Port Tampa Bay begins hurricane recovery

Spanish Market: Fertilizers, Oil products
10/10/24

Port Tampa Bay, Florida, docks did not sustain significant damage from Hurricane Milton, the port authority said early today, a positive sign for resuming fuel imports into the storm ravaged state.

Some port buildings were damaged and power remains out, according to preliminary assessments, but the port docks appear to have escaped major damage, according to the port authority. Many roads leading to the port remain flooded, but the port's main gates are accessible.

Port Tampa Bay officials are working with the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard and others to assess landside and seaside operations. There is no currrent timeline for the port's re-opening.

Nearly half of Florida's supply of petroleum and refined products passes through Port Tampa Bay, the majority via waterborne cargo from the US Gulf coast. Tampa Bay is also the site of major fertilizer operations, including Mosaic's Riverview phosphate plant.

Chevron's Tampa refined products terminal remains closed and damage assessments will begin once crews can safely access the facility, a company spokesperson said just after 11am ET today. The company's terminals in Panama City and Port Everglades are operational.

Fuel terminal operators at Port Tampa Bay such as Citgo, Kinder Morgan, Global Partners and Buckeye Partners told Argus they are currently evaluating their facilities to determine when they can resume operations. Individual port tenants will decide independently when to restart their own activities.

By Cooper Sukaly and Nathan Risser

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

12/05/25

Naphtha no longer competitive feedstock: Braskem

Sao Paulo, 12 May (Argus) — Brazil-based petrochemical producer Braskem is pursuing a strategic shift in polymers production by favoring natural gas liquid (NGL) feedstocks and moving away from naphtha. Naphtha is no longer a competitive feedstock in the petrochemical sector, driving the need for greater flexibility in raw material sourcing, chief executive Roberto Ramos said Monday on the company's first-quarter earnings call. The transition to lighter feedstocks is part of a broader initiative to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve competitiveness amid evolving global petrochemical dynamics, Ramos said. The company's plan focuses on increasing the use of ethane and propane as primary feedstocks in Mexico and Brazil. In Mexico, Braskem has inaugurated an ethane import terminal, which will provide a stable supply to its operations. The facility has the capacity to store 80,000 b/d of ethane, while the polyethylene (PE) plant processes 66,000 b/d. This surplus storage has prompted considerations for a new PE unit in Mexico to maximize the available feedstock. In Brazil, Braskem aims to reduce reliance on naphtha-based PE production by integrating more natural gas-derived inputs. The company is evaluating projects to utilize feedstocks sourced from shale gas extracted in Argentina's Vaca Muerta formation. The petrochemical complex in Rio Grande do Sul, which operates with a mixture of naphtha and natural gas, is among the facilities targeted for increased gas utilization. Braskem's Rio de Janeiro facility is also undergoing expansion of its gas-based assets, adding two new furnaces that crack ethane and propane to increase capacity to 700,000 t/yr. This increased production is anticipated to lower unit production costs and improve profitability. The move to gas-based production is expected to optimize operations and align Braskem's facilities with cost-effective supply chains, Ramos said. The shift comes as global trade dynamics continue to influence raw material availability. While US-China trade agreements have temporarily eased tariff pressures, Braskem is trying to position itself to navigate long-term supply chain uncertainties by diversifying its production inputs. Ramos has also indicated potential investments in ethanol dehydration technology, which would allow select facilities to convert ethanol into ethylene, further supporting PE production with an alternative renewable feedstock. Production and sales Braskem said its first-quarter domestic resin sales fell by 4pc from the same period in 2024, but sales were little changed from the prior quarter. Domestic resin sales totalled 807,000 metric tonnes (t) in the first quarter, down from 839,000t a year earlier. Resin sales volumes remained in line with the fourth quarter last year, but the company highlighted a quarter-on-quarter increase in PE and polypropylene (PP) sales volumes of 2pc and 3pc, respectively, offset by a 16pc reduction in PVC sales. In Mexico, Braskem Idesa's PE sales fell by 11pc from the same period in 2024 and by 5pc quarter-on-quarter, as the company is looking to manage inventory ahead of a planned maintenance shutdown in the second quarter. The plant utilization rate reached 79pc, rising from the fourth quarter on higher ethane availability through the Fast Track solution. But utilization fell by four percentage points year-on-year, mainly due to reduced supply of ethane from Mexico's Pemex. Braskem posted a first-quarter profit of $114mn, rebounding from a loss of $273mn a year earlier and a loss of $967mn in the fourth quarter last year. By Fred Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU, UK diesel imports from Mideast, India fall in April

