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Ammonia01-Oct-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Canadian fertilizer major
Nutrien confirmed it is in the process of
restarting its Augusta, Georgia, facility.
The operation which produces several products
including ammonia and urea was shut down after
Hurricane Helene made landfall under safety
protocols during storm induced power failures.
“I can confirm that Augusta is in start-up and
expected to be back online later in the week,”
said a Nutrien spokesperson.
The plant’s annual production capacity is
listed at 765,000 tonnes of ammonia, 415,000 of
ammonia nitrate, 400,000 tonnes of UAN and
260,000 tonnes of urea.
The producer had said on 30 September all their
colleagues were safe at their locations but
that in many areas, the roads had remained
closed due to downed power lines and flooding.
Further Nutrien did expect that it could take
several days before their full post storm
assessment was completed.
Speciality Chemicals01-Oct-2024
BARCELONA (ICIS)–ADNOC’s agreement to buy
Covestro ahead of next week’s European
Petrochemical Association (EPCA) annual meeting
highlights the challenges and opportunities
facing Europe’s beleaguered chemical industry.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC)
to
acquire Covestro for equity value of
€11.7 billion
ADNOC diversifies downstream from oil and
gas
Covestro global leader in polycarbonate
(PC) and polyurethanes (PU)
PC and PU struggle with poor demand from
automotive, construction
Covestro operating profit slumped from
around €3bn in 2021 to near €1bn in 2023
Covestro boasts strong
sustainability-related product portfolio
More M&A likely in Europe
petrochemicals thanks to cheap bottom-of-cycle
valuations
Oil prices may collapse to $30/bbl if OPEC
goes for market share
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Hodges, chairman of New Normal
Consulting.
Editor’s note: This podcast is an opinion
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presenter and interviewees, and do not
necessarily represent those of ICIS.
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blogs.
Speciality Chemicals01-Oct-2024
LONDON (ICIS)–Abu Dhabi state oil and
petrochemicals player ADNOC has launched a
public takeover offer for Germany-based
producer isocyanates, polycarbonates and
adhesives specialist Covestro, representing an
equity value of €11.7 billion.
After over a year of reports of a possible deal
between the players and concrete negotiations
that have been underway since June this year,
the Emirati company made a concrete public
takeover offer of €62 per share.
The price represents a 21% premium to
Covestro’s per-share value at the close on 23
June, when the company announced the beginning
of due diligence procedures between the two
companies.
ADNOC estimates the enterprise value of the
deal, which also includes net debt and pension
obligations that would be taken on as a result
of a purchase, at €14.7 billion.
The company will also subscribe to new shares
representing a 10% increase of Covestro’s share
capital at the offer price, which will result
in proceeds of €1.17 billion to be used to
further the Leverkusen-based producer’s growth
strategy.
The company had not responded for requests for
comment on whether that sum is part of the
offer price or in addition to it at the time of
publication.
The deal is subject to a minimum acceptance
threshold of 50% of Covestro’s issued share
capital plus one share, with Covestro’s
management and supervisory boards backing the
deal.
The joint investment agreement, which would
stand until the end of 2028 if the deal goes
through, ADNOC has committed not to sell,
close, or significantly reduce Covestro’s
business activities, and to abide by existing
works agreements.
“We are convinced that the agreement reached
today with ADNOC International is in the best
interest of Covestro, our employees, our
shareholders, and all other stakeholders,” said
Covestro CEO Markus Steilemann.
The deal will play into ADNOC’s plan to
diversify and build out its chemicals platform,
according to CEO Sultan Adhem Al-Jaber.
“This strategic partnership is a natural fit
and aligns seamlessly with ADNOC’s ongoing
smart growth and future proofing strategy and
our vision to become a top five global
chemicals company,” he said.
If the takeover deal closes, Covestro will
continue to be managed as a stock corporation,
the company added.
(Update re-leads, adds detail throughout)
Thumbnail photo source: Covestro
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Crude Oil01-Oct-2024
LONDON (ICIS)–Manufacturing output in the
eurozone fell at its steepest rate this year in
September to hit a nine-month low.
Key measures of factory strength such as
production, new orders, employment and
procurement activity all declined at quicker
rates, according to purchasing managers’ index
(PMI) data on Tuesday.
The HCOB (Hamburg Commercial Bank) eurozone
manufacturing PMI fell to 45.0 in September
from 45.8 in August, while manufacturing output
declined to 44.9, also from 45.8 in the
previous month.
Both were at a nine-month low, said S&P
Global which compiles the indexes. A figure
above 50 indicates growth, and below 50
contraction.
