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Truck drivers strike at west coast ports

  • : Coal, Crude oil, Fertilizers, Metals, Petrochemicals, Petroleum coke
  • 15/04/27

Unionized truck drivers serving California ports went on strike today, potentially throwing the ports into another lengthy slow-down similar to one that crippled railroads and shipping earlier this year.

About 500 drivers serving the four major drayage firms at the twin ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach and San Diego picketed company yards. A primary complaint is their classification as independent contractors rather than employees.

The strike comes as rail carriers have begun to report recovery of volumes that flow from the ports.

"Primary picket lines are now up at company yards in the greater Los Angeles area and in San Diego, and truckers and their supporters are picketing company trucks at marine terminals, rail yards and customer warehouses as far away as the US-Mexico border," the Teamsters union said.

Striking drivers are targeting Intermodal Bridge Transport, Pacific 9 Transportation, Pacer Cartage and Harbor Rail Transport. They are demonstrating at rail yards, marine terminals at the port of Los Angeles-Long Beach, and customer warehouses as far south as the US-Mexico border.

The port of Los Angeles-Long Beach is the largest port complex in the US, handling more than 15mn containers/year.

A previous dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the port terminal operators resulted in a 3 April tentative labor agreement. Union members will vote on the agreement on 22 May.

Congestion across ports in California, Washington and Oregon occurred throughout last year and became acute in early 2015 as the labor dispute reached a head. Los Angeles and Long Beach were the most affected.

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25/05/15

EU stainless prices to continue to fall: Assofermet

EU stainless prices to continue to fall: Assofermet

London, 15 May (Argus) — An fall in European producers' cold-rolled stainless steel prices and input costs in the third quarter will make output more competitive against imports from Asia, including China and Indonesia, according to Alessandro Bettuzzi, sales director at Italian distributor Oiki Acciai Spa and co-ordinator of Italian steel and scrap association Assofermet's stainless steel division. On the sidelines of last week's Made in Steel event in Milan, Bettuzzi said high service centre stocks and weak demand in key sectors like automotive and household appliances are likely to mean a weak third quarter in Europe, particularly in Italy, with its many distribution centres. "I'm not positive for the next month," Bettuzzi told Argus . "This is because fundamentals are so weak, and prices of scrap nickel are falling, which will produce lower prices than today's level." A further fall in energy costs will also bring down prices, keeping imports at bay, he added. Following January-February's mostly stable prices in Europe, Bettuzzi said the cold-rolled flat product market fell by €100/t from mid-March. The downtrend will probably continue until July, he said, given the pattern of weakening demand over the past eight months. The Argus assessment for stainless steel 304 cold-rolled 2mm sheet delivered northwest Europe had risen to €2,655/t at the end of February from €2,500/t at the end of December, but had fallen to €2,525/t by the beginning of May. Traders surveyed by Argus see further declines, as mills focus on capacity utilisation and filling order books. "The auto and appliances industries at this moment are going through a major lull," Bettuzzi said. "These sectors are very important to absorb stainless steel." Bettuzzi reiterated Asoffermet's view that a recovery can only happen if the EU starts thinking about safeguarding downstream end-products, instead of focusing on protecting upstream steelmakers. "If final consumption disappears, everything upstream will disappear," he said. "Asoffermet is really pushing for this. The EU is focusing too much on the producer." Energy prices remain a problem for European producers, and Bettuzzi said investment in renewables is the long-term solution. "For Italy, it is all out how we negotiate as we are obliged to buy energy from other countries, which can cause fluctuations." Bettuzzi cautioned against allowing Asian semi-finished products, such as slab, to enter Europe exempt from duty, and suggested applying the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) or a similar duty. "If we apply duties only on coils and sheets, but do not impose duties on semi-finished products, they will come in at 25pc less from Asia compared to Europe," he said. Bettuzzi highlighted flanges, heavily imported by Italy, which have been arriving duty-free. By Raghav Jain Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Global battery demand rises close to 1TWh in 2024: IEA


