EU states to reconsider CO2 truck law approval

Spanish Market: Biofuels, Hydrogen, Oil products
07/02/24

EU diplomats may reconsider formally the approval of the regulation requiring manufacturers to cut average emissions of new heavy duty vehicles (HDVs) and coaches on 9 February, after failing today to achieve a qualified majority of EU member states over concerns that the law insufficiently provides for CO2 neutral fuels.

A diplomat told Argus that formal approval of the regulation "might" now take place on 9 February. Non-governmental organisation Transport & Environment said the blockage was triggered by the German liberal FDP party that is calling for "a loophole for e-fuels and biofuels — including climate-wrecking palm oil".

"German truck manufacturers don't want a loophole for e-fuels or biofuels," T&E's freight policy manager Fedor Unterlohner said. "The FDP is going against the interests of its own domestic auto industry which wants regulatory certainty, not diversions into dead-end technologies", he added.

The same diplomat said that EU decisions should not be influenced by internal party politics in a single member state, without referring to Germany.

It is still unclear whether Belgium, which currently chairs the EU's council of ministers, can secure the required qualified majority, consisting of at least 55pc, or 15, of EU's 27 states themselves representing at least 65pc of the EU population. In addition to Germany, other countries — including Italy, Hungary, and Poland — have previously expressed concerns over emission laws effectively phasing out the internal combustion engine (ICE).

Germany stated in October 2023 that the definition of a zero-emission vehicle would allow for "hydrogen combustion engines in addition to battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles". And the country approved the definition for allowing for ICE technology to remain a "permissible option for manufacturers and users — ideally running on climate-neutral fuels".

Negotiators for the European Parliament and EU states provisionally agreed, in January, on the regulation.

Cuts for trucks weighing over 7.5t and for coaches start at 45pc in 2030, 65pc in 2035 and 90pc in 2040, compared with average CO2 emissions of manufacturers' reported emissions in 2019. But the regulation only contains a "review", also exploring the issue of HDVs running "exclusively" on CO2-neutral fuels.

By Dafydd ab Iago

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24/01/25

Brazil wildfires burned 79pc more land in 2024

Sao Paulo, 24 January (Argus) — Wildfires in Brazil scorched an area greater than the size of Italy in 2024, climbing by 79pc from the prior year, burning large swaths of the Amazon rainforest and hindering sugarcane and other farm output. The wildfires last year spread out over 30.8mn hectares (ha) (76mn acres), up by 13.6mn ha from a year earlier and rising to a five-year high, according to environmental network MapBiomas' fire monitor researching program. The surge in wildfires may be related to a wider drought season influenced by the El Nino climate phenomenon in 2023-2024, researchers said. Sugarcane producers association Orplana estimated that around 414,000ha of crop lands in central-southern states — Brazil's largest sugarcane producing area — were damaged by wildfires, which led to R2.67bn ($485.7mn) in financial losses. Dryer weather in the region in April-October last year hindered sugarcane development, while a surge in wildfires damaged plants in different stages of regrowth and downsized the 2025-26 season's output . Wildfires hit northern Para state the most last year, as 7.3mn ha were burnt. Central-western Mato Grosso and northern Tocantins states followed, with 6.8mn ha and 2.7mn ha of burnt areas, respectively. Amazon biome Brazil's Amazon biome lost over 17.6mn ha to wildfires in 2024, which accounts for 58pc of the country's total burnt area, up by 62pc from 10.8mn ha a year before. The changes in climate patterns are alarming considering that fires do not occur naturally in the Amazon as is the case in other biomes, MapBiomas' researcher Felipe Martenexen said. Brazil lost 3.6pc — or 1.1mn ha — of its areas to fires in December 2024, down from 1.58mn ha in the same period a year earlier. The Amazon biome represented 88pc of total wildfires in the month, reaching 964,000ha of burnt land. Of that, 37.5pc of damage accounted for forest areas. Brazil's Cerrado biome, which comprises savanah grasslands and forest and makes up 25pc of national land — lost 9.7mn ha to wildfires last year, up by almost 92pc from 2023. Besides natural fire outbreaks in the region, an extended drought season increased burnt areas, MapBiomas said. Wildfire-damaged areas in southern Brazil's Pampa biome, or low grasslands, dropped by 98pc to 3,860ha last year from around 7,640ha in 2023, mostly because of historic floods in May prompted by El Nino's effects in the region during the first half of 2024. Brazil's Caatinga biome, or seasonally dry tropical forest, in the northeast lost around 330,000ha in burnt areas in 2024, down by 47pc from 630,115ha a year before. Burnt areas in the central-western Pantanal biome, or tropical wetland, stood at 1.9mn ha last year, more than doubling from 672,600ha in 2023. The Atlantic forest biome lost 1mn ha to wildfires in the same period, more than fivefold from the nearly 183,900ha a year earlier. Amazon fund Brazil's Bndes development bank will send R45mn from its Amazon fund to firefighters in Mato Grosso to combat wildfires and prevent deforestation, it said today. Mato Grosso is the eight state to receive money from the Amazon fund to combat wildfires and deforestation, Bndes said. The other states are Rondonia, Acre, Amapa, Para, Roraima, Amazonas and Maranhao. In total, the Amazon fund has sent R405mn to these states. The Amazon fund — created by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2008, decommissioned by Jair Bolsonaro during his presidency in 2019-2022 and reactivated by Lula again in 2023 — supports 119 projects and has R2.99bn in its portfolio. Norway, Germany, the US, the UK, Switzerland, Japan and Denmark have also contributed to the fund . By João Curi Atlantic Forest biome burnt areas (ha) Caatinga biome burnt areas (ha) Cerrado biome burnt areas (ha) Pantanal biome burnt areas (ha) Amazon biome burnt areas (ha) Pampa biome burnt areas (ha) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

