Chlor-alkali
Overview
The dynamic between chlorine and caustic soda and their varied end-uses creates a very dynamic market for chlor-alkali products, meaning that the markets do not grow equally.
Tracking this market requires a high level of understanding of the dynamics and the experience to interpret the market to provide an accurate price assessment.
Argus’ chlor-alkali experts will help you decide what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest chlor-alkali news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global chlor-alkali industry.
US rail group optimistic about 2025 rail demand
US rail group optimistic about 2025 rail demand
Washington, 12 December (Argus) — US rail volume is likely to start strong in 2025, but railroads will need to navigate changing federal policies, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) said. Volume next year hinges on a few key factors, including the resilience of consumer spending, strength in the labor market, and the trajectory of inflation and interest rates, the group said. Railroads will need to remain vigilant as these economic indicators will be critical in helping assess rail traffic and broader economic health in the months ahead, AAR said. "Strong intermodal growth and stable consumer demand offers reasons for optimism," AAR said. "But railroads and the economy alike must navigate evolving policies and potential disruptions" as the US enters 2025 under a new administration, the group said. The AAR'S optimism comes as rail traffic in November "while by no means stellar, suggests that the broader economy remains on stable footing", AAR said. US intermodal rail volume set new records in November. The increase reflected strong consumer demand following job gains that pushed increased spending, AAR said. Intermodal traffic is made up primarily of consumer goods shipped in containers between different modes of transportation, although some scrap metal and specialty agriculture products ship this way. US railroads loaded an average of 282,000 intermodal containers and trailers per week, up by 11pc from a year earlier. That was the highest weekly average for any November since AAR began tracking intermodal data in 1989. Carload traffic fell by 3.8pc compared with November 2023. Carload traffic is primarily made up of commodities. Coal was the "biggest problem", AAR said. US railroads loaded 15pc less coal last month compared with a year earlier, while year-to-date loadings were down by 14pc from the same 11 months in 2023. If coal were excluded, monthly US carload traffic in November would have notched a 10th consecutive year-on-year increase. Industrial products volume was down by 1pc from a year earlier. Manufacturing is a major driver of US carload traffic, and that sector remains sluggish, AAR said. By Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Talks to restart as port of Vancouver lockout drags
Talks to restart as port of Vancouver lockout drags
Calgary, 8 November (Argus) — A labour disruption at the port of Vancouver is now into its fifth day, but the employers association and the locked-out union are to meet this weekend to try to strike a deal and get commodities moving again. Workers belonging to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 on Canada's west coast have been locked out by the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) since 4 November. This came hours after the union implemented an overtime ban for its 730 ship and dock foreman members. The two sides will meet on 9 November evening with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in an effort to end a 19-month long dispute as they negotiate a new collective agreement to replace the one that expired in March 2023. The FMCS was already recruited for meetings in October, but that did not culminate in a deal. Natural resource-rich Canada is dependent on smooth operations at the port of Vancouver to reach international markets. The port is a major conduit for many dry and liquid bulk cargoes, including lumber, wood pellets and pulp, grains and agriculture products, caustic soda and sodium chlorate, sugar, coal, potash, sulphur, copper concentrates, zinc and lead concentrate, diesel and renewable diesel liquids and petroleum products. These account for about two-thirds of the movements through the port. Grain operations and the Westshore coal terminal are unaffected while most petroleum products also continue to move, the Port of Vancouver said on 7 November. As the parties head back to the bargaining table, the ILWU Local 514 meanwhile filed a complaint against the BCMEA on 7 November, alleging bargaining in bad faith, making threats, intimidation and coercion. "The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically-elected leadership and bargaining committee, said ILWU Local 514 president Frank Morena on 7 November. "They know their bully tactics won't work with our members but their true goal is to bully the federal government into intervention." But that is just "another meritless claim," according to the BCMEA, who wants to restore supply chain operations as quickly as possible. The union said BC ports would still be operating if the BCMEA did not overreact with a lockout. "They are responsible for goods not being shipped to and from BC ports — not the union," Morena says. The ILWU Local 514 was found to have bargained in bad faith itself already, according to a decision by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) in October. Billions of dollars of trade are at risk with many goods and commodities at a standstill at Vancouver, which is Canada's busiest port. A 13-day strike by ILWU longshore workers in July 2023 disrupted C$10bn ($7.3bn) worth of goods and commodities, especially those reliant on container ships, before an agreement was met. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Port of Vancouver grinds to halt as picket lines form