25/05/15
25/05/15

Global battery demand rises close to 1TWh in 2024: IEA

Singapore, 15 May (Argus) — Global battery demand across electric vehicle (EV) and storage applications rose to almost 1TWh in 2024, according to energy watchdog the IEA, in its latest report. Demand was largely driven by EV sales growth, with EV battery demand growing by more than 25pc on the year to over 950GWh, mainly propelled by electric cars which accounted for over 85pc of EV battery demand, said the IEA in its EV Outlook 2025 . The almost 1TWh of demand is expected to more than triple to over 3TWh in 2030 under the IEA's stated policies scenario (Steps), which is based on countries' prevailing policies , with more demand from electric trucks despite electric cars still making up the majority of demand. EV battery demand rose by more than 30pc on the year in China, and currently takes up 59pc of total global EV battery demand. US demand has also grown, with the country taking up 13pc of the total share, on par with the EU. The IEA expects critical minerals supply surplus to persist over the next few years but cautioned that depressed prices could dissuade future investments and lead to supply shortages for lithium and nickel by 2030. "It will take about a decade before recycling has a significant impact on reducing primary mineral demand," said the IEA, citing feedstock limitations. Recent raw material prices for battery recyclers in China, the largest battery recycling market, remain higher than their battery recycling yields such as recycled lithium, nickel and cobalt, a Chinese battery recycler told Argus . Domestic battery recycling plants operating rates are "not high," the battery recycler said, with very thin activity in the domestic black mass market. Excessive battery capacity Global battery cell manufacturing capacity grew by almost 30pc in 2024 to 3.3TWh, more than triple the battery demand, according to the report. South Korean battery manufacturers accounted for over 400GWh of overseas battery manufacturing capacity in 2024, much higher than the 60GWh from Japanese manufacturers and 30GWh from Chinese manufacturers. South Korea's battery manufacturing is poised to further expand to more than 1TWh in 2030, almost double that of Chinese manufacturers, if all announced projects materialise. Global manufacturing capacity could grow to about 6.5TWh in 2030, about double the demand projected under IEA's Steps scenario, if all committed projects are realised. This would also entail China's share of global manufacturing capacity weakening from 85pc in 2024 to two-thirds by 2030. LFP battery share rises Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries made up nearly half of the global EV battery market in 2024, said the IEA. Nearly all electric car LFP batteries sold in Europe or US were produced in China, which has a "de facto monopoly", said the IEA, with LFP becoming more attractive to European original equipment manufacturers looking to cut production costs. South Korean battery makers' market share in the EU fell to 60pc last year, down from 80pc in 2022, displaced by Chinese battery producers because the chemistry of LFP makes it more competitive, according to IEA. But top South Korean battery makers — LG Energy Solution , Samsung SDI , SK On — have all unveiled plans to mass produce EV LFP batteries over the coming years, looking to compete in the space. Japanese battery makers meanwhile saw their US market share fall to around 48pc, eroded by South Korea. South Korea took up 35pc of US market share last year, up from 20pc in 2022. Japanese domestic LFP development is also facing challenges, with Japanese carmaker Nissan recently cancelling a LFP plant in Kyushu as it goes through a restructure. LFP's penetration in the southeast Asia, Brazil and India markets is rising even quicker, with LFP battery electric car shares surpassing 50pc in each of the countries in 2024, according to the report. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Казахстан перераспределил тариф на транзит нефти в Китай


25/05/15
25/05/15

Казахстан перераспределил тариф на транзит нефти в Китай

Riga, 15 May (Argus) — Казахстан с 1 мая перераспределил ставки тарифа на транзит российской нефти в Китай. Суммарная стоимость транспортировки сохранилась в размере $15/т без учета НДС, при этом прокачка сырья по участку Прииртышск (граница России и Казахстана) — Атасу подорожала, а поставка по маршруту Атасу — Алашанькоу подешевела, сообщил 10 апреля казахстанский трубопроводный оператор Казтрансойл (КТО). С 1 мая транспортировка российской нефти по участку Прииртышск — Атасу подорожает до $7,24/т с $4,23/т, а прокачка по маршруту Атасу — Алашанькоу подешевеет до $7,76/т с $10,77/т без учета НДС. Данное направление используется для транзита 10 млн т/год российской нефти в Китай через Казахстан. ________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических обзоров рынка транспортировки грузов в странах Каспийского региона и Центральной Азии — в отчете Argus Транспорт Каспия . Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

