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Brazil turpentine shipments delayed by port backlogs

  • Spanish Market: Chemicals
  • 25/07/24

Brazilian gum turpentine export shipments are being delayed by isotank availability that is significantly tightening owing to difficult booking schedules and port congestion in Asia-Pacific.

Delays are close to a month for shipments going to India, sources said. In some cases vessels have been at a port for weeks, adding to delays caused by difficult booking schedules.

With a number of Brazilian ports handling more goods than before, including Brazil's key port for pine chemicals exports Santos where cargo in the first half of 2024 hit a record for the period. There has also been congestion at Asian ports.

"There is chaos in southeast Asia," a buyer in Asia said. "Ship lines confirm bookings just to cancel them later."

India is Brazil's largest gum turpentine buyer, with most going into the camphor and aroma chemical markets during peak season in the second half of the year. India imported 12,509t of gum turpentine from Brazil in 2023, Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data show, the second highest since at least 2015. In 2022, India imported a record 12,944t of Brazilian gum turpentine, according to GTT.

Volatile gum turpentine freight rates from Brazil to India has now incentivised several Brazilian suppliers to shift from cif to fob-based sales to avoid the risk of unpredictable isotank costs. Gum turpentine freight rates from Brazil to India have risen to around $7,000-7,500 per isotank from $2,500-3,000 levels in January 2024, one customer said.

The escalating freight rates continue to put upwards pressure on the Brazil gum turpentine market, with prices rising amid steady demand from India, the US and Mexico.

Brazilian Pinus elliottii gum turpentine spot export prices were assessed at $2,200-$2,250/t fob, Brazil port, on 15 July, up by more than 25pc from $1,650-$1,800/t fob, Brazil port, at the same time last year. The export prices are higher this year because of stronger demand from the US flavours and fragrance market, firm business activity into India and Mexico and lower buyer stocks.


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30/01/25

US PVC producers weigh cutbacks on lower margins

US PVC producers weigh cutbacks on lower margins

Houston, 30 January (Argus) — US polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producers are weighing operation cutbacks in February after grappling with deteriorating sales margins underpinned by elevated feedstock costs and stagnant end-product values. PVC producer profitability eroded in January as prices for key feedstock ethylene leapt to four-month highs by mid-January, various sources said. Ethylene is a main component in ethylene dichloride (EDC) manufacturing, which is then cracked into vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) before being converted into PVC. Some domestic PVC production is fully integrated and feature ethylene crackers, but many producers still purchase spot or contract ethylene and remain exposed to price fluctuations in the spot market. Spot US ethylene prices to-date in January have averaged 18pc higher than in December and 66pc higher than in January 2024, according to Argus data. Meanwhile, PVC spot values in Houston appreciated at a much slower rate between December and January, climbing by 1pc. Elevated ethylene spot prices are expected to persist in the near-term, maintaining pressure on PVC margins, due to planned maintenance and recovery from unplanned shutdowns in mid-January stemming from sub-freezing temperatures that gripped the US Gulf coast. The expectation for ethylene values to persist at current levels is anticipated to result in PVC production cutbacks, according to several exporters. Some producers, though, remain incentivized to maintain operating rates after bringing online expanded capacity last year. Formosa and Shintech collectively brought more than 500,000 metric tonne (t)/year of new PVC capacity on line during the second half of 2024. The ramp up in added capacity coincided with increasing trade barriers into key offshore destinations, which is expected to keep more volumes within the US while consumer demand outlooks this year remain cautiously optimistic . US buyers are unsure if domestic demand will be strong enough in 2025 to absorb additional volume, placing a ceiling on upward price direction. Exporters are even less optimistic operating in a global market increasingly defined by anti-dumping duties and plentiful Chinese supply. Domestic contract negotiations have highlighted the contrast between higher operating costs and a well-supplied PVC market. Producers cited higher operating costs to argue against lower contract negotiations in January, especially after prices fell in October and November. Several producers announced increases for February volumes, with some rising as high as 5¢/lb. But buyers said current demand does not support increases and instead view price hikes as to recapture lost margin. While producers sought price stability for January monthly contracts, they are also competing to lock in volume commitments through 2025 with aggressive annual contract discussions. Producers are trying to establish a price floor domestically by limiting price erosion among already-low-priced customers, but the additional capacity has made steeper price concessions difficult to avoid in other instances. One evolving upstream market variable is a firmer US Gulf coast spot export caustic soda market, which could encourage producers to maintain current rates and delay any cuts. Integrated PVC producers also manufacture chlorine and caustic soda through chlor-alkali units. Caustic soda is a co-product of chlorine — the latter a key feedstock in EDC production — and price swings in chlorine or caustic soda values can influence production decisions for PVC manufacturers. Caustic soda export prices from the US Gulf coast this week rose by $10/dry metric tonne (dmt) from the prior week and remains 8pc higher than the same week last year, according to Argus data. Tightened spot supply availability is a tailwind for spot values in the near-term, but values remain 24pc lower than peak levels in September when caustic soda prices last offset tighter PVC margins. By Aaron May and Connor Hyde 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
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.

