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Potassium Sulphate (SOP)10-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Australian BCI Minerals
announced the government has granted
environmental approval for the Mardie salt and
potash project in Western Australia.
With this approval secured, BCI Minerals said
it will commence operations by filling three
evaporation ponds starting 10 September.
Once filled, BCI Minerals will update its
groundwater monitoring and management plan
using data from extensive monitoring bores and
additional studies.
It will then resubmit the plan to the local and
federal environmental regulators for approval
prior to filling the remaining evaporation
ponds.
The company said construction at Mardie of the
salt-first component is progressing at 48%
completed, with further section work set to
commence on 10 September.
BCI added it remains on track to achieve first
salt on ship in Q2 2027.
Located 80km south of Karratha, in the Pilbara
region, Mardie is anticipated to produce 5.35
million tonnes/year of high-quality industrial
salt for export and 140,000 tonnes/year of
sulphate of potash (SOP).
It has an operating life expected to exceed 60
years with the export jetty finished and the
crystallizer construction now at more than 19%
completed.
“This is an important and pivotal moment for
BCI Minerals as we move into the next phase of
becoming Australia’s newest, high-quality
industrial salt producer. Australia hasn’t
developed a salt project of this significance
in 25 years, and the Mardie project will be
Australia’s largest solar salt project and the
third largest globally,” said David Boshoff,
BCI Minerals managing director.
“With the projected growth in demand for high
grade industrial salt in our target Asian
markets, BCI Minerals is strongly positioned to
supply global markets with Mardie salt for
generations.”
Ethylene10-Sep-2024
SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Storm Francine continues
strengthening into a hurricane as it approaches
the southern costs of the US, but its path
could veer slightly west and potentially hit
key petrochemicals sites in Louisiana which
border with Texas.
According to a Tuesday morning update from the
US’ National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm
is to become a hurricane when it makes landfall
later in the day, although it should weaken
soon after that as it heads north.
On Monday, the NHC already said the storm
would
develop into a hurricane, but its
forecasted trajectory then was to hit central
parts of Louisiana – including New Orleans –
but not the industrious western part of the
state.
Louisiana has declared a state of emergency;
the state has just commemorated the 19th
anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which brought
havoc to New Orleans’ outer and poorer suburbs
from which many are still recovering.
If the current, Tuesday morning forecast holds,
key petrochemicals-heavy municipalities in
Louisiana such Plaquemine, Geismar, Baton
Rouge, and Taft, among others, could be hit by
Francine’s gusts.
Companies such as Methanex or CF Industries,
with production facilities in the areas, had
not responded to a request for comment about
their hurricane preparations at the time of
writing.
“Francine is moving toward the north-northeast
near 8 mph (13 km/h). A turn to the
northeast with an increase in forward speed is
expected later today or tonight. On the
forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be
just offshore of the coasts of northeastern
Mexico and southern Texas through this
[Tuesday] afternoon, and then move across the
northwestern Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in
Louisiana on Wednesday,” said the NHC.
“After landfall, the center is expected to move
into Mississippi on Wednesday night or
Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 65
mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening
is expected through Wednesday morning, and
Francine will likely become a hurricane later
today or tonight [Tuesday]. Francine is
expected to weaken quickly after landfall.”
CHEMICALS, OIL,
GASLouisiana is home to many
large petrochemical hubs that produce
polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), caustic
soda, ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol
(EG), isocyanates, polyols, and ammonia among
many others. The state has numerous refineries.
Several offshore oil wells are off of the coast
of Louisiana. Companies will often evacuate
them and shut-in oil wells – majors such as
Shell or ExxonMobil have announced so.
The Gulf of Mexico accounts for about 14% of
total US crude production and 5% of dry gas
production, according to the country’s Energy
Information Administration (EIA).
The state is home to the Louisiana Offshore Oil
Port (LOOP), the only deepwater oil port in the
US.
If the port shuts down, then the US would lose
an important outlet for oil exports. That could
offset some of the shut-in wells.
Louisiana is also home to two large terminals
that export liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the
western part of the state. Sabine Pass LNG is
in Sabine, Louisiana, and Cameron LNG is in
Hackberry, Louisiana.
Any shutdowns could affect domestic natural gas
markets if the terminals spend too much time
offline.
Domestic gas supplies could build up, causing
local prices to fall. Prices for ethane, the
predominant feedstock for ethylene production,
typically follow those for natural gas.
Ethane prices could fall further if Francine
disrupts operations at any of the crackers in
Louisiana.
LOUISIANA VS TEXAS
IMPACTResidents of the Gulf
Coast, from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to the
US’ state of Alabama, are well accustomed to
living with extreme weather events.
