Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 18 January.

Analyst quantifies effects of US government shutdown on GDP, chems
For every week the US government is shut down, quarterly GDP growth is reduced by 10-20 basis points, a drag that also hits the chemical sectors in the US and the EU, an analyst with Jefferies said.

US 2019 soda ash prices increase amid globally short supply
US 2019 soda ash prices were assessed upward by $10/short ton on Tuesday, based on market feedback.

Dow, LyondellBasell, BASF, Henkel and other CEOs launch Alliance to End Plastic Waste
CEOs from chemical and plastics producers, consumer goods companies, retailers, converters, waste management firms and other organisations have signed up to the new Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), they said on Wednesday.

US HB Fuller notes slow China, strength in engineering adhesives
HB Fuller noted general weakness in China but strength in its engineering adhesives business, the CEO of the US-based adhesives producer said on Thursday.

US January PS prices settle at decrease on lower feedstocks
Following a decrease of 7 cents/lb ($154/tonne) in December, US PS (polystyrene) prices have settled lower again – dropping by 2 cents/lb – in January amid lower upstream prices in December.