US House passes waterways bill

Market: Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Coking coal, Crude oil, Fertilizers, Metals, Oil products, Petroleum coke
23/07/24

The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Monday authorizing the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to tackle a dozen port, inland waterway and other water infrastructure projects.

The Republican-led House voted 359-13 to pass the Waterways Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes the Corps to proceed with plans to upgrade the Seagirt Loop Channel near Baltimore Harbor in Maryland.

The bill also will enable the Corps to move forward with 160 feasibility studies, including a $314mn resiliency study of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which connects ports along the Gulf of Mexico from St Marks, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas.

Water project authorization bills typically are passed every two years and generally garner strong bipartisan support because they affect numerous congressional districts.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed its own version of the bill on 22 May. That bill does not include an adjustment to the cost-sharing structure for lock and dam construction and other rehabilitation projects.

The Senate's version is expected to reach the floor before 2 August, before lawmakers break for their August recess. The Senate is not scheduled to reconvene until 9 September. If the Senate does not pass an identical version of the bill, lawmakers will have to meet in a conference committee to work out the differences.

WRDA is "our legislative commitment to investing in and protecting our communities from flooding and droughts, restoring our environment and ecosystems and keeping our nation's competitiveness by supporting out ports and harbors", representative Grace Napolitano (D-California) said.

By Meghan Yoyotte

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Australia's Jan-Nov tallow exports hit record high

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14/01/25

Australia's Jan-Nov tallow exports hit record high

Sydney, 14 January (Argus) — Australian tallow exports during January-November 2024 reached the highest on record, surpassing the previous record for exports in the whole of 2023. Australia exported 517,364t of tallow in the first 11 months of 2024, surpassing the 504,409t of tallow in 2023, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) accessed through Global Trade Tracker (GTT) (see graph) . The record export number was the result of a larger cattle herd, high slaughter rates and favourable weather conditions, while growing demand from the biofuels sector has also helped boost exports. Domestic cattle slaughter rates stood at 2.24mn head in July-September, the highest since the same period in 2015, because of processors' concerted effort to increase capacity. Australia's beef production hit a record high in July-September at 690,694t, according to ABS data. Over 90pc of Australian tallow was exported to either Singapore or the US in the first 11 months of the year, with each country receiving 53.2pc and 37.6pc respectively, according to GTT data. Market participants have indicated Australian tallow trade flows may swing towards the US this year because of the newly released guidance on the 45Z tax credit in the country. Prices for lower carbon intensity feedstocks like tallow increased following the new guidance, while imported used cooking oil will not qualify for the tax credit. By Tom Woodlock Australian tallow exports (t) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Cliffs still seeks US Steel, pledges no closures

13/01/25

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13/01/25

Cliffs still seeks US Steel, pledges no closures

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US tariffs on Canada likely, oil cut-off not: Alberta

13/01/25

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13/01/25

US tariffs on Canada likely, oil cut-off not: Alberta

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Mexico’s industrial output up 0.1pc in November

13/01/25

News

13/01/25

Mexico’s industrial output up 0.1pc in November

Mexico City, 13 January (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production edged up 0.1pc in November, as gains in autos and other manufacturing offset weaker construction, national statistics agency Inegi said. Mexican bank Banorte described the monthly increase as "rather small," noting it followed a 1.1pc decline in October and was largely driven by base comparison effects. The bank added that the overall industrial outlook remained "fragile." Manufacturing, which represents 63pc of Inegi's seasonally adjusted industrial activity indicator (IMAI), increased by 0.7pc in November, though it failed to fully recover from a 1.7pc drop in October. Transportation manufacturing, a key subsector accounting for 12pc of the sector, rose by 3.8pc after a steep 4.3pc decline the prior month. Despite recent volatility, Mexico's auto sector achieved record annual light vehicle production in 2024, reaching 3.99mn units. Yet, automaker association AMIA warned of potential challenges in 2025 because of economic uncertainty, which could affect investment and demand. Mining, which makes up 12pc of the IMAI, increased by 0.1pc in November following a 1.1pc decline in October. Growth was driven by a 41.4pc jump in mining-related services, while oil and gas output fell by 2.4pc, marking a fifth consecutive monthly decline for hydrocarbons. Construction, representing 19pc of the IMAI, contracted by 1.8pc in November after modest gains of 0.2pc in October and 1.1pc in September. As industry eyes potential policy shifts under US president-elect Donald Trump, Banorte projected a weak start to 2025 for Mexico's industrial output. But it expects momentum to build as government spending on priority infrastructure projects "moves more decisively." By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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