Some EU countries put hold on AstraZeneca vaccine

: Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Coking coal, Condensate, Crude oil, Electricity, Emissions, Feedgrade minerals, Fertilizers, Hydrogen, LPG, Metals, Natural gas, Oil products, Petrochemicals, Petroleum coke
21/03/15

Some EU member states have temporarily halted distribution of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University (AZ/OU) Covid-19 vaccine, citing thrombotic side-effects.

The halt, even if it is temporary, could threaten any revival in demand for energy products that would come from eased restrictions on mobility and commerce. That in turn could have a knock-on effect for prices, which have risen sharply since the roll-out of vaccines began. The EU is already lagging some other developed regions in its administration of vaccines, including the UK and the US.

The Dutch government paused distribution of the AZ/OU yesterday, expressing concerns about reported cases of post-vaccine thrombosis. It will not administer the vaccine until 28 March. Germany and Italy followed suit today.

AstraZeneca said that as of 8 March there have been 15 events of deep-vein thrombosis and 22 events of pulmonary embolism reported among the 17mn people given its vaccine in the EU and UK, which it said "is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size".

By Ben Winkley

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25/04/14

Треть заявок направлением на запад не обеспечены грузом

Moscow, 14 April (Argus) — Около 30% согласованных заявок на экспортные перевозки угля через южные и северо-западные порты в I квартале были инфлированными — не были обеспечены грузовой базой, сообщил заместитель генерального директора — начальник центральной дирекции управления движением РЖД Михаил Глазков на брифинге начале апреля. В прошлом году доля таких заявок не превышала 2%. Ослабление интереса к западным маршрутам со стороны угольщиков объясняется снижением мировых цен на твердое топливо и укреплением курса рубля к доллару США. Между тем РЖД зарезервировала локомотивы и локомотивные бригады под заявленные объемы угля, был заадресован также порожний подвижной состав, который отправился из портов, но не доехал до станции погрузки из-за отсутствия груза. Из-за инфлированных заявок на западном направлении в марте мы теряли более 150 тыс. т угля ежесуточно, или 4,5 млн т в абсолютном исчислении. В апреле эта проблема сохраняется. Каждый день на Северо-Кавказскую, Октябрьскую и Западно-Сибирскую железную дорогу [Запсиб] не предъявляется к погрузке порядка 1,6 тыс. вагонов, что проводит к потерям 100 тыс. т груза ежедневно, — заявил Глазков. Кроме того, 72 тыс. порожних полувагонов, заадресованных на Запсиб, не были востребованы для перевозки. Этот подвижной состав остается на путях общего пользования и ухудшает эксплуатационную обстановку на сети. За простой парка платит отправитель, который заявил к перевозке груз, но не предъявил его впоследствии. В то же время РЖД удалось компенсировать выпадающую погрузку на северо-западном направлении привлечением дополнительного объема черных металлов и минеральных удобрений, сообщил Глазков. Госкомпания предлагает повысить штраф за инфлированную заявку в 24 раза, до 240 руб./т не погруженного груза. Штрафы предлагается сделать поступательными в зависимости от времени отказа перевозки до запрошенной даты. Ранее эта инициатива уже предлагалась, но не была поддержана в Совете Федерации. Мы со своей стороны готовы нести взаимную ответственность за невывоз согласованных к перевозке грузов, — заверил Глазков. Сергей Маруев ___________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических материалов о рынке транспортировки навалочных, генеральных грузов и контейнеров — в ежемесячном отчете Argus Логистика сухих грузов . Подписаться на аналитический дайджест Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

