Latin America stories: weekly summary

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Here are some of the stories from ICIS Latin America for the week ended on 14 February.

NEWS
INSIGHT: US mulls reciprocal tariffs on Brazil ethanol, cabinet hopes steel quota is to be kept
Although the new US administration has so far only imposed tariffs on China, President Donald Trump keeps using the tariff threat as a form of negotiation and in the latter part of this week it was the turn of Brazil’s ethanol.

Brazil’s Unigel plans listing but location undisclosed, rules out IPO – company
Unigel’s restructuring plan includes listing shares on the stock exchange but not an initial public offering (IPO) issuing new shares, a spokesperson for the Brazilian chemicals producer said to ICIS.

Brazil’s inflation slows in January but monetary tightening to continue – analysts
Brazil’s annual rate of inflation fell in January to 4.56%, down from 4.83% in December, the country’s statistical office, IBGE, said this week.

INSIGHT: EU-Chile trade deal could benefit chemicals indirectly via higher minerals supply (part 1)
An interim trade accord between Chile and the EU kicked off on 1 February and the 27-country bloc is not shy about its main objective: get preferential access to the Latin American nation’s vast resources of raw materials.

Mexico’s inflation falls in January nearing target, automotive exports under pressure
Mexico’s annual rate of inflation fell to 3.59% in January, down sharply from December’s 4.2%, the country’s statistics office Inegi said.

Brazil’s automotive January production up 15% on healthy demand at home, abroad
Brazil’s petrochemicals-intensive automotive production rose more than 15%, year on year, to 175,500 units – the highest January output since 2021 – while exports jumped over 50%, the country’s trade group Anfavea said on Monday.

PRICING
LatAm PE international prices stable to up on higher US export offers
International polyethylene (PE) prices were assessed as stable to up on higher US export offers.

LatAm PP domestic prices up in Mexico on higher feedstock costs
Domestic polypropylene (PP) prices increased in Mexico tracking higher propylene costs. In other Latin American countries, prices were unchanged.