12/05/25

EU, UK diesel imports from Mideast, India fall in April

London, 12 May (Argus) — Arrivals of diesel and other gasoil in the EU and UK edged lower in April, with high imports from Saudi Arabia's port of Yanbu not fully making up for lower supply from the Mideast Gulf and India. Data from Vortexa show total arrivals at 4.3mn t, lower by 3pc from March on a daily average basis and by 7pc on the year. The Mideast Gulf is the region that has supplied the most to the EU and UK so far this year, stepping up to fill a gap created by weak US arrivals. But market participants said the arbitrage from the Mideast Gulf was shut for most of April. Arrivals from the Mideast Gulf were around 1mn t, dropping by 24pc on a daily average basis from March but only marginally falling from April 2024. Exports from the region probably fell because of maintenance at the 400,000 b/d Rabigh refinery. Geopolitical tensions may have harmed transit through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The EU and UK imported the largest amount from Saudi Arabia, at 1.3mn t or around 29pc of total arrivals. Around 68pc of Saudi Arabian arrivals, or about 780,000t, came from the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the largest amount from there since December 2020. Yanbu is just south of the Suez Canal, and market participants often treat it similarly to a Mediterranean port when calculating arbitrage economics. Arrivals from India dropped sharply in April, again probably driven by poor arbitrage economics. Arrivals fell by 45pc on the month on a daily average basis and by 33pc on the year, to 455,000t. Only five tankers arrived in the EU and UK from India, compared with 13 in April 2024. Reliance's 1.36mn b/d Jamnagar refinery conducted maintenance on a crude unit in April, and domestic demand reached an all-time high. Imports from the US, the EU's and UK's largest supplier in 2024, remained muted. Arrivals rose by 17pc on the month on a daily average basis to 562,000t, but were still only half the amount of April last year. Spain was the largest EU/UK importer, with 745,000t, the highest since May 2024. Imports may have risen because of maintenance at Repsol's 135,000 b/d Puertollano and 180,000 b/d Tarragona refineries . German arrivals were 493,000t, the highest since January 2023, up by 13pc on the year and more than double levels of March. Shell began to close its 147,000 b/d Wesseling refinery in March, and a turnaround took place at the Bayernoil consortium's 215,000 b/d Vohburg-Neustadt refinery. Demand stepped up, with households taking advantage of lower prices to stockpile product. By Josh Michalowski Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India, Pakistan reach US-mediated, fragile ceasefire

11/05/25

India, Pakistan reach US-mediated, fragile ceasefire

Dubai, 11 May (Argus) — A US-mediated ceasefire reached on Saturday between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan is still holding, following four days of intense fighting. "After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE," US president Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday. India and Pakistan will now start negotiations on a broad set of issues at a neutral site, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on social media platform X. India's military on 7 May launched attacks against targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for an April terrorist attack that killed dozens. But by Saturday, the two countries seemed to be edging toward all-out war, as their militaries targeted each other's bases. India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirmed the ceasefire, saying on X that "India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so." Pakistan "responded positively to the ceasefire proposal for regional and global peace, and its people and I hope that dialogue will now be chosen for resolution of water and Kashmir disputes," Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a televised address. Trump also praised leaders of both countries for agreeing to halt the aggression and said he would "substantially" increase trade with them, although this was "not even discussed". Kashmir is a contested area between India and Pakistan, and the two have twice gone to a war over the region. Fear of the conflict spreading roiled global financial markets. India is the region's second-biggest oil buyer after China — importing around 4.5mn b/d last year — and a major customer for other commodities, including LNG and coal. Pakistan also imports fertilizers, coal, oil products and LNG. The escalation between the two severely limited direct trade between them. Airlines in the region as well as some Mideast Gulf carriers rerouted or cancelled flights to avoid Pakistani airspace. But the Pakistan Airports Authority said on Saturday that "Pakistan's airspace has been fully reopened for all types of flights." By Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ethiopia’s EABC still needs up to 400,000t DAP in 2025