Ecuador's Noboa wins reelection with ample margin

25/04/14

Ecuador's Noboa wins reelection with ample margin

Quito, 14 April (Argus) — Ecuador's president Daniel Noboa won reelection in a run-off on Sunday with 56pc of the vote, a wider margin than projected after a tight first-round race in February . Electoral authority (CNE) head Diana Atamaint confirmed the results with 93pc of votes counted. Noboa will hold office through May 2029. Security has topped voters' concerns as gang violence has increased in recent years, and Noboa has vowed a tough approach on crime. He also wants to attract more private-sector investment to Ecuador's energy sector, with hopes of boosting crude production of about 467,000 b/d. His challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, obtained only 44pc, but she did not recognize Noboa's win and has called for a recount. She belongs to the left-wing Revolucion Ciudadana party, sponsored by former president Rafael Correa, a close friend of presidents Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua. She promised more state-led energy-sector investment. Noboa won with a difference of about 1.1mn votes out of the 10.5mn Ecuadorians that voted, the CNE said. He called the results overwhelmingly in his favor, speaking from his residency in Santa Elena province. He will hold office through May 2029. The Organization of American States (OAS) declared the voting process normal based on the participation of 84 of its observers. None of the 40,000 observers from Gonzalez's Revolucion Ciudadana party or Noboa's ADN party denounced irregularities. Noboa will continue in power with no single party holding a majority in the national assembly, Ecuador's 151-member unicameral congress, based on results from the 9 February congressional and first-round presidential election. Revolucion Ciudadana will have the first minority with 67 members, followed by ADN with 66 members and 18 members from another five parties. Noboa will be sworn in on 24 May. He took office in November 2023 to fulfill the mandate of former president Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved the national assembly in May 2023 and called for anticipated elections. By Alberto Araujo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Keystone oil pipeline to restart by 15 April

25/04/13

Keystone oil pipeline to restart by 15 April

Houston, 13 April (Argus) — The 622,000 b/d Keystone crude pipeline is expected to resume service by 15 April, following a leak in North Dakota that shut deliveries last week. Calgary-based pipeline operator South Bow said the repair and replacement of the leaking section of pipe was taking place over the weekend. Once the company meets the terms of a corrective action order (CAO) issued by the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), it will be able to resume service. The pipeline has been off line since early on 8 April, when a leak was discovered in a rural field near Kathryn, North Dakota. An estimated 3,500 bl of crude was released but did not appear to have reached any waterways. "Keystone is targeting restoration of service and energy deliveries by Tuesday April 15, 2025, under the requirements of the CAO," South Bow said. "South Bow will require approval from PHMSA prior to restarting the pipeline." Under the CAO, South Bow must run metallurgical testing of the failed section of pipe, conduct a root cause analysis and meet other requirements. The pipeline system will also have to comply with certain pressure restrictions on Canadian sections of the line. The Keystone system is a major route for Canadian heavy crude destined for both the US midcontinent and the US Gulf coast, delivering about 15pc of the roughly 4mn b/d that the US imports from its northern neighbor. The line runs from the Canadian production and storage hub at Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska, before splitting in two to head toward Illinois and the Gulf coast. Discounts for Western Canadian Select (WCS) at Hardisty to the CMA Nymex narrowed at the end of last week despite the shutdown, because of low inventories in Hardisty and open pipeline space on Canadian crude pipelines, including Enbridge's 3mn b/d Mainline system to the US midcontinent and the 890,000 b/d Trans Mountain pipeline to the Canadian Pacific coast. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Recycled resin importers caught in tariff uncertainty

