominantly
responsible for high foreign currency impact,
causing a foreign exchange loss of 4.3%, Sika
said.
Meanwhile, Sika acquired four companies – in
Singapore, the UK, North America and Qatar –
and commissioned seven new plants in 2025,
including in Singapore, China and
Ecuador.
Economic conditions improved slightly across
Europe in the first half of 2025, and the
construction industry in Europe, the Middle
East and Africa (EMEA region) is expected to
grow 1.3% in 2025, Sika said.
Sales in EMEA region increased by 1.9% in local
currencies, down from 13.5% in the same period
last year, with strong growth recorded in the
Middle East and Africa.
In the Americas, Sika achieved a 3.5% increase
in sales in local currencies, down from 15.1%
in the previous year, amid market uncertainty
wrought by “mixed signals regarding US trade
policy”, the company said.
In the Asia/Pacific region, sales declined by
1.7% in local currencies, compared with 8%
growth in the same period last year.
Significant challenges in the Chinese
residential market persisted despite government
support initiatives.
Among southeast Asian countries, Vietnam and
Indonesia showed strong growth due to public
spending, and overall, the region displayed
sluggishness in the real estate market. For
Automotive, southeast Asia and India recorded
double-digit growth.
In January, Sika opened a plant in both
Singapore and Xi’an, which is located in
northwest China.
“The newly built plant in Singapore specializes
in the production of mortars, while the Xi’an
facility manufactures a full range of products,
including tile adhesives, cementitious
waterproofing, and flooring solutions,” Sika
said.
For business year 2025, Sika aims for an EBITDA
margin increase of between 19.5% and 19.8%, as
well as a “modest sales increase in local
currencies”.
The EBITDA margin for the first six months of
2025 increased to 18.9% year on year, compared
with 18.7% in the same period last year.
“Amid uncertain market development, Sika will
continue to grow above the market and is
focusing on margin improvement,” the company
said in its confirmation of strategic
medium-term targets for 2028.
($1 = Swfr0.81)
Speciality Chemicals29-Jul-2025
LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top
stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended
25 July.
EU
risks losing industry for good, Spain’s April
blackout costs chemicals €200 million –
Feique
The EU must improve its strategy to save
basic industries like chemicals if it is to
maintain a healthy industrial base, easing
the regulatory burden and fixing the
fundamental problem of high energy costs,
according to the director general at Spain’s
chemicals trade group Feique.
Europe chemicals hit
bottom, policy shift a long-term positive –
Covestro CEO
The European chemical industry has hit bottom
and there are positive developments for
structural reforms that could lead to a
brighter future, said the CEO of
Germany-based Covestro.
European PVC, caustic
soda contract prices stable to soft in
July
European caustic soda and polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) contract prices are under pressure in
July on the back of weak demand due to
reduced activity during the seasonal summer
lull and lengthy global markets.
Economic bear
indicators continue to proliferate ahead of
August tariff day
Global macroeconomic trends are pointing
further down into the second half of the year
ahead of the 1 August US tariffs date, with
2025 set to be one of the weakest years for
oil demand growth in 16 years and downside
risks prevailing.
Europe methanol spot
prices fall to near two-year lows, congestion
ongoing
European methanol spot prices sank to near
two-year lows following continued oversupply
and sluggish demand in July.
Polyethylene29-Jul-2025
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Click here to see the
latest blog post on Asian Chemical Connections
by John Richardson: Can AI rewrite the future
for economies facing ageing populations such
China, where ICIS analysis suggests its
population could fall to just 373 million by
the end of this century?
The traditional view of declining birth rates
leading to inevitable economic decline might be
about to change. AI, particularly Artificial
General Intelligence (AGI), has the potential
to fundamentally shift this paradigm:
Runaway Innovation &
Productivity: AI acts as an
“idea multiplier,” driving exponential
breakthroughs across sectors like
biotechnology, green energy, and even AI
itself. If automation becomes widespread and
highly efficient, economic output could
depend more on energy and infrastructure,
rather than simply human population size.
Abundance, Not
Scarcity: Imagine a future of
widespread abundance. AI-run factories could
make manufactured goods, digital
entertainment, and even food (via
AI-optimised agriculture) incredibly
affordable, potentially near-free. This could
alleviate resource scarcity issues that often
fuel geopolitical tensions and inflation.
However, this transformative potential comes
with significant considerations. While the
opportunities are immense, so are the risks,
such as widespread white-collar job
displacement and the potential for extreme
inequality.
Ultimately, human agency is
key. We have the power to shape
AI’s trajectory:
Redistribution
Models: We can implement smart
economic models like Universal Basic Income
(UBI) or public ownership of AI capital to
ensure the vast new wealth generated by AI is
widely shared, rather than concentrating in
the hands of a few.
Strategic
Investment: Focused investment
in human-complementary sectors (like
healthcare or education) and reskilling
initiatives can ensure well-paid human jobs
persist alongside AI.
This future isn’t predetermined. How we choose
to develop and govern AI will define global
prosperity. What are your thoughts on how we
can best harness AI’s potential for a more
equitable and abundant world?
Editor’s note: This blog post is an opinion
piece. The views expressed are those of the
author, and do not necessarily represent those
of ICIS.
Ammonia28-Jul-2025
HOUSTON (ICIS)–There is 76% of the US corn
acreage now silking with soybean blooming also
having lifted to a level of 76% according to
the latest crop progress report from the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The amount of corn that is silking is ahead of
the 75% rate achieved in 2024 but does trail
the five-year average of 77%.
Corn at the dough stage has climbed to 26%,
which lags the 28% mark from last year but is
above the five-year average of 24%.
For corn conditions, the amount rated very poor
is up to 2% with 5% still as poor and 20% as
fair. The amount rated as good has decreased to
53% with excellent up to 20%.
Soybean blooming has reached 76%, which is
ahead of the 75% level from last season and
equal to the five-year average of 76%.
There is 41% of the soybean crop setting pods,
which is slightly less than the 2024 rate of
42% and the five-year average of 42%.
For soybean conditions the amount of very poor
decreased to 1% with the crop listed as poor
remaining at 5%.
The amount of fair declined to 24% with the
level of good up to 55% and excellent higher at
15%.
Winter wheat harvest has reached 80% completed.
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