09/05/25

Ethiopia’s EABC still needs up to 400,000t DAP in 2025

London, 9 May (Argus) — Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses (EABC) will close a tender to buy 425,390t of DAP on 13 May. Argus estimates it needs to secure the majority of this volume to meet the country's phosphates demand for the 2025 application season. Across all tenders to buy DAP that EABC opened between August 2024-May 2025, the importer awarded 1.16mn t across 18 cargoes. Of this awarded total, Argus estimates only up to 750,000t is likely to be delivered to Ethiopia in a timely manner. This is because some of these awarded cargoes — largely Chinese — did not have firm backing from producers. And the bulk of the awarded Chinese cargoes — which made up almost half of all the awarded cargoes — were not shipped while Chinese producers focused on covering domestic demand. In recent years, Ethiopia had imported phosphate in the form of NPS and NPSB through EABC tenders, generally all from Morocco. But in August 2024, ahead of the 2025 domestic season, EABC switched from importing NPS to asking for DAP 18-46. In its last tender to buy NPS, issued in August 2023, EABC asked for around 1mn t of NPSB and 332,000t of NPS containing 37.7pc and 38pc P2O5, respectively. On a P2O5 basis, the 2023 NPS tender asked for a total of around 1.1mn t of DAP-equivalent. This implies EABC needs to line up a further 350,000-400,000t of DAP, assuming a similar demand for P2O5 as last year. Argus line-up data shows 1.046mn t of NPS shipped from Morocco's Jorf Lasfar to Djibouti in the 12 months following August 2023. On a P2O5 basis, this is probably equivalent to only around 900,000t of DAP. EABC would need to buy 150,000-200,000t more to reach this level. Chinese DAP will probably dominate offers into EABC's 13 May tender. After a hiatus of around six months, Chinese suppliers will likely be able to apply for customs inspections under the CIQ system from mid-May for DAP and MAP cargoes. This implies Chinese DAP exports will resume from as early as late May, in time to meet EABC's requirements. Time running out for Ethiopia's season EABC is likely to struggle to secure the remaining DAP needed before the end of Ethiopia's domestic season. Planting during Ethiopia's Meher — the main rainy season — broadly spans from March to June. In its latest tender to buy DAP, closing on 13 May, EABC asked for a loading period up to mid-July. In 2024, the final cargoes under EABC's 2023-24 tender to buy NPS had already arrived in Djibouti by that time. Under the 23 April and 13 May EABC tenders, cargoes loading in June — particularly from closer origins like Saudi Arabia — could still arrive in time to service the tail end of Ethiopia's DAP season. But the bulk of the country's application season will likely have been missed by then. EABC's next tenders will likely be targeting supply for the 2026 domestic season. DAP is more expensive Tender awards are limited by EABC's allocation of funds for DAP before offers are collected. The importer received eight 60,000t offers ranging from $696.27-748.00/t fob with 30 days of credit in its 23 April tender, and awarded only the lowest offer before scrapping the tender and issuing a fresh one. It rejected revised offers in its 20 February and 25 March tenders, which were above its counterbids at $625/t fob and $647.19/t fob, respectively. Awards in the 13 May tender will likely remain difficult because prices in the global DAP market have risen. DAP prices in India — the global DAP benchmark and a key competitor to Ethiopia — are now around $720/t cfr, up significantly from $590/t cfr at the beginning of August 2024. DAP could go elsewhere Any DAP which Ethiopia does not acquire will find willing buyers elsewhere in south and southeast Asia. India began May with around 1.64mn t of DAP in stock — well below a comfortable 2mn t minimum — and will need to boost imports to build its inventories. Bangladesh will likely issue a private-sector tender in the coming weeks, probably seeking around 500,000t or more of DAP. China is traditionally its main supplier, especially through its private-sector tenders. Demand in southeast Asia has generally seen an uptick because of high rainfall, and many buyers have been holding out for the resumption of Chinese exports. DAP prices have reached $700-715/t cfr southeast Asia on latest sales, but offers are climbing higher. And Pakistan will likely step into the import market to secure tonnes for July-August arrival, ahead of the peak of its domestic season from the end of the third quarter. EABC received offers for Jordanian and Saudi Arabian DAP loading in May in its 23 April tender. It rejected the offers, allowing India to buy probably the same cargoes at $719.50/t cfr earlier this month. By Adrien Seewald Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

White House ends use of carbon cost

09/05/25

White House ends use of carbon cost

Washington, 9 May (Argus) — The US is ending its use of a metric for estimating the economic damages from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the latest reversal of climate change policies supported by President Donald Trump's predecessors. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) this week directed federal agencies to stop using the social cost of carbon as part of any regulatory or decision-making practices, except in cases where it is required by law, citing the need "remove any barriers put in place by previous administrations" that restrict the ability of the US to get the most benefit "from our abundant natural resources". "Under this guidance, the circumstances where agencies will need to engage in monetized greenhouse gas emission analysis will be few to none," OMB said in a 5 May memo to federal agencies. In cases where such an analysis is required by law, agencies should limit their work "to the minimum consideration required" and address only the domestic effects, unless required by law. OMB said these steps are needed to ensure sound regulatory decisions and avoid misleading the public because the uncertainties of such analyses "are too great". The budget office issued the guidance in response to an executive order Trump issued on his first day in office, which also disbanded an interagency working group on the social cost of carbon and called for faster permitting for domestic oil and gas production and the termination of various orders issued by former president Joe Biden related to combating climate change. The metric, first established by the administration of former US president Barack Obama, has been subject to a tug of war between Democrats and Republicans. Trump, in his first term, slashed the value of the social cost of carbon, a move Biden later reversed . Biden then directed agencies to fold the metric into their procurement processes and environmental reviews. The US began relying on the cost estimate in 2010, offering a way to estimate the full costs and benefits of climate-related regulations. The Biden administration estimated the global cost of emitting CO2 at $120-$340/metric tonne and included it in rules related to cars, trucks, residential appliances, ozone standards, methane emission rules, refineries and federal oil and gas leases. By Michael Ball Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more