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UAW expands strikes against GM, Stellantis

  • Spanish Market: Metals, Petrochemicals
  • 22/09/23

The United Auto Workers (UAW) is expanding its strikes against General Motors (GM) and Stellantis to target the companies' parts distribution centers nationwide.

Union president Shawn Fain said a lack of progress on labor contracts with GM and Stellantis led to the expanded strikes — this time hitting repair parts.

"Today at noon ET, all of the parts distribution facilities at General Motors and Stellantis are being called to stand up and strike," Fain said on a Facebook Live event on Friday. "We will be striking 38 locations across 20 states, across all nine regions of the UAW."

The UAW will strike 18 parts distribution centers each at GM and Stellantis, affecting sites from Oregon to southern California and Massachusetts to Florida, with many in the central US. Although Fain noted some progress with GM on negotiations, it was not enough to forestall the additional actions.

"We will shut down parts distribution until those two companies come to their senses and come to the table with a serious offer," Fain said. "This will impact these two companies' repairs operations."

At Ford, Fain said progress had been made, including the elimination of wage tiers at two plants, reinstatement of the cost of living formula from 2009, and the immediate conversion of all temporary employees with at least 90 days employment, among other gains. He did not discuss wages, which the union wants raised by 40pc. While distance remains between Ford and the union, Fain said he was holding off expanded strike actions against the company.

"To be clear, we're not done at Ford," Fain said. "We still have serious issues to work through, but we do want to recognize that Ford is serious about reaching a deal. At GM and Stellantis, it's a different story."

Following Fain's remarks, Ford said it is aims to reach a deal "that rewards our workforce and enables Ford to invest in a vibrant and growing future."

"Although we are making progress in some areas, we still have significant gaps to close on the key economic issues," Ford said.

On 15 September, the UAW began striking at three plants, one at each of the three automakers.

Those strikes have led to further shutdowns and layoffs. GM idled its Fairfax, Kansas, plant because of a lack of parts, and Stellantis curtailed production and laid off workers at one of its parts facilities in Ohio, with two other plants in Indiana at risk of layoffs.

UAW struck auto plants and associated idlings

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15/02/25

EU may trigger clause to boost defense spending

EU may trigger clause to boost defense spending

Munich, 15 February (Argus) — European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wants to trigger an emergency clause that would allow member EU countries to significantly increase their spending on defense. She also warned that "unjust" tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Von der Leyen said she "will propose to activate the escape clause for defense investments". Such a move would "allow member states to substantially increase their defense expenditure", she said. Von der Leyen's proposal would exempt defense from EU limits on government spending. Highly indebted EU members such as Italy and Greece have voiced support for the move, arguing that activating the escape clause would enable them to increase defense spending while avoiding other budget cuts. Fiscally conservative EU countries, including Germany, could push back against the idea. Von der Leyen's proposal comes at a sensitive time for the EU, with US president Donald Trump pressuring Europe to finance more of its own defense. Trump wants EU members of Nato to more than double military expenditure to protect themselves from potential aggression rather than leaning on Washington's support. Trump is also pushing to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "Let there be no room for any doubt. I believe when it comes to European security, Europe has to do more. Europe must bring more to the table," Von der Leyen said, adding that the EU needs to increase its military spending from just below 2pc of GDP to above 3pc. The increase "will mean hundreds of billions of euros of more investment every year", she said. Tariffs will be answered Von der Leyen also reemphasized the EU's position on the recent US tariff decision, noting that tariffs act like a tax and drive inflation. "But as I've already made clear, unjustified tariffs on the European Union will not go unanswered," she said. "And let me speak plainly, we are one of the world's largest markets. We will use our tools to safeguard our economic security and interests, and we will protect our workers, our businesses and consumers at every turn," she added. Trump on 11 February imposed a 25pc tariff on all US imports of steel and aluminum effective on 12 March, although he said he would consider making an exemption for imports from Australia. US 25pc tariffs on steel and aluminum imports could result in a 3.7mn t/yr decrease in European steel exports, as the US is the second-largest export market for the bloc, European steel association Eurofer said. By Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Biomethanol-methanol diff widens, UK demand ticks up


