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Possible Canadian rail strike start delayed again

  • Spanish Market: Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Coking coal, Crude oil, Fertilizers, Freight, LPG, Metals, Oil products, Petrochemicals, Petroleum coke
  • 31/05/24

The start of a threatened strike by some union workers at Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has been pushed back again as concerns about fuel and food supplies rise.

If it goes forward, the strike would begin sometime after 17 June at the earliest. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which is investigating federal government concerns, has postponed reply comments to 14 June from 31 May. Original comments were due by 21 May.

If CIRB ruled on 15 June, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) would have to provide three days' notice to CN and CPKC before workers could strike.

But a strike may still may not occur for another 60 days. If CIRB issues any orders, the parties would likely not be in a position for a strike or lockout to begin for two months, CPKC said on 16 May. TCRC members had authorized a strike to start as early as 22 May.

The railroads and union met with CIRB on Monday and discussed the comments filed by groups that could be affected by a strike. Canadian minister of labour Seamus O'Regan asked CIRB earlier this month to consider requiring some rail service to continue in the event of a strike to help avoid health and safety issues related to propane supply.

A number of concerns arising from the comments have been identified, with many focused on the impact to commercial and economic interests, CIRB said.

The theme of certain comments concerned delivery of supplies of propane and diesel to critical areas, including and remote communities in northern British Columbia. Transportation also is important to the province of Manitoba which has been using rail to deliver fuel because of a Winnipeg products pipeline.

Other comments focused on domestic and global food security. They noted some sectors are dependent on rail for transportation, such as fertilizer, potash and canola products, CIRB said.

The potential, immediate impact on the supply of water treatment materials for several municipalities also was highlighted.

Other commentators sought advance warning of strike, asking CIRB to provide notice of when a decision would be made or that there be an extension of the notice required before a strike or lockout.

Negotiations between the railroads and TCRC continue. CN and the union will meet next week from 4-6 June. CPKC declined to comment on talks but met most recently with TCRC leadership between 15-21 May.


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22/01/25

Lotes de soja brasileira fora de conformidade na China

Lotes de soja brasileira fora de conformidade na China

Sao Paulo, 22 January (Argus) — Autoridades chinesas proibiram temporariamente importações de soja brasileira de unidades específicas de algumas tradings , após "detecção de não conformidade" em suas remessas, informou o Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (Mapa) nesta quarta-feira. A Administração Geral de Alfândega da China (GACC, na sigla em inglês) notificou autoridades brasileiras sobre componentes não autorizados identificados em remessas de soja de cinco empresas, mas nenhuma foi totalmente proibida de exportar a oleaginosa para o país asiático. O governo brasileiro esclareceu que componentes não autorizados foram identificados em cargas pertencentes a uma unidade de cada uma das cinco tradings . As cinco unidades estão temporariamente proibidas de enviar cargas para a China, enquanto as investigações continuam, informou o Mapa. O governo brasileiro não divulgou os nomes das empresas. Outras unidades dessas empresas ainda estão autorizadas a exportar para a China. Fontes de uma das tradings afetadas confirmaram a proibição temporária à Argus , destacando que traços de pragas e pesticidas não autorizados foram identificados nas cargas. A equipe jurídica dessa empresa está supervisionando o assunto, disseram fontes à Argus . É comum que a alfândega chinesa inspecione cada carga que chega em seus portos, com autoridades chinesas e brasileiras trocando informações diretamente sobre os resultados obtidos. Alguns participantes de mercado informaram que este caso pode levar a um processo de inspeção e liberação mais rigoroso para a soja, enquanto outros estão confiantes de que a proibição temporária e a investigação são apenas de rotina. A China é o maior importador de soja do mundo, recebendo pelo menos 60pc das importações globais da oleaginosa a cada ano, de acordo com o Departamento de Agricultura dos Estados Unidos (USDA, na sigla em inglês). O Brasil responde pela maior parcela dos volumes importados, enquanto os compradores chineses recebem a maior parte das exportações de oleaginosas do país. A Associação Nacional dos Exportadores de Cereais (Anec) estima que a China recebeu 76pc das 97,3 milhões de toneladas (t) que o Brasil exportou em 2024. Por Nathalia Giannetti Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.

Brazilian soy lots fall outside of Chinese specs


22/01/25
22/01/25

Brazilian soy lots fall outside of Chinese specs

Sao Paulo, 22 January (Argus) — Chinese authorities temporarily banned Brazilian soybean imports from specific company units after finding "unauthorized components" in their shipments, Brazil's agriculture and livestock ministry Mapa said today. China's general administration of customs (GACC) notified Brazilian authorities about unauthorized components identified in soybean shipments from five companies, but none were fully banned from exporting to the Asian country. The Brazilian government clarified that unauthorized components were identified in cargoes belonging to one unit each from the five companies. The five units are temporarily banned from shipping cargoes to China, while investigations continue, Mapa said. The Brazilian government did not disclose the companies' names. Other units of the firms are still authorized to export to China. Sources from one of the affected trading companies confirmed the temporary ban to Argus , highlighting that traces of plant diseases and unauthorized pesticides were identified in the cargoes. This company's legal team is overseeing the matter, the sources told Argus . It is common for Chinese customs to inspect each cargo that arrives in its ports, with Chinese and Brazilian authorities exchanging information on the results directly. Some market participants said that this case may lead to a stricter inspection and clearance process for soybeans, while others are confident that the temporary ban and investigation are only routine. China is the world's largest soybean importer, receiving at least 60pc of the global soybean imports each year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Brazil accounts for the largest share of imported volumes, while Chinese buyers receive most of the country's oilseed exports. Brazil's national association of cereal exporters Anec estimates that China received 76pc of the 97.3mn metric tonnes the South American country exported in 2024. By Nathalia Giannetti Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Eurofer seeks 50pc cut to flat steel quotas


