Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 18 October.

IPEX: Global spot index rises again on increases in NE Asia
The global spot ICIS Petrochemical Index (IPEX) rose for the second consecutive week in the week ended 11 October, by 0.3%, again due to price increases in northeast Asia.

Argentina’s Rio Tercero shuts TDI plant on global oversupply
Petroquimica Rio Tercero has shut its toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) plant in Cordoba on the back of global oversupply, a spokesperson for the Argentinian producer confirmed to ICIS on Tuesday.

Brazil’s Senate approves EU Reach-like rules to increase chemicals control
Brazil’s Senate approved on 15 October the creation of a National Inventory of Chemical Substances aiming at “reducing negative impacts” of toxic chemicals on human and environmental health.

INSIGHT: Decarbonized chemicals, plastics gain momentum with multiple production pathways
Momentum is building in the zero-to-low carbon chemicals and plastics space with many different pathways to production that will give customers more options to reduce their carbon footprint.

US Ascend to close South Carolina plant, move polymer production to Florida
Ascend Performance Materials plans to shut down its remaining operations Greenwood, South Carolina, and move the site’s polymer production to its complex in Pensacola, Florida, US-based nylon producer said on Friday.