14/02/25
14/02/25

Biomethanol-methanol diff widens, UK demand ticks up

London, 14 February (Argus) — The spread between biomethanol and conventional methanol is the highest in more than nine months, at $734/t. This is partly driven by falling European methanol prices, with the methanol fob Rotterdam barge quote hitting $348.97/t on 12 February, the lowest since 7 August. Increased imports from the US, and the restart of a 900,000 t/yr capacity European plant have put downward pressure on prices. Biomethanol values ticked higher in recent sessions, tracking gains in the wider biofuels complex after record low values for renewable fuel tickets — tradeable credits generated primarily by the sale of biofuel-blended fuels — in major European demand centres in 2024. European demand for biofuels in 2025 could be supported by a combination of higher mandates for the use of renewables in transport, and by changes to regulations on the carryover of renewable fuels tickets in Germany and in the Netherlands . UK biomethanol prices and demand rise In the UK, the Argus cif biomethanol price has averaged $1,110/t so far in February, a $22/t increase from January and a $60/t rise from the September 2024 average, when prices hit a record low. The price averaged around $1,094/t in February last year. Prices have been in part supported by stronger renewable fuel ticket prices (RTFCs) in the UK recently, according to market participants. UK 2025 non-crop RTFCs averaged 25.45p in the first quarter of 2025 so far, an increase of 1.88p when compared with the previous quarter. Demand picked up in the UK and the wider European market, including from voluntary sectors, at the beginning of the year, participants said. Biomethanol is used as a gasoline blending component in the UK. Consumption in the country in 2024 rose by 45pc on the year but was lower by 7.9pc than in 2022 at 58mn litres, according to the third provisional release of the 2024 Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation statistics. The Argus biomethanol fob Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) netback quote was $1,083/t on 12 February. FuelEU fuels demand The January rollout of the FuelEU Maritime regulations could increase demand for biomethanol in shipping. Ship operators traveling in to, out of and within EU territorial waters must reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity on a lifecycle basis by 2pc. The reduction rises to 6pc from 2030 and gradually reaches 80pc by 2050. Shipping companies can choose from a range of alternative marine fuels to reduce their emissions. Only dedicated ships can run on methanol alone, but many companies, including Maersk , have ordered dual-fuel vessels that can run on methanol and traditional bunker fuels, along with biofuel blends like B24 — a mix of very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome) biodiesel. International offtake agreements for renewable methanol are also on the rise. Maersk has signed several letters of intent for procurement of biomethanol and e-methanol from producers including Equinor , Proman and OCI Global , and has an agreement with Danish shipping and logistics company Goldwind for 500,000 t/yr from 2024. Biomethanol and e-methanol are likely to be the most competitive and scalable pathways to decarbonisation this decade, Maersk said . While relatively small, Maersk's 'green marine' fuel consumption, which includes biomethanol, increased by 38pc in 2024 to 3,034 GWh. Singaporean container shipping group X-Press Feeders said it will buy biomethanol from OCI's Texas plant starting from 2024. Biomethanol bunker sales in the port of Rotterdam dropped by more than half in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the third quarter, to 930t, but sales were 86pc higher than those in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to Port of Rotterdam data . UDB risk to biomethanol imports The European Commission's proposal to exclude automatic certification of biomethane and biomethane-based fuels from the Union Database for Biofuels, if relying on natural gas that has been transported through grids outside the EU, has been slowing some negotiations for 2025 biomethanol imports — particularly from the US — according to market participants. Industry bodies have expressed concerns about implementation of the database, particularly that it will impede the bloc's biomethane development. Burdensome fees, overly strict deadlines, risk of double counting, and a significantly increased number of participants required to enter data will slow market growth, said the European Compost Network and the European Waste Management Association. They recommend mandatory use of the UDB be postponed until 1 January 2026 "at the earliest". By Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Aperam’s stainless steel deliveries fall on year in 4Q


14/02/25
14/02/25

Aperam’s stainless steel deliveries fall on year in 4Q

London, 14 February (Argus) — Luxembourg-based global stainless steel producer Aperam's stainless and electrical steel shipments fell on the year in the fourth quarter owing to a sharp contraction in demand. But its deliveries recovered on a quarter-on-quarter basis as the European market did marginally better, while Brazil recorded better than expected demand. Aperam's stainless and electrical steel shipments fell by 1.5pc year on year to 401,000t in October-December. Fourth-quarter shipments rose by 2.56pc relative to the third quarter, with full-year 2024 sales registering a 4.9pc rise to 1.626mn t. Higher 2024 shipments can be attributed to the low base of 2023 driven by downstream distributor destocking. Aperam's stainless and electrical steel segment's adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) rose to €42mn in the fourth quarter, up from a loss of €34mn over the same period in 2023. Revenues for full-year 2024 nearly doubled to €175mn, up from €92mn in 2023. Shipments in the group's services and solutions segment rose by 9pc on the year in the fourth quarter to 169,000t, with deliveries of alloys and specialties flat on the year at 10,000t. Scrap metal shipments in Aperam's recycling and renewables segment — including scrap processor ELG and the group's Brazilian entity Aperam BioEnergia — fell by 7.4pc on the year to 312,000t, but full-year volumes rose by 6.63pc to 1.464mn t. Aperam's overall adjusted ebitda in 2024's fourth quarter more than doubled on the year to €116mn, attributed to a record-high performance of its alloys segment with together with strong results at its Recycling & Renewables division. Aperam expects ebitda in the first quarter of 2025 to be at a lower level relative to 2024's fourth quarter. The group is also expecting significantly higher net financial debt in the first quarter owing to the consolidation of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products completed in recent weeks. By Raghav Jain Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Republic Services finishes Indiana sorting center build