22/01/25
22/01/25

Eurofer seeks 50pc cut to flat steel quotas

London, 22 January (Argus) — EU import quotas for flat carbon steel should be cut by 50pc to create a "healthier" balance between domestic supply and imports, European steel association Eurofer said in a filing to the European Commission as part of its functional safeguard review. The Eurofer response was sent on 10 January, but only made public on the case file today, much to the chagrin of importers. The last day for feedback was 13 January, after distributors' association Eurometal requested an extension, which was granted for just three days, over a weekend. It also suggested that there should be individual quotas on Chinese product, even where dumping duties are in place, and that Chinese material processed elsewhere be counted against this quota with dumping duties applied. The current level of imports is resulting in excess supply of 8.75mn t — 4mn t on hot-rolled coil (HRC), 1.2mn t on cold-rolled coil (CRC) and 2.8mn t on hot-dip galvanised (HDG), Eurofer said. Eurofer reiterated its belief that 25pc duties are not sufficient and that an average rate of 34pc should be applied, with no pro-rata duty on the first day of a new quarter. It also said the 15pc country caps imposed on the other countries' quota for HRC be applied to other categories, such as CRC and HDG. On CRC, a 10pc cap should be imposed, it said. On HRC, that other countries' cap should be lowered from 15pc to 7pc. The carry-over of unused quotas should also be stopped, if not capped, the association said, adding that there should be no liberalisation of quota volume in the last year of the safeguard. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Syria issues first post-Assad oil tenders


22/01/25
22/01/25

Syria issues first post-Assad oil tenders

Dubai, 22 January (Argus) — The new administration in Syria has issued its first tenders to buy crude and refined products since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, as acute fuel shortages continue to cause lengthy blackouts in the country. Tenders seeking 3mn bl of light crude for the 140,000 Banias refinery and 1.2mn bl of heavy crude for the 110,100 b/d Homs refinery close for bidding on 27 January. They have a 10pc flexibility either way on the volumes. The Banias refinery is undergoing maintenance at several of its production units after being taken offline last month because of a lack of crude feedstock. Syria's new administration has also issued its first import tender for refined products — 80,000t of 90 Ron gasoline, 100,000t of 10ppm sulphur gasoil and 100,000t of fuel oil — commencing as soon as possible for delivery over a 30-day period. Offers must be delivered by hand to the oil ministry in Damascus by 14:30 local time on 27 January. A tender seeking 66,000t of LPG has been issued as well. A previous tender for 20,000t of LPG was awarded at mid-teen $/t premiums to fob Lavera west Mediterranean prices. Before Assad was toppled, Syria relied heavily on Iran for its oil supplies, as international sanctions imposed in the wake of the 2011 civil war left the country critically short of feedstock for its refineries. Iran's crude exports to Syria averaged around 55,000 b/d in January-November 2024 and around 80,000 b/d in 2023, according to trade analytics firm Kpler. Iran was also sending around 10,000-20,000 b/d of oil products to Syria in recent years, according to consultancy FGE. But Tehran has halted crude deliveries to Syria since the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took control last month , leaving the new transitional government under pressure to find alternative suppliers. Government-to-government deals are a potential option. "Recent political developments have indicated that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey could play a role in solving Syria's crude and refined products shortage," FGE analyst Palash Jain said. Saudi Arabia is willing to help for a limited period, but discussions remain in a preliminary phase and are light on details, a source with knowledge of the matter told Argus . Riyadh is waiting to hear more from the Syrians on their energy needs and requirements, the source added. The latest tenders come just two weeks after the US waived sanctions that had previously prohibited energy trade with Syria. The waiver, issued on 6 January, is valid until 7 July. By Rithika Krishna and Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India’s RCF gets offers for phosrock, NPS in tender


22/01/25
22/01/25

India’s RCF gets offers for phosrock, NPS in tender

London, 22 January (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer and producer RCF received offers from seven trading firms in its tender to buy phosphate rock and/or NPS 20-20-0+13S, which closed today. TLI Tradelink, Sun International, Agrifields, Aditya Birla, Indagro, Midgulf International and Hexagon Fertilizers Asia submitted offers in the tender. RCF will open the prices after evaluating the technical offers. The importer sought offers for two 35,000t cargoes of 29pc P2O5-minimum phosphate rock. The first cargo is to be shipped within 30 days from issuing the purchase order, with the second cargo in March, both to Hay Bunder, Mumbai on India's west coast. TLI Tradelink, Sun International and Midgulf International offered Egyptian rock for both cargoes. Agrifields and Aditya Birla offered Jordanian rock for both cargoes. Indagro offered Jordanian rock only for the second cargo. RCF also sought offers for two 35,000t cargoes of 20-20-0+13S in the tender. The first cargo is to be shipped on or before 20 March and the second is to be shipped on or before 20 April, both to any port on India's east coast. Midgulf International submitted offers for both NPS cargoes. Hexagon Fertilizers Asia offered only for the second NPS cargo. Fellow importer NFL bought 25,000-30,000t of 20-20-0+13S from Saudi Arabian producer Sabic at $396-397/t cfr earlier this week. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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