Major NOLA terminals closed for winter storm


21/01/25
21/01/25

Major NOLA terminals closed for winter storm

Houston, 21 January (Argus) — The port of New Orleans remains closed on Tuesday afternoon due to US Gulf coast snow storms, causing terminals to shut or declare force majeures. Port officials cut off water supplies to port facilities beginning 19 January because of freezing temperatures, significant snowfall and high winds forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS). Operations are expected to be down at least for the rest of today. Host's United Bulk Terminal location at Nola declared force majeure on 20 January because of an expected 3-6 inches of snowfall. The port of Lake Charles in Louisiana also closed on 20 January and the Sabine-Neches Waterway on the Texas-Louisiana border was closed on 21 January. Associated Terminals at Nola closed its doors early on 21 January due to the storm. The company said vessels will be discharged once weather conditions improve and personnel are able to return to the site, but did not give a specific date. Major barge line ARTco, the transportation arm of ADM, shut down operations as well and is anticipated to return to 22 January if weather permits. CGB Barge has also halted operations in New Orleans and is waiting for conditions to improve before resuming work. Arctic conditions are anticipated at the port through Thursday, according to the NWS. Travel will be hazardous due to the snow, ice and wind chill of up to 20mph. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ingevity mulls performance chemicals, CTO refinery sale


17/01/25
17/01/25

Ingevity mulls performance chemicals, CTO refinery sale

London, 17 January (Argus) — US-based specialty chemicals producer Ingevity is considering the sale of its performance chemical industrial specialties product line and its crude tall oil (CTO) refinery in North Charleston, South Carolina. Industrial specialties go into the paper chemical, rubber, adhesive, oilfield and lubricants markets. A secondary refinery at the North Charleston manufacturing plant, which has capabilities to refine CTO and oleochemicals, is not included in the review, the company told Argus . Nor is its performance chemicals road technologies product line, nor certain lignin-based products reported in the company's specialty product line. Ingevity said exiting most of its specialties product line will help it focus on higher margin and growth opportunities, but added said it cannot assure the process will result in a transaction. The company expects to communicate further plans before year-end, but does not intend to disclose additional developments until it is determined that disclosure is appropriate. Market participants told Argus the announcement opens up opportunities for either a new or an existing pine chemicals company seeking to operate in the US market. One said flexibility into the potential terms of a deal would probably help Ingevity find a buyer. But uncertainties over agreements with other service providers would make a deal more complex, another said. The closure of Ingevity's CTO fractionation sites in DeRidder , Louisiana, in 2024, and the conversion of a facility in Crossett ,Arkansas, in 2023 to run 100pc on non-tall oil fatty acids cut US CTO refining capacity by 30pc or 300,000t, sources have estimated. The measures also led to reduced domestic CTO consumption into fractionation and local tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) supply for the lower-rosin grades, sources said. TOFA is a fraction obtained by the distilling of CTO feedstock. By Leonardo Siqueira Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Malaysian crude palm oil futures fall


17/01/25
17/01/25

Malaysian crude palm oil futures fall

Singapore, 17 January (Argus) — Benchmark crude palm oil (CPO) futures on the Bursa Malaysia Exchange fell by 197 ringgit/t ($44/t) or 4pc on the week to 4,183 ringgit/t by the 4:30pm Singapore close. The CPO futures declined over four straight sessions from 14 January to the lowest level in three months, likely following a reported fall in CPO exports for a second month in December , according to Malaysian palm oil board (Mpob) data. The recent export suspension for palm oil mill effluent (Pome) oil and used cooking oil (UCO) by Indonesia has also resulted in uncertainty for Indonesian CPO supply, as the country's trade ministry alleged CPO was blended into the waste oil pool and exported out under Pome oil or UCO HS codes. The upcoming mandate for a higher 40pc palm oil-based biodiesel blend is also expected to come into effect by end-February , further limiting CPO availability. Malaysia maintained its CPO export levy rate at 10pc for February 2025, but lowered the reference price to 4,817.70 ringgit/t from 5,001.72 ringgit/t a month, earlier in line with a 7pc year-to-date fall in the CPO futures. Market participants suggested Indonesia may raise its palm oil export levy to 10pc, matching the Malaysian levy rate. The government is expected to announce further measures to restrict waste oil exports and boost funding for its B40 mandate, possibly early next week. With CPO futures returning to a discount to rival soybean oil futures in January, as well as lower Indonesian CPO availability, CPO could see price support from buyers switching and lower overall supply in the market. By Malcolm Goh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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