14/02/25
14/02/25

Republic Services finishes Indiana sorting center build

Houston, 13 February (Argus) — US-based materials recovery facility operator and hauler Republic Services has finished construction on its second polymer center in Indianapolis, with initial income from the plant expected in the second half of the year, the company said in its earnings call. Republic Service's polymer centers are secondary sorting facilities that produce recycled polyethylene terephthalate flake and color sort high-density polyethylene and polypropylene waste to sell to reprocessors. Republic Services faced some challenges in the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2024 with startup costs for equipment and getting specifications correct for customers at its operational polymer center in Las Vegas, but after those initial hurdles, the company was "feeling good" about them, chief executive John Vander Ark said. The company's prior assumptions about production in Las Vegas in terms of selling price, costs, volume sold, and the willingness of customers to pay were really "strong" and "positive," he added. Republic Services finished construction on its Las Vegas polymer center in December 2023. The polymer centers are strategically located next to joint venture Blue Polymers' facilities. Republic Services plans to provide feedstocks to Blue Polymers in order to produce pelletized and compounded recycled resin. Blue Polymers is expected to finish construction on its first plant in Indianapolis in mid-2025, Republic Services said. Republic Services aims to spend $75mn on new polymer centers in 2025. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

ReElement begins RE shipments, eyes Africa plant


13/02/25
13/02/25

ReElement begins RE shipments, eyes Africa plant

Houston, 13 February (Argus) — Critical minerals refiner ReElement Technologies began commercial shipments of magnet-grade rare earth (RE) elements, as it looks to scale operations by expanding an Indiana facility and deepening its presence in Africa. The Indiana-based company manufactured heavy and light RE oxides primarily from recycled feedstock sourced primarily from end-of-life permanent magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicles at its 700m2 facility in Noblesville, ReElement commercial marketing officer David Sauve told Argus on Wednesday. ReElement did not disclose how much product has been sent to customers since shipments began last week, only noting that Noblesville, Indiana, has daily output capacities of 5-10kg for RE oxides and 15-25kg of battery-grade lithium carbonate. The company is transitioning operations to its 50,000m2 refinery in Marion, Indiana, which will be able to turn out 2,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr of RE oxides and 5,000t/yr of battery-grade lithium in either carbonate or hydroxide form when first-phase production begins by year-end, Sauve said. Marion will have the capability to process feedstock from ores, in addition to recycled sources. ReElement also entered into a partnership with South Africa-based Novare Holdings to invest $100mn in building out refining capacity of critical minerals in Africa. The companies currently are working to pick a location for their first facility, expecting to start developing the site in 2025's second half. Under the agreement, ReElement will provide its chromatography-based separation and purification technology, along with project management expertise, while Novare will supply funding and operational oversight. Capacity figures for the African plant have yet to be determined, Sauve said. Feedstock will come from local and regional sources. Joining the antimony rush ReElement plans to add antimony products to its suite of offerings, looking to capitalize on a high-margin opportunity and help fill a void after China banned shipments of the metal to the US. Prices for 99.65pc antimony metal have surged by more than 150pc since late August, when China first implemented export restrictions that effectively cut off supply from the world's largest source, according to Argus data. The company in late January expanded its relationship with a South Africa supplier from whom ReElement will source antimony-bearing ore to refine into antimony sulfide and antimony oxide. It already has processed ore samples into sulfide at Noblesville and expects to add commercial-scale production capacity at Marion. Sauve added that ReElement's modular technology could be co-located with "downstream manufacturers of antimony-containing military applications," as well. The company plans to take 1,000t/month of ore initially, saying that total could grow based on market needs. By Alex Nicoll Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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