NEW YORK (ICIS)–Economists are growing ever more confident on a soft landing for the US as they continue to ratchet up growth forecasts – now to the point where it’s hardly a landing at all. After all, consensus estimates for 2024 GDP growth at 2.4% are nearly on par with the 2.5% gain seen in […]

LONDON (ICIS)–Moldova’s best chance to consolidate its gas sector is to couple up with the Romanian market, the CEO of gas incumbent Moldovagaz told ICIS on 24 May. Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the company, which is majority owned by Russia’s Gazprom, Vadim Ceban said the country and Moldovagaz were facing major changes including […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Rates for shipping containers continued to surge, liquid chemical tanker rates were flat to softer, and a possible freight rail strike in Canada is unlikely before mid-July, highlighting this week’s logistics roundup. Rates are being pressured higher because of possible start of a restocking cycle in Europe and as US importers pull forward some […]

LONDON (ICIS)–Ukraine and Russia are locked in negotiations over the transit of gas that could change the supply dynamics to Europe and Turkey from 1 January 2020. While Ukraine would like to retain its historical role as Europe’s most important transit route, Russia plans to divert supplies to its new pipelines, Nord Stream 2 and […]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–China’s LPG demand is projected to hit 80m tonnes this year, a lower growth rate of 7% compared with last year’s 14%, as the sector grapples with logistic risks and weak downstream demand. China’s LPG demand growth is mainly driven by feedstock demand from the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) units, which are projected to account […]

NEW YORK (ICIS)–Global durable goods demand should finally pick up in H2 2024 on falling interest rates and inflation, ending the longest such downturn in history, said the CEO of LyondellBasell. “We expect moderating interest rates, reduced inflation and infrastructure-related stimulus spending will begin to support a gradual return to healthier demand for durable goods […]

LONDON (ICIS)–Eurozone inflation remained elevated in January though fell slightly from the previous month, according to official data on Thursday. January inflation stood at 2.8%, down from 2.9% in December when the rate rose month on month to curb a downward trend. The main drivers for higher January prices were food, alcohol & tobacco, statistics agency […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US oil production will likely exceed the forecast that Enterprise Products made in 2023, and that should lead to more natural gas liquids (NGLs) that petrochemical producers can use as feedstock, the midstream company said on Thursday. The Permian basin will account for the most of that new production forecasted by Enterprise, said Tony Chovanec, […]

NEW YORK (ICIS)–US regulatory policies are proliferating in a power vacuum and holding the chemical industry back, adding roadblocks to the government’s own sustainability agenda, said the CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC). The US chemical industry enjoys major structural advantages – a positive tax climate, energy abundance and over $1 trillion in stimulus […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)—The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is expressing disappointment over a ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC) on fertilizer tariffs, which upholds an earlier decision which found material injury to US fertilizer companies. The decision comes after the US Court of International Trade asked the US Department of Commerce (US DOC) and ITC […]