In times of storms and hurricanes, many turn to
specialized sites such as Space City Weather,
which on Tuesday did not seem too worried for
the fate of Texas – more so about Louisiana’s.
Space City Weather’s main analyst,
Houston-based Eric Berger, reiterated on
Tuesday the hurricane will be “no joke” in
Louisiana, even if for many Texans it will have
looked like more like “a regular late” summer
day.
“The tropical system will remain well offshore
from Texas, and effects for most of our area
will be minimal. In fact, I would go so far as
to say that by tomorrow [Wednesday] people in
Houston will be going, ‘Hurricane? What
hurricane. This was a joke.’ Well, people who
didn’t know better will be thinking that at
least — but not readers of this site,” said
Berger.
“Francine will not be a joke for southern
Louisiana. The tropical storm has sustained
winds of 65 mph and is likely to move inland
Wednesday afternoon or evening as a Category 2
hurricane. The state’s most populated area,
from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, will be
directly impacted with winds, rains and storm
surge.”
The analyst concluded saying that for the most
part Houstonians will not be able to tell a
hurricane is passing offshore on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
“Skies will be mostly cloudy, with highs in the
mid-80s [degrees Fahrenheit, around 29°C],
which is cooler than normal for this time of
year,” said Berger.
“Perhaps that’s our greatest takeaway from this
storm, some slightly cooler days. I’m not
complaining.”
Source: US National
Hurricane Center
Speciality Chemicals10-Sep-2024
BARCELONA (ICIS)–Europe’s beleaguered
petrochemical industry could see its fortunes
improve dramatically if Mario Draghi’s
industrial policy proposals are adopted, along
with a fair regulatory framework.
New
industrial strategy can rescue region
from structurally higher costs, low levels of
investment
Historic moment with momentum building for
new approach to Europe industry transformation
Green Deal objectives need to work
alongside measures to improve competitiveness
New requirements for environmental, social
and governance (ESG) reporting and extended
producer responsibility (EPR) will have big
impact on chemicals
Compliance teams face a “nasty cocktail”
because of lack of regulatory clarity
Shift from risk to hazard-based approach
Regulations create opportunities for
innovative chemical companies
In this Think Tank podcast, Will
Beacham interviews Georgie
Messent and Thomas
Delille from law firm Squire Patton
Boggs, Nigel Davis from the
ICIS market development team and Paul
Hodges, chairman of New Normal
Consulting.
Editor’s note: This podcast is an opinion
piece. The views expressed are those of the
presenter and interviewees, and do not
necessarily represent those of ICIS.
ICIS is organising regular updates to help
the industry understand current market trends.
Register here .
Read the latest issue of ICIS
Chemical Business.
Read Paul Hodges and John Richardson’s
ICIS
blogs.
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Polyethylene10-Sep-2024
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Indonesia has initiated an
investigation as to whether “safeguard
measures” would be needed in response to a
sharp increase in imports of linear low density
polyethylene (LLDPE), its trade ministry said.
The Trade Security Committee (KPPI) under the
Ministry of Trade started the probe on 9
September following a complaint from The
Indonesia Olefin, Aromatics and Plastics
Industry Association (INAPLAS), acting on
behalf of Chandra Asri Pacific and Lotte
Chemical Titan Nusantara Indonesia.
The committee noted initial findings suggested
there were possible losses to the domestic
industry over the years 2021-2023 arising from
the sharp increase in imports of LLDPE.
It also noted that the biggest sources of these
imports were Malaysia and Thailand, which
accounted for over 70% of LLDPE imports into
Indonesia.
Government data showed that in 2023,
Indonesia’s LLDPE imports increased by 33.3% to
280,385 tonnes, compared with a 3.3% decline
registered in 2022, the ministry said.
Some market participants ICIS spoke with said
they were not yet ready to respond to the
announcement as await more details from the
government.
(adds paragraphs 5-6)
Ammonia10-Sep-2024
LONDON (ICIS)–On 11 July, H2Global Holding and
Hintco announced it had accepted Fertiglobe’s
bid of €1000/tonne of renewable ammonia into
the Port of Rotterdam as the sole winner of the
H2Global pilot auction programme.
In this episode of the ICIS Hydrogen Insights
podcast, ICIS hydrogen editor Jake Stones sits
with the co-founder of the H2Global mechanism
and H2Global Holding and Hincto CEO Timo
Bollerhey to discuss the results of the
auction, the status of the contract between
Fertiglobe and H2Global and the role that the
H2Global mechanism plays in the evolution of
the hydrogen market. Finally, the pair discuss
in detail the conditions around the E-SAF lot
for the pilot auction, which received no
bidders.
