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DSM-Firmenich to permanently close Pinova plant

  • : Chemicals
  • 23/06/29

Switzerland-based nutrition and fragrances group DSM-Firmenich will permanently close a facility in southeast US after a fire at a terpene resins area, the company said today.

The fire on 15 April destroyed core production assets and infrastructure and caused all site operations at its Pinova facility in Brunswick, Georgia, to shut down, it said. DSM-Firmenich did not provide a timeline for the closure, which will affect 200 employees.

DSM-Firmenich is a venture between Dutch specialty chemicals producer DSM and Swiss flavour and fragrances maker Firmenich. Pinova is a subsidiary of French-based pine chemicals producer DRT, which Firmenich acquired in 2020.

"Reopening the site would require substantial demolition and reconstruction, costs and time," the company said. "After a careful review, it was decided to invest and add capacity in other production sites within the DSM-Firmenich network."

The Pinova plant produces terpene resins, wood rosin and gum rosin. DSM-Firmenich said it will try to secure supply of these ingredients by leveraging other production units.

"Pinova is committed to working with its valued clients to transition to new suppliers, as available," DSM-Firmenich said.

The Pinova fire was the second at a chemical plant in the area in less than a year. There were multiple explosions at flavour and fragrance producer Symrise's Colonel's Island facility, near Brunswick, on 7 November 2022, and the company halted operations. A month later, on 9 December 2022, Symrise said it resumed activities at facilities producing fragrance ingredient dihydromyrcenol, a monoterpenoid used in perfumery.

The terpene resins produced by Pinova are used in adhesives, construction specialties, flavours, fragrances, personal care and other household items.


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25/04/04

Tariffs and their impact larger than expected: Powell

Tariffs and their impact larger than expected: Powell

New York, 4 April (Argus) — Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said today tariff increases unveiled by US president Donald Trump will be "significantly larger" than expected, as will the expected economic fallout. "The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth," Powell said today at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing's annual conference in Arlington, Virginia. The central bank will continue to carefully monitor incoming data to assess the outlook and the balance of risks, he said. "We're well positioned to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments to our policy stance," Powell added. "It is too soon to say what will be the appropriate path for monetary policy." As of 1pm ET today, Fed funds futures markets are pricing in 29pc odds of a quarter point cut by the Federal Reserve at its next meeting in May and 99pc odds of at least a quarter point rate cut in June. Earlier in the day the June odds were at 100pc. The Fed chairman spoke after trillions of dollars in value were wiped off stock markets around the world and crude prices plummeted following Trump's rollout of across-the-board tariffs earlier in the week. Just before his appearance, Trump pressed Powell in a post on his social media platform to "STOP PLAYING POLITICS!" and cut interest rates without delay. A closely-watched government report showed the US added a greater-than-expected 228,000 jobs in March , showing hiring was picking up last month. By Stephen Cunningham Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

New tariffs could upend US tallow imports


25/04/03
25/04/03

New tariffs could upend US tallow imports

New York, 3 April (Argus) — New US tariffs on nearly all foreign products could deter further imports of beef tallow, a fast-rising biofuel feedstock and food ingredient that had until now largely evaded President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape global trade. Tallow was the most used feedstock for US biomass-based diesel production in January for the first month ever, with consumption by pound rising month to month despite sharp declines in actual biorefining and in use of competing feedstocks. The beef byproduct benefits from US policies, including a new federal tax credit known as "45Z", that offer greater subsidies to fuel derived from waste than fuel derived from first-generation crops. Much of that tallow is sourced domestically, but the US also imported more than 880,000t of tallow last year, up 29pc from just two years earlier. The majority of those imports last year came from Brazil, which until now has faced a small 0.43¢/kg (19.5¢/lb) tariff, and from Australia, which was exempt from any tallow-specific tariffs under a free trade agreement with US. But starting on 5 April, both countries will be subject to at least the new 10pc charge on foreign imports. There are some carveouts from tariffs for certain energy products, but animal fats are not included. Some other major suppliers — like Argentina, Uruguay, and New Zealand — will soon have new tariffs in place too, although tallow from Canada is for now unaffected because it is covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Brazil tallow shipments to the US totaled around 300,000t in 2024, marking an all-time high, but tallow shipments during the fourth quarter of 2024 fell under the 2023 levels as uncertainty about future tax policy slowed buying interest. Feedstock demand in general in the US has remained muted to start this year because of poor biofuel production margins, and that has extended to global tallow flows. Tallow suppliers in Brazil for instance were already experiencing decreased interest from US producers before tariffs. Brazil tallow prices for export last closed at $1,080/t on 28 March, rising about 4pc year-to-date amid support from the 45Z guidance and aid from Brazil's growing biodiesel industry, which is paying a hefty premium for tallow compared to exports. While the large majority of Brazilian tallow exports end up in the US, Australian suppliers have more flexibility and could send more volume to Singapore instead if tariffs deter US buyers. Export prices out of Australia peaked this year at $1,185/t on 4 March but have since trended lower to last close at $1,050/t on 1 April. In general, market participants say international tallow suppliers would have to drop offers to keep trade flows intact. Other policy shifts affect flows Even as US farm groups clamored for more muscular foreign feedstock limits over much of the last year, tallow had until now largely dodged any significant restrictions. Recent US guidance around 45Z treats all tallow, whether produced in the US or shipped long distances to reach the US, the same. Other foreign feedstocks were treated more harshly, with the same guidance providing no pathway at all for road fuels from foreign used cooking oil and also pinning the carbon intensity of canola oil — largely from Canada — as generally too high to claim any subsidy. But tariffs on major suppliers of tallow to the US, and the threat of additional charges if countries retaliate, could give refiners pause. Demand could rise for domestic animal fats or alternatively for domestic vegetable oils that can also be refined into fuel, especially if retaliatory tariffs cut off global markets for US farm products like soybean oil. There is also risk if Republicans in the Trump administration or Congress reshape rules around 45Z to penalize foreign feedstocks. At the same time, a minimum 10pc charge for tallow outside North America is a more manageable price to pay compared to other feedstocks — including a collection of charges amounting to a possible 69.5pc tax on Chinese used cooking oil. And if the US sets biofuel blend mandates as high as some oil and farm groups are pushing , strong demand could leave producers with little choice but to continue importing at least some feedstock from abroad to continue making fuel. Not all US renewable diesel producers will be equally impacted by tariffs either. Diamond Green Diesel operates Gulf Coast biorefineries in foreign-trade zones, which allow companies to avoid tariffs on foreign inputs for products that are ultimately exported. Biofuel producers in these zones could theoretically refine foreign tallow, claim a 45Z subsidy, and avoid feedstock tariffs as long as they ship the fuel abroad. Jurisdictions like the EU and UK, where sustainable aviation fuel mandates took effect this year, are attractive destinations. And there is still strong demand from the US food sector, with edible tallow prices in Chicago up 18pc so far this year. Trump allies, including his top health official, have pushed tallow as an alternative to seed oils. By Cole Martin and Jamuna Gautam Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Funding cuts could delay US river lock renovations


25/04/03
25/04/03

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


25/04/03
25/04/03

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


25/03/26
25/03/26

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.

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