US automakers, UAW make progress in negotiations; Action called off at Arlington, Texas assembly plant

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US automaker General Motors (GM) agreed on Friday to include its electronic vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing under the national master negotiating agreement, preventing a strike at the automaker’s Arlington, Texas assembly plant, the president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union said during a livestream broadcast. GM’s Arlington assembly plant produces the full-size sport […]

Vietnam posts 5.3% Q3 GDP growth; Sept exports inch up 1.4%

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Vietnam’s economy grew by 5.33% year on year in the third quarter, aided in part by improved exports in September, preliminary official data showed on Friday. The reading was higher than the annualized 4.05% expansion in the previous quarter but represented a sharp deceleration from the 13.7% pace recorded in the same period last […]

War in Ukraine, gas crisis

The war in Ukraine has caused oil and especially gas price volatility, as restricted flows from Russia to Ukraine caused values to spike to record-breaking levels before collapsing to pre-war levels. Since December 2022, unseasonably mild winter weather hit demand, reversing gas prices. However millions of tonnes of chemical and fertilizer production remain offline across […]

Brazil’s industry on ‘moderate reacceleration’ as 2023 growth prospects near 3%

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Brazil’s economy started 2023 on the backfoot and GDP growth expectations at barely 1%, but nine months later most economists and analysts now expect growth to be around three times higher. Even the beleaguered industrial sectors, which were lagging agriculture and services, are posting a “moderate reacceleration”, the Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) […]

Northwest Europe ammonia-to-hydrogen production costs jump on bullish ammonia

LONDON (ICIS)–The ICIS Northwest Europe ammonia-to-hydrogen assessment rose by more than 10% on a weekly basis heading towards October, with the price boosted by a bullish ammonia market at the end of September. The ammonia-to-hydrogen assessment increased by €0.60/kg week on week to be assessed at €5.65/kg on 28 September, the highest valuation for the […]

US auto union to expand strike to additional Ford, GM assembly plants

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The United Auto Workers (UAW) union will expand its strike to two Ford and GM assembly plants at 16:00 GMT (noon EST) as negotiations with the Big Three automakers continue. About 7,000 workers at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant and GM’s Lansing Delta Township will begin to strike today, UAW President Shawn Fain said during […]

Ammonia market tightness lifts ammonia-to-hydrogen production costs above €5/kg

LONDON (ICIS)–Ammonia markets saw continued uptick over week 38 as European market participants refrained from ramping up production, leaving the market tight on account of high gas prices. As such, the ICIS ammonia-to-hydrogen assessment for northwest Europe pushed above the €5/kg mark, a level last recorded in March 2023. Ammonia producers have been waiting for […]

Tech advances in eFuels to slash cost of making SAF – Honeywell, HIF Global

NEW YORK (ICIS)–Economics pose a major challenge to the scale-up and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) but advancements in early-stage technology, particularly in eFuels, will dramatically lower costs in the coming years, according to executives at Honeywell and HIF Global. The challenge is huge. To meet climate goals, the industry will need to produce […]

US auto workers union to expand strike at 38 GM, Stellantis parts distribution facilities

HOUSTON (ICIS)–United Auto Workers (UAW) membership will begin a “Stand Up Strike” at 38 Stellantis and GM parts distribution centres at 16:00 GMT (noon EST) after negotiations with two of the Big Three have made no progress since the strike began eight days ago. UAW President Shawn Fain said during a live stream that no […]

Australian Agrimin enters share sale agreement to acquire Kalium Lakes and revise SOP project

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Australian producer Agrimin Limited has announced it has entered into a Share Sale Agreement (SSA) with the receivers of former potash producer Kalium Lakes which held the Beyondie project which was focused on manufacturing sulphate of potash (SOP). The deal includes Kalium Lakes subsidiaries, Kalium Lakes Potash and Kalium Lakes Infrastructure. These entities comprise […]