Americas top stories: weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
04-Sep-2018
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 31 August.
Lack
of steam cracker feed flexibility pushing US
ethane to multi-year
highs
The limited ability for
the new slate of US ethylene crackers to shift
feedstock feeds from chiefly ethane is adding
upward pressure to the ethane market.
US, Mexico reach
preliminary deal to update
NAFTA
The US and Mexico have reached a preliminary
agreement to update NAFTA, the US Trade
Representative (USTR) said on Monday.
INTERACTIVE: US
Gulf petchem boom made Harvey the first global
hurricane
Powerful hurricanes have hit the US Gulf Coast
in the past, but Hurricane Harvey was the first
to strike after petrochemical producers began a
wave of expansion projects in the region,
making the storm the first to have significant
effects on global petrochemical markets.
US ExxonMobil
considers Vistamaxx, LAO plants in
Baytown
US-based producer ExxonMobil revealed on Monday
details of a proposal to build to new units at
its complex in Baytown, Texas, saying that one
of them will produce
its Vistamaxx copolymer and the
second will produce linear
alpha olefins(LAO).
INTERACTIVE: US
August propylene contracts settle up 2 cents/lb
amid recent outages
US August propylene contracts have settled at a
2 cent/lb increase for the majority of the
market, although one seller did not settle at
that level, market sources said on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
Lack of steam
cracker feed flexibility pushing US ethane to
multi-year highs
The limited ability for the new slate of
US ethylene crackers to shift
feedstock feeds from chiefly ethane is adding
upward pressure to the ethane market.
US August PE
contracts settle lower on lengthening
supply
US August polyethylene (PE) contracts
were assessed 3 cents/lb ($66/tonne) lower for
most grades based on lengthening supply.
Global News + ICIS Chemical Business (ICB)
See the full picture, with unlimited access to ICIS chemicals news across all markets and regions, plus ICB, the industry-leading magazine for the chemicals industry.
Contact us
Now, more than ever, dynamic insights are key to navigating complex, volatile commodity markets. Access to expert insights on the latest industry developments and tracking market changes are vital in making sustainable business decisions.
Want to learn about how we can work together to bring you actionable insight and support your business decisions?
Need Help?