“Lower output volumes were a response to the
prevailing demand environment, which
deteriorated further during September,” the
market intelligence group said in a statement.
Growth in Spain and Greece was offset by
weakness elsewhere, particularly in the
eurozone’s largest manufacturing sector
Germany, which recorded its most pronounced
worsening of factory conditions for 12 months.
Countries ranked by PMI:
September
Spain
53.0
4-month high
Greece
50.3
12-month low
Ireland
49.4
3-month low
Italy
48.3
2-month low
Netherlands
48.2
2-month high
France
44.6
3-month high
Austria
42.8
6-month low
Germany
40.6
12-month low
“While handling the global manufacturing
downturn surprisingly well, Spain just does not
have enough weight to lift the rest of the
eurozone with it,” said Cyrus de la Rubia,
chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank.
“The worsening industrial slump in Germany, for
example, is too big for Spain’s momentum in
September to make much of a difference.”
In the UK, the picture was brighter as solid
expansion in the sector continued in September.
Although the manufacturing PMI declined to 51.5
from August’s 26-month high of 52.5, it has
remained above 50 for five successive months.
The main drivers of September expansion were
the consumer and intermediate goods sectors,
both of which recorded stronger increases in
output and new business.
Polypropylene01-Oct-2024
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Denmark’s AP Moller Holding,
the parent company of shipping company Maersk,
plans to invest €1.5 billion to build a
“fossil-free” plastics production plant in
Antwerp, Belgium, via a new venture called
Vioneo.
“The Antwerp plant will benefit from the
region’s expertise in the chemicals industry,
strong export facilities and access to
renewable energy,” AP Moller said in a
statement on 30 September.
The Vioneo plant is expected to use green
methanol as feedstock to produce polypropylene
(PP) and polyethylene (PE), with commercial
operations slated to begin in 2028, the
investment company said.
“Fully operational, the plant will be able to
produce … 300,000 tonnes of fossil-free
plastics annually, corresponding to a reduction
of 1.5 million tons of CO2 [carbon dioxide]
emissions,” it said.
The plant will be located within the Antwerp
energy park of Dutch logistics firm Vopak, with
support from Vopak Belgium and the Port of
Antwerp-Bruges.
Project plans will take place in phases, with
front-end engineering design (FEED) to begin in
Q4 2024, and with the final investment decision
(FID) expected in 2025.
In a separate statement, the Port of
Antwerp-Bruges said that the project is
expected to generate “significant job
opportunities” during the construction phase
and around 250 permanent positions when the
plant is fully operational.
($1 = €0.90)
Ammonia30-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Even with many states seeing
unfavorable weather recently, the pace of the
US harvesting continues to be steady with 21%
of corn acreage now completed with soybeans at
26% finished, according to the latest US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop
progress report.
According to the weekly update, the current
rate of corn harvest is even with the 2023
level of 21% and slightly ahead of the
five-year average of 18%.
Texas continues to be the top state for
harvesting progress at 91% of its acreage
completed, followed again by North Carolina at
72%.
There is 96% of the corn acreage which is
dented, which is slightly behind the 97% from
2023 but is above the five-year average of 95%.
For corn maturity, there is 75% of the crop at
this level, which is below last year’s rate of
79% but is higher than the five-year average of
70%.
Looking at corn conditions, there continues to
be 4% rated very poor and 8% poor with there
being 24% as fair. The amount rated good is at
49% with 15% still listed as excellent.
Soybeans dropping leaves has climbed to 81%,
and while this is just behind the 82% achieved
last season it is above the five-year average
of 73%.
Harvesting of soybeans is now at 26%, which is
ahead of the 20% level from 2023 as well as the
five-year average of 18%.
Louisiana remains in the lead on harvesting
completion with 71% of the state’s acreage now
finished, followed by Mississippi at 66%.
For soybean conditions, there were no changes
once again in the update with it remaining as
3% seen as very poor, with 8% as poor, 25%
listed fair with 52% as good and 12% rated as
excellent.
In other harvesting updates, there is 20% of
the cotton crop completed with sorghum at 35%
finished.
Ammonia30-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–The US fertilizer industry
along with their agricultural counterparts were
trying to assess damages and determine how long
activities might be limited or even remain
halted as Hurricane Helene delivered a mighty
strike with intense winds and tremendous
rainfall leading to historic flooding.
Across several southeastern states the severity
of the impacts affected plant operations and
loadings with confirmed issues in Florida,
Georgia and North Carolina with some damage
reported at the port in Tampa, Florida, which
did reopen on 29 September.