ACBL issues upper Mississippi River reopening plan

24/01/25

ACBL issues upper Mississippi River reopening plan

Houston, 24 January (Argus) — Major barge carrier American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) has issued its tentative reopening plan for the upper Mississippi River, with release dates as soon as 1 February. Depending on operating conditions, ACBL will begin releasing barges at Mobile, Alabama; Houston, Texas; and Lake Charles, Louisiana, on 1 February for barges destined above St Louis, Missouri, but below Dubuque, Iowa. The barges destined between Dubuque and St Paul, Minnesota, will begin travel as soon as on 11 February at the same locations. Release dates are based on ACBL's anticipated lock reopenings by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Lock 25, upriver of St Louis, Missouri, is scheduled to reopen on 28 February, ACBL said. The main chambers for neighboring locks 27 and Mel Price will still be closed, although the auxiliary locks will be open, according to the Corps. Upper Mississippi Locks 20,18 and 16, between Quincy, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa are expected to reopen 4 March, the Corps said. But these dates remain tentative since freezing conditions may still hamper transit. The Corps typically reopens locks around mid-March depending on ice thickness across multiple locations. By Meghan Yoyotte ACBL's tentative upper Miss. reopening schedule Origin Port Barges destined above St L. to Dubuque, IA Barges destined above Dubuque to St Paul, MN Mobile, AL 1 Feb 11 Feb Houston, TX 1 Feb 11 Feb Lake Charles, LA 1 Feb 11 Feb New Iberia, LA 4 Feb 14 Feb New Orleans, LA 11 Feb 21 Feb Memphis, TN 18 Feb 28 Feb Little Rock, AR 11 Feb 21 Feb Blytheville, AR 19 Feb 1 Mar Pittsburgh, PA 12 Feb 22 Feb Cincinnati, OH 16 Feb 26 Feb Jeffersonville, OH 18 Feb 28 Feb Louisville, KY 18 Feb 28 Feb Evansville, MS 20 Feb 1 Mar Chicago-Joliet, IL 25 Mar 25 Mar Morris, IL-South 20 Feb 1 Mar Nashville, TN 20 Feb 1 Mar Decatur, AL 16 Feb 26 Feb Chattanooga, TN 12 Feb 22 Feb Cairo, IL 28 Feb 9 Mar St. Louis, MO 1 Mar 11 Mar ― ACBL Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Port of Nola reopens after winter storm