Polyethylene10-Sep-2024
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Indonesia has initiated an
investigation as to whether “safeguard
measures” would be needed in response to a
sharp increase in imports of linear low density
polyethylene (LLDPE), its trade ministry said.
The Trade Security Committee (KPPI) under the
Ministry of Trade started the probe on 9
September following a complaint from The
Indonesia Olefin, Aromatics and Plastics
Industry Association (INAPLAS), acting on
behalf of Chandra Asri Pacific and Lotte
Chemical Titan Nusantara Indonesia.
The committee noted initial findings suggested
there were possible losses to the domestic
industry over the years 2021-2023 arising from
the sharp increase in imports of LLDPE.
It also noted that the biggest sources of these
imports were Malaysia and Thailand, which
accounted for over 70% of LLDPE imports into
Indonesia.
Ammonia09-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–The US corn crop is now 5%
harvested, according to the latest US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop
progress report.
In the first update on the corn acreage being
harvested, the weekly update showed 5% of the
crop is now completed which is above the 4%
rate from last year and the five-year average
of 3%.
There is currently 95% of the corn crop in the
dough stage, which trails the 96% level from
2023 but is slightly higher than the five-year
average of 94%.
Corn at the dented stage is now 74% of the
reported acreage, which is behind the 78%
achieved last year but is ahead of the
five-year average of 73%.
29% of the crop is listed as mature, which is
equal to the 29% mark from last year and above
the five-year average of 24%.
For corn conditions, there is still 4% rated
very poor, with 8% as poor and 24% now as fair.
There is 48% listed as good and 16% as
excellent.
Soybeans setting pods has climbed to 97%, which
is equal to the 97% mark from last year and is
just above the five-year average of 96%.
The amount of soybeans dropping leaves is now
at 25%, which trails the 2023 level of 27% but
is higher than the five-year average of 21%.
Soybean conditions were unchanged with there
still being 3% listed as very poor, with 7% as
poor and 25% as fair. 52% is good with 13% as
excellent.
In other harvesting updates, there is 8% of the
cotton acreage completed with sorghum harvest
at 21%.
Ammonia09-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–After a quiet few weeks for
hurricane activity and with crop harvesting and
movement of nutrients for autumn applications
advancing, the US Gulf Coast and its
agricultural and fertilizer interests are again
facing a tropical weather threat.
Tropical Storm Francine has developed in the
Gulf of Mexico with the system moving rapidly
at 60 miles/h with the edge closing in near
Brownsville, Texas, along the US-Mexico border
late on Monday.
It is now being forecasted to bring heavy rain
which could result in flooding and there is the
possibility of storm surge. There are
expectations that tropical storm force winds
may extend up to 160 miles from the center.
As Francine begins the trek northward, US
farmers and fertilizer industry participants
are watching the developments as the conditions
will certainly deliver impacts to growers, with
wind and rainfall possibly resulting in crop
damage and delayed post-harvest fertilizing.
Parts of south Texas are already beginning to
experience these conditions with the rest of
the Texas coast in the path as well, but the
forecast has it eventually turning towards
Louisiana.
Given the duration until it strikes, it is
likely the storm will intensify and gain enough
in the coming days to become a moderate
hurricane with impacts stretching far from the
initial site of landfall.
This will halt field work as well as stop
harvesting progress across many states and in
the aftermath will leave acreage soaked across
many areas.
For the fertilizer segment, there is awareness
of the threat as the potential path takes it
near the key location of New Orleans and across
the locations of production facilities within
the state, including those of CF Industries.
The producer did not respond to an enquiry on
its upcoming storm preparation, but no activity
so far has been heard from any manufacturers in
the region.
As an industry source said “nobody is talking
about this yet”, but that likely changes in the
next 48 hours especially if the tropical system
ends up displaying potential to be larger than
currently anticipated.
Ammonia09-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Industrial gas firm Messer
announced it has entered into a long-term
renewal of a carbon dioxide (CO2) purchase and
sale agreement with US fertilizer producer LSB
Industries.
As part of the agreement, Messer said it will
subsequently commit more than $9 million into
the liquid CO2 plant at LSB’s Cherokee,
Alabama, facility with a focus of this
investment on the continued safe and reliable
operations at the site.
The plant manufactures fertilizers including
ammonia, urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)
and it also makes industrial and mining
offerings including ammonium nitrate (AN)
solutions and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).
Messer said this deal will help increase
security of its CO2 supply and provide
continuity to customers for decades to come.
“The efficiency upgrades for the plant
modernization effort will add more molecules to
our network and reduce CO2 emissions at
the site in-line with our sustainability
goals,” said Chris Ebeling, Messer executive
vice president, sales & marketing, North
America.
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