Houston Ship Channel reopens to vessel traffic: Update

Market: Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Coking coal, Crude oil, Freight, LPG, Metals, Natural gas, Oil products, Petrochemicals, Petroleum coke
17/02/21

Updates status of the Houston Ship Channel and Port of Houston

The Houston Ship Chanel and Port of Houston reopened to all vessel traffic at 10:30am ET today, according to the US Coast Guard, after closing yesterday at 7:30pm because of freezing weather in the area.

As of 10:30 today, six vessels were waiting to enter the channel, and four vessels were waiting to exit the channel, according to shipping agency Moran Shipping.

The Texas ports of Galveston and Texas City, which closed to all vessel traffic at 7pm on 14 February, remained closed today. The ports of Port Arthur, Beaumont and Orange closed to all vessel traffic yesterday at 4:30pm, while Corpus Christi closed to all vessel traffic yesterday at 11:50pm, and Freeport closed today at 7:45am.

Today is the fourth straight day that Texas ports have been restricted because of freezing weather.

By Michael Connolly

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

28/03/25

US consumer confidence down on policy angst

Houston, 28 March (Argus) — The University of Michigan's gauge of consumer sentiment fell in March to the lowest level since November 2022, led by a slump in expectations over the "potential for pain" from US economic policies introduced by the new administration. Sentiment fell to 57, down from 64.7 in February and 79.4 in March 2024, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey released Friday. The final reading for March was lower than the preliminary reading. The sentiment index fell to a record low of 50 in June 2022 on inflation concerns. The index of consumer expectations fell to 52.6, the lowest since July 2022, from 64 in February and 77.4 in March last year. The expectations index has lost more than 30pc since November last year. "Consumers continue to worry about the potential for pain amid ongoing economic policy developments," the survey director Joanne Hsu said. The decline "reflects a clear consensus across all demographic and political affiliations: Republicans joined independents and Democrats in expressing worsening expectations … for their personal finances, business conditions, unemployment and inflation," Hsu said. Current economic conditions slipped to 63.8 in March from 65.7 in February and 82.5 last March. Two thirds of consumers expect unemployment to rise in the year ahead, the highest reading since 2009. Year-ahead inflation expectations jumped to 5pc this month, the highest reading since November 2022, from 4.3pc last month. The University of Michigan survey comes three days after The Conference Board's preliminary Consumer Expectations Index fell in March to its lowest in 12 years, to below a threshold that "usually signals" a recession. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

Brazil bets on plastics despite global uncertainties

28/03/25

News

28/03/25

Brazil bets on plastics despite global uncertainties

Sao Paulo, 28 March (Argus) — Brazil's plastics industry expects investments of R10.5bn/yr ($1.8bn/yr) for the next few years despite potential tariff threats that could upend trading relationships, plastic industry association Abiplast said. Factory expansions, advancements in sustainable packaging, new recycling technologies and enhancements in reverse logistics will fuel the investments, the association said at its Plasticos Brasil industry event. Despite the optimism, Latin American polymers markets are experiencing a period of uncertainty caused by global market disruptions resulting from tariff threats by US president Donald Trump and other factors. The threats of tariffs and retaliations has disturbed traditional plastic resin flows, resulting in lower prices throughout the region, with the effects most evident in the region's largest market, Brazil. A global polymer trader told Argus that polyethylene (PE) prices have reached record lows, with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blow molding grades dropping close to $900/t during the week, compared with the $1,040–1,080/t range on 27 February. Other PE grades, as well as polypropylene (PP) prices, have followed a similar downward trend. On the other hand, offers of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) grades are limited, but the scarcity is not pushing these grades upward, according to the source. Instead of taking advantage of discounts, many buyers are postponing purchasing decisions in anticipation of further price drops, leading to fewer deals. Resin produced in the US and the Middle East is also being sold by Chinese traders at prices significantly lower than fresh offers from the original producers. These additional volumes, offered as re-exports, have depressed global prices, particularly in Latin America and especially in Brazil. As a result, some traders continue to lose market share in Brazil, they told Argus. This trend is part of a downturn in the petrochemical industry's cycle, which some traders said will persist for at least a couple more years. Despite these challenges, many market participants were emphatic that they closed many contracts and that they remain optimistic. Regional developments Brazilian chemical giant Braskem told Argus that Mexican joint venture Braskem Idesa's new ethane import terminal is scheduled to start up in May. With the move, the Mexican JV will serve all of its PE plant's feedstock needs with ethane imported from the US. It remains unclear if the Trump administration's threats about imposing fees on Chinese-made vessels when they dock in US ports could impede Braskem's strategy in the region. Braskem's first vessel, the Chinese-built 19,000t Brilliant Future , recently began transporting ethane to Braskem Idesa's complex from the US and a second vessel, with similar specifications and the same route, will be delivered in June. Brazil's Unipar Carbocloro new $35mn plant in Camacari, in northeastern Bahia state, is gradually ramping up its capacity utilization as operations start, with an official opening scheduled for early April. The plant is designed to produce 10,000 t/yr of chlorine, 12,000 t/yr of caustic soda, 25,000 t/yr of hydrochloric acid and 20,000 t/yr of sodium hypochlorite. Unipar could upgrade it for PVC production someday. Unipar also said that the gradual resumption of operations at its Bahia Blanca, Argentina, plant is progressing as planned. The plant went off line on 7 March because of torrential rains. By Fred Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