24/01/25

Port of Nola reopens after winter storm

Houston, 24 January (Argus) — The port of New Orleans reopened today after a prolonged shut-down propelled by a heavy winter storm that swept through the US Gulf earlier this week. Nola and Ports America reopened today to begin working on the backlog of movement caused by the storm. The port had been officially closed since 19 January in anticipation of the wintry temperatures, heavy precipitation and winds. Several inches of snow fell across New Orleans beginning Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service, with freezing conditions lasting through Thursday. Both ship and barge loadings and unloadings were significantly delayed across terminals. Several shipping and barge companies announced force majeures before the storm but are expected to reopen within the next couple of days, subject to safety conditions. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

S Australia gets OK to use diesel generators for backup

24/01/25

S Australia gets OK to use diesel generators for backup

Adelaide, 24 January (Argus) — Australian federal energy regulator has approved a South Australian (SA) state government bid to temporarily change regulations, ordering two diesel-fired generators in the state to remain available for back-up electricity supply. French utility Engie last year said it would mothball the 63MW Snuggery and 75MW Port Lincoln generators. The SA's Labor energy minister opposed this, and last month wrote to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) to request the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) be given powers to direct this capacity into the market if supply is threatened. The rule change will be enforced until 31 March, and will help secure SA's electricity supply this summer, the AEMC said on 23 January. SA could face load-shedding during cases of reliability shortfalls, especially during extreme weather, without sufficient backup reserves. No objections were received during the fast-tracked process, the AEMC said. SA is highly dependent on renewable power such as solar and wind, especially after closing its last coal plants in the last decade. Its sole connection to the national electricity market is via links to Victoria state. The 800MW EnergyConnect electricity transmission link to New South Wales is still under construction and has been delayed until July 2027, from an original guidance of 2023. About 72pc of SA's power consumption was from renewable sources last year, with gas contributing 24pc and imports from Victoria making up 10pc, leaving the state vulnerable to outages if this connection is damaged. But backup generators are costly to maintain as cheap renewable energy floods the grid, leaving governments stuck between subsidising fossil-fuelled plants or facing politically and economically damaging interruptions to supply. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump tariffs could stall Mexico’s growth: Fitch

23/01/25

Trump tariffs could stall Mexico’s growth: Fitch

Mexico City, 23 January (Argus) — US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico could have a serious impact on Mexico's already sluggish economic growth in 2025, Fitch Ratings said. "Our assumption is that Trump will follow through on some tariff threats," said Todd Martinez, senior director of sovereigns at Fitch Ratings, during a webinar. But potential 25pc tariffs would likely apply only to durable goods, which account for about 10pc of Mexico's exports to the US, thanks to protections under the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement that are likely to protect oil exports, he added. Fitch forecasts Mexico's economy to grow by just 1.1pc in 2025. But this estimate does not include the potential impact of tariffs, even if limited. Should they be implemented, these tariffs could shave 0.8 percentage points off GDP growth, potentially pushing the economy into near-zero growth or a contraction, Martinez said. The uncertainty surrounding the scope, timing, and duration of the tariffs adds to the economic risks. "These tariffs may also serve as a negotiation tool for broader bilateral issues," noted Shelly Shetty, managing director of sovereigns at Fitch Ratings. Exports to the US represent over 25pc of Mexico's annual GDP growth. Additionally, Mexico is home to the largest undocumented population in the US, at around 4.8mn individuals, according to Fitch. While Trump's return to the White House could disrupt Mexico's economy, domestic challenges also threaten growth. Martinez highlighted the judicial reform passed late last year, which will overhaul the judiciary by introducing popular elections for judges and supreme court justices between 2025 and 2027. This reform has already raised concerns among global investors. Mexico's governance index has worsened between 2012 and 2023, according to the World Bank. Fitch also noted that the ruling party Morena's supermajority in congress could further alarm international investors by introducing policies perceived as unfavorable to business. Fitch currently has Mexico's sovereign credit rating at BBB-, its lower medium investment grade, with a stable outlook. By Édgar Sígler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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