There was also localized flooding within the
city and surrounding communities but the
fertilizer hub with its vital production,
storage and logistical assets missed the full
wrath of the hurricane, which had rapidly
intensified before making landfall.
Producer Mosaic had earlier informed that it
did experience some issues with its operations
in Florida as there was water intrusion at its
Riverview site, which was caused by storm surge
that has left the facility offline.
A site cleanup must be undertaken so the
operations are not anticipated to see a return
to full capacity for about 10 days, but Mosaic
did not respond for further comment on whether
it had experienced any other impacts to its
business activities.
Canadian fertilizer major Nutrien said it is
still evaluating the total impacts of the
hurricane landfall but while its Aurora
facility in North Carolina experienced heavy
rainfall, the facility did not close during the
event and is fully operational.
The producer said it did undertake
precautionary measures at other sites.
“Following Hurricane Helene’s landfall last
Friday, Nutrien’s Augusta, Georgia, and White
Springs, Florida, facilities were shut down
under safety protocols during storm-induced
power failures,” said a Nutrien spokesperson.
“All our colleagues are safe at these
locations, but many area roads remain closed
due to downed power lines and flooding. It
could be several more days before a post-storm
assessment is complete.”
For fertilizer interests overall there was
optimism that while the storm potentially wiped
out what crops had not been finished in some
locations, it should not have a lingering sway
on upcoming demand or supply availability once
flooding recedes and acreage dries as there is
still plenty of acreage left to complete.
As an industry source said, “I don’t think it
matters at all. We just need some more
harvesting so farmers can think about
application.”
Corn harvest is now 21% complete, while
soybeans have reached 26%.
While September has been treading a tad slower
than normal, with repeated tropical weather
threats a key factor, there was sentiment that
when looking ahead at October there will be
more traction forward for some products.
As a trader said, “I think prices will move up
on UAN [urea ammonium nitrate] because of the
supply disruptions but hard to say how much.
Phosphate is probably the most bullish out of
everything, urea doesn’t really have an
impact.”
The extent of crop damage will not be clear for
at least several days, maybe longer. The
concern is still that a reduction in yield
means a drop in income back to the grower who
then will have more pressure on how to manage
upcoming input expense.
Ethylene30-Sep-2024
SAO PAULO (ICIS)–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.
Recovery efforts were underway in Florida as
well as states to the north such as South
Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and
Tennessee.
The hurricane’s death toll surpassed 100 over
the weekend, while some analysts have said
Helene’s economic impact could stand at up to
$160 billion.
Meanwhile, the US Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) estimated on
Sunday that approximately 3.35% of oil
production and 0.91% of natural gas production
in the US Gulf Coast were shut-in when it
issued that update.
Some railway lines, meanwhile, remained shut in
and out of Florida, but companies managed to
bring back to operation the most important
routes over the weekend.
TAMPA RETURNSThe Port of
Tampa was the most affected by the hurricane,
which made
landfall on 27 September in the Big Bend
area of Florida where the port is situated;
more
than 4 million Floridians lost power right
after it made landfall.
Other ports affected were Panama City, St Joe,
St Petersburg, Manatee and Key West on
Florida’s west coast; Fernandina, Jacksonville
and Canaveral on Florida’s east coast. All of
them have now returned to normal.
“Port Tampa Bay has resumed vessel operations
and our port’s shipping channels are officially
re-opened, with vessel movements restricted to
daylight hours… Our hope is that the port’s
shipping channels will be functional at their
full depths shortly,” said the Port Tampa Bay
authority on Sunday.
“Port staff fully assessed the docks, wharfs
and terminals for safety. Commercial vessel
traffic is again being queued for a return to
full operations at the port, meaning we are
open for business. Some of the first vessels to
return will be fuel tankers, cruise ships and
vessels carrying perishable cargo.”
The hurricane was expected to disrupt the
movement of fertilizers and grain coming in and
out of Tampa, as well as some
companies’ operations in the area which are
expected to remain shut for a few days.
Some petrochemicals end markets
such as plastic bales, with collection
across much of the south and southeast of the
US expected to be delayed.
GULF COAST OIL, GASThe
US’s BSEE said no personnel had been evacuated
from any of the five non-dynamically positioned
(DP) rigs operating in the Gulf Coast; rigs can
include several types of offshore drilling
facilities including jackup rigs, platform
rigs, all submersibles and moored
semisubmersibles.
“A total of one DP rig moved off location out
of the storm’s path as a precaution. This
number represents 4.76% of the 21 DP rigs
currently operating in the Gulf. DP rigs
maintain their location while conducting well
operations by using thrusters and propellers,”
said the BSEE.