ISCC aware EU mulling certification recognition: Update

28/03/25

News

28/03/25

ISCC aware EU mulling certification recognition: Update

Adds comment from the European Commission London, 28 March (Argus) — The ISCC, an international certification system for sustainability, said today that it is aware of discussions in an EU committee about future recognition of its certification for waste-based biofuels. It said there is no legal basis for any planned measures. Industry participants said yesterday that the EU Committee on Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids, and Biomass Fuels is drafting implementing regulations that would include a two-and-a-half year pause to obligatory acceptance of ISCC EU certification for waste-based biofuels. "This action is said to be subject to further legal scrutiny and will need approval by member states," the ISCC said. Currently, member states accept EU-recognised voluntary scheme certification as proof that fuel or feedstocks are compliant with the bloc's Renewable Energy Directive (RED) sustainability criteria. Market participants told Argus that discussions have centred around giving individual countries more choice. "Other voluntary schemes would not be able to fill the gap. The measure would be a severe blow to the entire market for waste-based biofuels and would seriously jeopardise the ability of the obligated parties to comply with blending mandates," the ISCC said. The ISCC has been singled out in a discriminatory way and has supported European Commission and member states' investigations into alleged fraud, it said. "We are more than surprised by this step […and] are unable to see the rationale of the planned measure, which seems ad hoc and baseless," it added. Secretary-general of the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) Xavier Noyon told Argus that, if confirmed, the suspension would affect thousands of operators. "At this time, member states are refusing to comment, and we call on the commission to urgently clarify any decisions of this nature that are on the table," he said. The EBB published its own proposed revision to the RED implementing legislation last month, which expanded the supervisory power of member states over voluntary schemes and certification bodies. The European Commission confirmed that the committee met on 26 March to discuss sustainable certification, promotion of biofuels, avoidance of double counting, and alleged fraud. "We are still working on our examination of this alleged fraud in biodiesel imports from China," said commission energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen. But the commission has not taken any decision yet and cannot allude to "possible" scenarios, she said. By John Houghton-Brown, Simone Burgin and Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

UK steel importers oppose other countries' caps

28/03/25

News

28/03/25

UK steel importers oppose other countries' caps

London, 28 March (Argus) — Steel importers in the UK suggest the imposition of a cap on any other countries' quotas could effectively stop trade, given the small volume of the quotas. In a recent submission to the Trade Remedies Authority, UK Steel said 15pc caps should be introduced on other countries quotas for hot-dip galvanised, plate and rebar. But in its submission to the TRA, trading firm Salzgitter Mannesmann argues that any cap based on a percentage of the quota "will ultimately most likely remove rather than reduce imports as shipments from many third countries, notably the far east, require a certain base volume to ship economically to the UK". Other trading firms and service centres told Argus they share the same view. Salzgitter Mannesmann also suggested a new country quotas for individual importers be added to the safeguard based on their imports over the past two or three years. The only local producer of hot-dip galvanised coil, Tata Steel, would be likely to argue against this as volumes from some countries, notably Vietnam, have increased dramatically in recent years. Salzgitter Mannesmann also suggests Tata Steel cannot produce hot-rolled coil over 1.85m wide, for which the UK has to totally rely on imports. Traders have for some time argued that there should be no import constraints on material, such as 2m wide, as there can be no injury to the producer on grades it cannot produce. Service centre Sebden Steel said the current measures make it "impossible" for the UK to be flooded with cheap foreign imports, and that people are "misinformed by mainstream media and UK Steel". "The UK producer is in a safe place already and any additional measures will only serve to cause injury to independent steel service centres, independent steel stockholders and the UK manufacturing base, which will all be faced with a further tightening of the supply chain and increased costs," it said. Importers, unsurprisingly, question why Tata Steel, now a re-roller until its electric arc furnaces are installed, can import on much more favourable terms than others. Tata has a much bigger quota than the rest of the market, at around 2.3mn t, but the main problem for importers is that the company has fewer constraints on where it can source, with only a 40pc cap on any given country within that quota. Independent service centres, which all compete with Tata Distribution, can only import much smaller quantities from different locations, given the fragmented composition of quotas; the other countries quota for 1A, for example, is less than 100,000 t/yr. EU mills have far and away the largest quota to sell 1A HRC into the UK, but given their higher costs compared with Asian producers, they struggle to compete; Tata's imports come from all over the world, as well as some from its sister mill in IJmuiden, the Netherlands. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

UK EAC to explore airport expansion, net zero conflict

28/03/25

News

28/03/25

UK EAC to explore airport expansion, net zero conflict

London, 28 March (Argus) — UK parliament's cross-party environmental audit committee (EAC) has begun an inquiry into whether the country's airport capacity expansion could be achieved in line with its climate and environment targets. "The aviation sector is a major contributor to the UK's carbon emissions, and on the face of it, any expansion in the sector will make net zero even more elusive," EAC chair Toby Perkins said. Any expansions must meet strict climate and environment commitments, the UK government has said. The government in January expressed support for a third runway at London's Heathrow airport — the country's largest. UK transport minister Heidi Alexander said in February that she was "minded to approve" an expansion at London's Gatwick airport, ahead of a final decision in October. The expansion would involve Gatwick making its northern runway operational. It is currently only used as a back-up option. The government is also "contemplating decisions on airport expansion projects at London Luton… and on the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield," Perkins said. "It is possible — but very difficult — for the airport expansion programme to be consistent with environmental goals," Perkins said. "We look forward to exploring how the government believes this can be achieved." The UK has a legally-binding target of net zero emissions by 2050. Its carbon budgets — a cap on emissions over a certain period — are also legally binding. The government must this year set levels for the UK's seventh carbon budget , which will cover the period 2038-42. The committee has invited written submissions on the possible airport expansions and net zero, with a deadline of 24 April. It will report in the autumn. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more