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Brazil turpentine prices rise 41pc on year

  • Spanish Market: Chemicals
  • 18/02/25

Brazilian Pinus elliottii gum turpentine prices have increased by 41pc compared with a year earlier, with availability tightening as a result of firm demand at key end markets.

Argus assessed Brazil gum turpentine prices at $2,400-$2,600/t fob on 17 February, Brazil port, up from $1,700-$1,800/t fob a year earlier.

Gum turpentine supply is thin because of lower gum rosin processing rates caused by softer downstream markets. Gum turpentine and gum rosin are coproducts of pine oleoresin feedstock distillation, with gum turpentine representing a smaller fraction of the finished product.

Several factories in Brazil reported being sold out for the elliottii gum turpentine product until February and March. Some buyers prices will likely continue to rise throughout the second quarter of this year.

With a bearish demand outlook for rosin, processing rates will likely remain low, further limiting gum turpentine production amid firmer demand in key markets like aroma chemicals and house cleaning products.


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03/04/25

Funding cuts could delay US river lock renovations

Funding cuts could delay US river lock renovations

Houston, 3 April (Argus) — The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will have to choose between various lock reconstruction and waterway projects for its annual construction plan after its funding was cut earlier this year. Last year Congress allowed the Corps to use $800mn from unspent infrastructure funds for other waterways projects. But when Congress passed a continuing resolutions for this year's budget they effectively removed that $800mn from what was a $2.6bn annual budget for lock reconstruction and waterways projects. This means a construction plan that must be sent to Congress by 14 May can only include $1.8bn in spending. No specific projects were allocated funding by Congress, allowing the Corps the final say on what projects it pursues under the new budget. River industry trade group Waterways Council said its top priority is for the Corps to provide a combined $205mn for work at the Montgomery lock in Pennsylvania on the Ohio River and Chickamauga lock in Tennesee on the Tennessee River since they are the nearest to completion and could become more expensive if further delayed. There are seven active navigation construction projects expected to take precedent, including the following: the Chickamauga and Kentucky Locks on the Tennessee River; Locks 2-4 on the Monongahela River; the Three Rivers project on the Arkansas River; the LaGrange Lock and Lock 25 on the Illinois River; and the Montgomery Lock on the Ohio River. There are three other locks in Texas, Pennsylvania and Illinois that are in the active design phase (see map) . By Meghan Yoyotte Corps active construction projects 2025 Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US tariff exemptions spare some commodity trade


03/04/25
03/04/25

US tariff exemptions spare some commodity trade

Singapore, 3 April (Argus) — US president Donald Trump has exempted many energy and mineral products from his new import tariffs, potentially reducing the immediate impact on commodity trade. But the threat of global economic disruption nevertheless sent commodity futures sharply lower today. The tariffs, announced by Trump on 2 April, include carve-outs for "copper… semiconductors… certain critical minerals, and energy and energy products," the White House said. The full list of exempted products includes many non-ferrous metals, oil products, base oils, coal and some fertilizer and chemical products. The 2 April tariffs will not apply to steel and aluminum, cars, trucks and auto parts, which already are subject to separate tariffs. A 25pc tariff on all imported cars and trucks came into force on 3 April, while a 25pc tax on auto parts will take effect on 3 May. Oil futures fell by over 3pc early in Asian trading hours, despite the exemptions, on concerns about the impact of the new tariffs on the global economy. The June Brent contract on the Ice exchange fell by as much as 3.2pc to a low of $72.52/bl in Asian trading, while May Nymex WTI dropped by 3.4pc to $69.27/bl. Both contracts remained close to their daily lows at 3:15pm Singapore time (07:15 GMT). Exchange-traded metals prices also fell. The declines came despite a drop in the value of the dollar, which would typically support prices of commodities by making them cheaper for buyers using other currencies. By Kevin Foster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Irani exits pine chemicals, offers factory


26/03/25
26/03/25

Irani exits pine chemicals, offers factory

London, 26 March (Argus) — Brazilian paper and packaging company Irani is to exit the pine chemicals market, it said today. The Rio Grande do Sul-based company will stop distilling pine oleoresin feedstock at its Balneario Pinhal facility. Pine oleoresin is a raw material for gum rosin and gum turpentine production. Irani will offer the pine chemicals site as partial payment for the acquisition of around 1,856 hectares of land, of which 1,236 hectares are planted with Pinus elliottii in Sao Jose do Norte, from Flopal Florestadora Palmares, Irani said in a document filed with the Brazilian stock exchange. Irani will pay 37mn reals ($6.46mn) for the land. The company will offer its plant, including the site and its assets, for R20mn and pay an additional R17mn in cash when the deal closes. Irani subsidiary Habitasul Florestal will lease other existing forests and the acquired forest area in Rio Grande do Sul to Ambar Florestal for 10 years, the document said. Ambar, owned by Flopal, is a major pine oleoresin supplier in Rio Grande do Sul. Irani expects the acquired area to produce 1,600 t/yr of pine oleoresin in 2025 and 2026, and estimates that combined pine oleoresin output from 2025 to 2038 will reach 29,000t. When leasing pine areas, forest owners in Brazil typically receive a portion of the revenues from oleoresin extraction, which Irani estimated in the agreement at 20-30pc. Rio Grande do Sul is Brazil's second-largest pine oleoresin-producing region after Sao Paulo state. By Leonardo Siqueira Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Phillips 66 weighs Louisiana refinery expansion


20/03/25
20/03/25

Phillips 66 weighs Louisiana refinery expansion

Houston, 20 March (Argus) — US independent refiner Phillips 66 is seeking state tax incentives for a possible expansion of its 264,000 b/d refinery in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The expansion would increase production capacity and improve operational efficiency through upgrades and new specialized equipment, according to a summary of the project posted by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. The agency, which administers state incentives, said that the Phillips 66 project is in review. Phillips 66 said today that it does not typically comment on refinery operations, regulatory filings or commercial activities. According to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development posting, the $99mn upgrade would include adding a 5MW steam turbine power generator, a boiler feedwater chemical system, LCR kerosene product rundown system upgrades, a reactor, a naptha fractionator, and other pieces of equipment. The budget includes $40mn for machinery and $59mn for labor and engineering. The project is estimated to be completed at the end of 2027. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Upper Mississippi River reopens for transit


20/03/25
20/03/25

Upper Mississippi River reopens for transit

Houston, 20 March (Argus) — The first towboat arrived at St Paul, Minnesota, today, marking the start of the 2025 navigation season on the upper Mississippi River, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The Neil N. Diehl passed through Lock 2 at Hastings, Minnesota, with nine barges, crossing into St Paul on 19 March. Tows reaching St Paul signify the unofficial start of the navigation season, as St Paul is the last port to open on the Mississippi River after winter ice thaws each year. This is considered an average start time for the navigation season, which typically opens the third week of March. The first tow to reach St Paul in 2024 arrived on 17 March. The Corps released the final Lake Pepin ice measurements of 17in on 12 March and was unable to take new measurements this week since the ice had melted significantly. Lake Pepin measurements help determine when the ice will be thin enough for barges to transit up river. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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