Port of Vancouver grinds to halt as picket lines form
Calgary, 5 November (Argus) — Commodity movements at the port of Vancouver have halted as a labour dispute could once against risk billions of dollars of trade at Canada's busiest docks. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 began strike activity at 11am ET on 4 November, following through on a 72-hour notice it gave to the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) on 1 November. The BCMEA subsequently locked out workers hours later that same day, 4 November, which the union says is an overreaction because the union's job action was only limited to an overtime ban for its 730 ship and dock foreman members. Natural resource-rich Canada is dependent on smooth operations at the British Columbia port of Vancouver to reach international markets. The port is a major conduit for many dry and liquid bulk cargoes, including lumber, wood pellets and pulp, grains and agriculture products, caustic soda and sodium chlorate, sugar, coal, potash, sulphur, copper concentrates, zinc and lead concentrate, diesel and renewable diesel liquids and petroleum products. These account for about two-thirds of the movements through the port. Canadians are also reliant on the port for the import of consumer goods and Asian-manufactured automobiles. The two sides have been at odds for 19 months as they negotiate a new collective agreement to replace the one that expired in March 2023. Intervention by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), with a hearing in August and September, followed by meetings in October with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), failed to culminate in a deal. The BCMEA's latest offer is "demanding huge concessions," according to the ILWU Local 514 president Frank Morena. The BCMEA refutes that, saying it not only matches what the ILWU Longshore workers received last year, but includes more concessions. The offer remains open until withdrawn, the BCMEA said. A 13-day strike by ILWU longshore workers in July 2023 disrupted C$10bn ($7.3bn) worth of goods and commodities, especially those reliant on container ships, before an agreement was met. Grain and cruise operations are not part of the current lockout. The Westshore coal terminal is also expected to continue operations, the Port of Vancouver said on 4 November. The Trans Mountain-operated Westridge Marine Terminal, responsible for crude oil exports on Canada's west coast, should also not be directly affected because its employees are not unionized. In all, the port has 29 terminals. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Dow to review European polyurethane assets
Dow to review European polyurethane assets
London, 24 October (Argus) — US chemicals firm Dow is undertaking a strategic review of its European polyurethanes assets, the company said today. Dow will consider whether there are divestment opportunities. The assets under review are not loss-making and have "good cost positions in the European market", chief executive Jim Fitterling said during the firm's third-quarter results call. The review "really isn't driven primarily by shutdowns", he said. Dow has a 635,000 t/yr chlorohydrin PO production plant in Stade, Germany, as well as related derivatives capacity at the site including 280,000 t/yr of propylene glycol production. The firm has 330,000 t/yr of HPPO capacity in Belgium as part of a join-venture with BASF and 684,000 t/yr of polyether polyols production capacity across three sites in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. It also has 380,000 t/yr of installed MDI production capacity across two sites in Germany and Portugal as part of its polyurethanes portfolio. "I don't believe shutting down MDI assets is going to be a value-creating opportunity, but we're going to look at everything," Fitterling said. The firm's chlor-alkali and vinyl (CaV) assets will be included in the review. "Chlorine-PO integration is critical for us," Fitterling said. "They are not [separable], we are not going to do anything without close contact with not only our own chlorine assets but also with our partners in Europe." Dow has two chlorine assets in Europe including 1mn t/yr of diaphragm capacity and 600,000 t/yr of membrane capacity at Stade, as well as 250,000 t/yr of membrane capacity at Schkopau in Germany. Fitterling did not discuss the firm's upstream assets but said the review in Europe "is around polyurethanes". The assets under review account for around 20pc of Dow's sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Dow expects to complete the review by mid-2025. The firm pointed to "key competitiveness issues" and "the higher cost position" in Europe. It said it has concerns around the "need for clear and consistent long-term regulatory policies for our industry". In the current environment, demand recovery is "unlikely to be enough" to provide swift growth in Europe, it said. LyondellBasell launched a similar strategic review of some European assets in May, although it has not yet announced any conclusions. Sales down Sales volumes in Dow's Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment, which includes its polyurethanes business, fell by 2pc in the third quarter compared with a year earlier. This was driven by lower volumes in the Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals business, "primarily from a force majeure in MDI following a third-party supplier outage", the company said. Net sales revenue for the Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment was $3bn in July-September, down by 2pc from a year earlier. Local prices were flat year on year, the firm said. By Laura Tovey-Fall Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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