IEA sees slightly better oil demand outlook


25/05/15
25/05/15

IEA sees slightly better oil demand outlook

London, 15 May (Argus) — The IEA has nudged up its global oil demand growth forecasts for this year and 2026, citing better macroeconomic forecasts and the effects of lower oil prices. In its latest Oil Market Report (OMR), published today, the Paris-based watchdog raised its projected increase in oil consumption by 20,000 b/d to 740,000 b/d in 2025, bringing overall demand to 103.9mn b/d. It increased its oil demand growth forecast for 2026 by 70,000 b/d to 760,000 b/d. In its previous OMR the IEA cut its oil demand forecasts for 2025 by 310,000 b/d after the US' announcement of an array of import levies in April. But the IEA said today the tariff supply shock appeared less severe than initially implied, pointing to subsequent US trade arrangements with the UK and China. US talks with other countries continue. "Subsequent pauses, concessions, exemptions and negotiations are likely to attenuate the levies' permanence and economic impact," the IEA said. But it said policy uncertainty continued to weigh on consumer and business sentiment, and it sees oil consumption growth slowing to 650,000 b/d between now until the end of 2025, from 990,000 b/d in the first quarter of the year. Its demand growth forecast for 2025 is 320,000 b/d lower than at the start of the year. The IEA increased its global oil supply growth forecast by 380,000 b/d to 1.61mn b/d in 2025, with almost all the rise accounted for by the Saudi-led unwinding of Opec+ cuts. It nudged its oil supply growth forecast for 2026 up by 10,000 b/d to 960,000 b/d. Eight Opec+ members earlier this month agreed to continue accelerating the pace of their planned unwinding of 2.2mn b/d of crude production cuts for June. The IEA again revised down its supply growth forecasts for the US, mainly because of the effects of lower oil prices on US shale producers. It downgraded US growth by 50,000 b/d to 440,000 b/d for 2025 and by 100,000 b/d to 180,000 b/d for 2026, and said US tight oil production in 2026 would contract on an annual basis for the first time since 2020. The IEA said sanctions on Russia, Iran and Venezuela are a key uncertainty in its forecasts. It noted that Russian crude supply grew by 170,000 b/d in April as crude prices fell below the G7 $60/bl price cap. The IEA's balances show supply exceeding demand by 730,000 b/d in 2025 and by 930,000 b/d in 2026. It said global observed stocks rose by 25.1mn bl in March, with preliminary data showing a further rise in April. By Aydin Calik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Syrah to restart Mozambique graphite mine in June


25/05/15
25/05/15

Syrah to restart Mozambique graphite mine in June

Sydney, 15 May (Argus) — Australian mineral producer Syrah Resources will resume operations at its 350,000 t/yr Balama graphite mine complex in Mozambique by the end of June, following a nine-month shutdown over farming and election protests, the firm announced today. The company mines and processes graphite at Balama. It will only start mining graphite at the site in the July-September quarter, the firm said. Syrah's existing graphite stockpile at Balama can support graphite processing for at least three months as mining resumes, it added. Syrah regained access to Balama in early May , for the first time since September 2024 when farmers blocked access to the mine in a non-violent protest. The company's teams have not spotted any site damage. The protest was originally linked to farmers with "historical farmland resettlement grievances", according to Syrah. But the unrest persisted and worsened after Mozambique's general election in October, which triggered violent protests across the country's major cities given claims of electoral fraud. Syrah declared force majeure on some graphite shipments in December, and triggered events of default on a US government loan over the protests. But it did not default on any payment obligations Most protestors left the mine after Syrah signed a deal with farmers and the Mozambique government in April. Mozambique authorities removed remaining demonstrators over 3-4 May and secured the site. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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