Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 4 October.

US Tampa port reopens after Helene’s hit; US-wide losses could top $160 billion
The port at Tampa in the US state of Florida reopened over the weekend, the port’s authorities said on Sunday, after Hurricane Helene’s destructive path put the US state of Florida against the ropes.

SHIPPING: ILA ports strike to weigh on US PE, PVC exports; carriers set congestion surcharges
Participants in the US chemical industry worry that a prolonged strike by US Gulf and East Coast dock workers will hurt exporters and lead to supply surpluses, and some carriers are already initiating port congestion surcharges that will add increased costs on top of delays to both imports and exports.

SHIPPING: Union, US ports remain at impasse as strike enters second day
Negotiations have yet to resume between union dock workers and the US Gulf and East Coast ports as a costly strike enters its second day.

US demand for ACN, other chems could take a hit as Boeing strike enters fourth week
US acrylonitrile (ACN) demand could soften as 33,000 Boeing employees remain on strike in a work stoppage that is entering its fourth week.

SHIPPING: Trucks, container ships backing up as US ports strike marks third day
In only its third day, a strike by dock workers at US Gulf and East Coast ports is leading to idled trucks and growing numbers of container ships queuing outside of the ports.

SHIPPING: Union, US ports reach tentative agreement, dock workers to return to work on Friday
The three-day strike by US Gulf and East Coast dock workers has been suspended until 15 January to allow negotiations to resume, according to a joint statement from the union and ports.

INSIGHT: No signs of petchems demand recovery from car sector on the horizon, H2 2025 may be a moment of truth
After a strong rebound in car sales last year, the European automotive industry is facing a more challenging environment in the second half of 2024, leading to a drop in petrochemical requirements from car manufacturers. Consumer appetite for new vehicles has become more sluggish following a post-Covid catch-up phase in 2023, mainly due to a mixed economic environment and persistently high interest rates, along with uncertainty on both policy and political developments across the continent.

SHIPPING: With strike over, some US ports extending gate hours; container rates fall further
With the suspension of the strike at US Gulf and East Coast ports until 15 January, carriers are urging customers to use extended gate times being offered by some ports to collect or deliver any urgent containers to terminals.