25/04/11

Recycled resin importers caught in tariff uncertainty

Houston, 11 April (Argus) — US President Donald Trump's evolving tariff policies have created tremendous uncertainty for US importers of recycled polymers, and constant halts and flip-flopping from the administration have led some to pause their US operations. Multiple importers told Argus that the constantly changing US tariffs on goods have upended business plans, and forced them to pause their US operations for the time being due to uncertainty about the taxes their material will face when it reaches US shores. "You have to have some confidence that conditions will hold in order to import," one trader told Argus . Trump's tariff rollout began on 1 February, when he announced that China would face a 10pc universal tariff, and the US's two largest trading partners, Mexico and Canada, would face 25pc universal tariffs. At the time, market participants speculated that the 25pc tariffs on Canada and Mexico would make operations and sales more expensive for Mexican and Canadian recyclers, particularly those that trade bales or finished resin across the US border. After some negotiations between world leaders, the tariffs on Canada and Mexico were delayed for 30 days, though the 10pc tariff on China went into effect as planned. The 25pc universal tariffs on Canada and Mexico were pushed back again on 6 March, but tariffs on aluminum — a significant competitor to rPET packaging — went into place on 12 March. The tariffs on aluminum have not been rescinded or paused, and the extra cost for imported aluminum as a result of the tariff could incentivize US consumer goods companies to use more PET in their packaging. On 9 April, the US put into place varying reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries that export recycled resin to the US, including India, Malaysia and Vietnam. While rPET and vPET pellets were excluded from the reciprocal tariffs, importers of rPE, rPP and PET waste were not excluded from the tariff. The same day, the reciprocal tariffs were pushed back 90 days in favor of a 10pc universal tariff that excludes Canada and Mexico. China and the US's reciprocal tariffs have escalated into a trade war, and currently material from China faces a 145pc tariff. Since the price is too high for most importers to be willing to pay, in essence all recycled resin imports from China are halted. China is one of the largest buyers of US virgin polyethylene https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2675420), and the current trade war with China has the potential to increase domestic supply as exporters are forced to find new buyers for resin. Increased competition from oversupplied virgin resin could pull down recycled resin pricing. Until some stability in tariff policy returns to the US, traders and importers will continue to turn to other destinations outside the US to sell their recycled resin. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US MAP-DAP premium primed to return on tariffs

25/04/11

US MAP-DAP premium primed to return on tariffs

Houston, 11 April (Argus) — The period of MAP and DAP prices trading near parity will be short-lived because newly-imposed US import tariffs could amplify MAP supply woes, market participants told Argus . MAP and DAP prices have traded in close proximity since early January, diverting from the significant MAP premium seen last spring and summer when a surplus of DAP was imported into the US. After limited MAP barge trading in March, activity accelerated at Nola this week as it became clearer that all non-North American phosphate imports would face at least 10pc import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump starting last week. The Nola MAP price was assessed at a midpoint of $636.50/st fob this week, up by $9/st from last week, while DAP was assessed $12.50/st higher at $632.50/st fob Nola. Despite the "reciprocal" tariffs on certain phosphate producing countries being lowered to a universal 10pc this week by Trump for 90 days — in line with the original tariff imposed on other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Australia last week — the remaining levy is still enough to deter vessels from coming to Nola, sources said. In response, the Nola MAP price has averaged a $5.75/st premium to the Nola DAP price for April so far, flipping from a $3.88/st average discount in March. That is still a far cry from October 2024, when the Nola MAP price averaged a $61.45/st premium over the Nola DAP. From August through November, the Nola MAP price was 13pc higher on average than DAP. US market participants expect the premium to expand in the coming months as MAP is the preferred product of most farmers during the fall application season, potentially impacting buying decisions for that period. The US from July through February has imported 759,000 metric tonnes (t) of DAP, down by 26pc from the same period last year, according to US Census Bureau data. This lapse in imports for the start of 2025 was an initial driver in DAP's rising premium over MAP. In comparison, MAP imports for the same period have totaled roughly 853,000t, up by just 5pc from the year before. But at least 290,000 t of MAP will need to be brought into the US between now and the start of the summer to equal out with the tonnage imported for the full 2023-24 fertilizer year ahead of fall applications. That is a task that may not be easily achieved given the new tariff on most phosphate imports. One buyer this week said they could consider switching usual MAP demand toward an alternative NPS product heading into October and November given the difficult supply outlook for the US. "We are very much in wait and see mode, trying to see how tariffs evolve and how it works its way into the market in terms of price," another buyer said. The significant premium MAP held last fall also limited overall phosphate applications conducted by farmers, therefore raising the bar for the amount of phosphate fertilizer farmers will need to put into the ground later this year to replenish soil nutrients. By Taylor Zavala US DAP/MAP barge prices Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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