“These rigs are not moored to the seafloor, so
they can move out of harm’s way in a relatively
short time frame. Personnel remain on board and
return to the original location once the storm
has passed.”
BSEE said the 3.35% shut-in oil production
could correspond to around 59,000 barrels of
oil per day, while the 0.91% of shut-in gas
production would correspond to 17 million cubic
feet per day.
It added that facilities are to be inspected in
coming hours following the hurricane, adding
“production from undamaged facilities will be
brought back online immediately” although those
with damage may naturally take longer to bring
back online.
RAIL DISRUPTIONS
Railroad company CSX said all railways in
Florida had now reopened except for two: the
Clearwater and Brooksville Subdivisions.
“CSX continues to work around the clock… The
storm… left significant rain and wind damage
in its path, resulting in flooding, downed
trees and power outages. Over the weekend, we
have made substantial progress in clearing the
network and making necessary repairs,” said the
rail operator.
“However, potential delays remain. We are
rerouting traffic to meet your needs and
committed to fully restoring service as quickly
and safely as possible.”
Rail operator Norfolk Southern also said it had
made substantial progress over the weekend in
recovering railways affected by the storm, with
its major routes in Florida and those
connecting some key urban areas of the state
with Tennessee and Georgia were also
operational.
However, it said some routes were still out of
service as of Monday, including the line
Macon-Brunswick; routes east and west of
Asheville; Bluefield in West Virginia to Norton
in Virginia; Augusta to Millen, in Georgia; and
Augusta in Georgia to Columbia in South
Carolina.
“Customers with shipments moving through these
areas that are currently out of service could
see delays of 72 hours,” concluded Norfolk
Southern.
ONE OF THE MOST
DAMAGINGOn Monday, analysts at
AccuWeather said they were sharply increasing
their economic loss estimates from Helene to
between $145 billion and $160 billion, around
50% higher than their prior estimate at between
$95 billion and $110 billion.
The analysts said the increase reflected the
additional “grim damage reports” received over
the weekend, which would make Hurricane Helene
one of the costliest storms in US history
because of the devastating storm surge,
damaging winds and historic flooding.
“The majority of homes and businesses in some
communities are destroyed and some have been
washed away. Bridges, roadways and other
expensive and critical infrastructure have been
heavily damaged or destroyed,” said
AccuWeather.
“Pictures and video from the scene, as limited
as those reports have been due to ongoing major
communication infrastructure damage, suggest
one of the worst flooding disasters in US
history, with tragically striking similarities
in damage to other catastrophic floods such as
flooding associated with Hurricane Katrina, the
flooding from Hurricane Harvey and the
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Floods of 1889 and
1977.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM
HURRICANESIn billion
dollars
Source:
AccuWeather
Front page picture: Aerial view of Tampa’s
port; archive image
Source: Tampa Port Bay authority
Ethylene30-Sep-2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from
ICIS News from the week ended 27 September.
Meteorologists
expect hurricane to form, hit US Gulf Coast in
Florida
Meteorologists expect a hurricane will form
later in the week before making landfall in
northwestern Florida at the eastern end of the
Gulf of Mexico, they said on Monday.
INSIGHT: Weak
volumes, geopolitical uncertainty hold back
chemical M&A
The lack of a meaningful recovery in volumes
amid a weak macroeconomic backdrop along with
geopolitical uncertainty are key factors
hindering mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
activity, panelists said at a recent meeting of
the Societe de Chimie Industrielle in
New York.
UPDATE: BASF sets
new corporate strategy, mulls ag solutions IPO,
to exit Brazil coatings
BASF is planning an overhaul of its structure,
marking a clearer delineation between
businesses it considers core and “standalone”
units serving specific industries, and is
readying the separation of its agricultural
solutions operations.
A quarter of US
Gulf oil output remains shut on Hurricane
Helene
A quarter of US oil production in the Gulf of
Mexico remains shut in as Helene becomes close
to becoming a major hurricane.
More than 4
million in southeast US lose power after
Hurricane Helene
More than 4 million outages were reported in
the southeastern US on Friday after Hurricane
Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4
storm in northwestern Florida.
SHIPPING: US
ports file unfair labor practice charge with
regulator, but ILA strike is
imminent
With the midnight Monday strike deadline
rapidly approaching, negotiations between US
Gulf and East Coast ports and the labor union
representing dockworkers remains at an impasse,
making a stoppage that could cost the US
economy $5 billion a day more likely.
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