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Poland's Azoty nears sale of PDH/PP plant to Orlen

  • Spanish Market: LPG, Petrochemicals
  • 17/01/25

Poland's chemical conglomerate Grupa Azoty is nearing a sale of its 437,000 t/yr propane dehydrogenation (PDH) and 429,000 t/yr polypropylene (PP) plant to compatriot oil company Orlen.

Azoty and Orlen have been discussing potential partnerships over the PDH/PP plant, in Police, since September 2024. Those talks "clearly confirm" the aim of the negotiations would be to sell the entire plant, or at least a stake in it, to Orlen, Azoty said.

The companies agreed to negotiate a potential transaction by 31 March, although the deadline can be extended if required.

Azoty is intensifying efforts to divest assets as it tries to turn around loss-making operations and offload more than 9bn zlotys ($2.17bn) in debt that is predominantly loans taken out to build the PDH/PP plant.

In November Azoty said the PDH/PP plant is gradually ramping up production, but that it needs time to stabilise output and reach capacity to ensure economic feasibility.


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14/02/25

Republic Services finishes Indiana sorting center build

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.

Upper Mississippi River ice tops 5-year average


13/02/25
13/02/25

Upper Mississippi River ice tops 5-year average

Houston, 13 February (Argus) — Ice measurements taken Wednesday to gauge when barges can transit the upper Mississippi River exceeded the five-year average, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The annual Lake Pepin ice reports — taken by the Corps in February and March at Lake Pepin south of Minneapolis — are a bellwether for when barge transit can resume on the upper Mississippi River. This year's first report found ice at the lake was 19in thick on 12 February, 8in thicker than last year's measurement and 3in above the five-year average. The Corps' initial report last year found only 11in of ice at the lake, thin enough for waterborne traffic to break through. Subsequent reports were cancelled after the Corps said it would be too hazardous for crews and equipment to take additional measurements. Locks along the upper Mississippi River are anticipated to remain closed through 3 March, the Rock Island Corps district in Illinois said on 5 February. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

ACBL sets release dates for Illinois River lock


13/02/25
13/02/25

ACBL sets release dates for Illinois River lock

Houston, 13 February (Argus) — Major barge carrier American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) has issued its earliest release dates for Illinois River barges planning to transit the Lockport Lock, which closed for maintenance last month. Release dates will be from 23 February through 19 March for barges expecting to pass through the Lockport Lock over the spring season, ACBL said Wednesday. The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) expects to reopen the Lockport Lock on 25 March, the Corps said when it announced the closure . The Corps closed the lock on 28 January to install new vertical lift gates and make repairs. The closure has cut off major trade hubs such as Chicago, Illinois, and Burns Harbor, Indiana, from Illinois River barge transportation. Lock 27 and the Mel Price Lock above St Louis will remain partially closed through 1 April, as they are also undergoing maintenance by the Corps, ACBL said. The barge line acknowledged higher demurrage rates were likely for those who loaded barges prior to the released dates. Initial transit on the Illinois River is also anticipated to have a significant backlog in the spring months. By Meghan Yoyotte ACBL's Illinois River release dates Origin Port Barges destined above Lockport Lock, on IL River Mobile, AL 25 Feb Houston, TX 23 Feb Weeks Island, LA 26 Feb New Orleans, LA 3 Mar Pittsburgh, PA 2 Mar Cincinnati, OH 5 Mar Decatur, AL 10 Mar Memphis, TN 10 Mar Evanscille, IN 12 Mar Cairo, IL 16 Mar St Louis, MO 19 Mar — ACBL Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Sanctions complicate Syria’s access to crude, products


13/02/25
13/02/25

Sanctions complicate Syria’s access to crude, products

Dubai, 13 February (Argus) — Syria is struggling to secure crude and refined oil products through public tenders because shipowners remain cautious about sending vessels there in case they are detained, traders say. Syria's transitional government issued tenders seeking 4.2mn bl of crude, 80,000t of 90 Ron gasoline and 100,000t each of fuel oil and gasoil last month — the first since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December last year. The tenders closed earlier this month after minimal participation from trading firms and were mostly awarded to local companies which will effectively act as intermediaries, market participants said. Market participants have hinted to Argus that small and medium-sized Turkish firms were likely on the list of bidders . But the delivery of the cargoes is under threat, with shipping companies avoiding the route over concerns about tankers being "sanctioned or stranded". Last month the US waived sanctions prohibiting energy trade with Syria, but the country is still under EU and UK sanctions, which could have narrowed the pool for bidding, although EU foreign ministers have agreed on a roadmap to ease restrictions. The bidding pool was also limited by a clause in the tender document that noted "the seller should not have any direct or indirect trade relations with any country that is in war with Syria", a market source said, adding that this could have discouraged some companies from taking part. Before Assad's removal, Syria relied heavily on Iran for crude and product supplies. But Tehran — the Assad regime's closest ally — ceased shipments after the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took control last month, leaving the new transitional government under pressure to find alternative suppliers. Neighbouring Arab countries are stepping in to help the new government deal with acute fuel shortages. State-owned Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company has begun exporting around 500 t/d of LPG to Syria. The ministry also issued two LPG import tenders seeking a total of 86,000t, but the winner has not been confirmed By Rithika Krishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump bans federal use of paper drinking straws


11/02/25
11/02/25

Trump bans federal use of paper drinking straws

Houston, 11 February (Argus) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to ban the procurement of paper drinking straws by the US government and to take steps toward enacting a similar ban nationwide. An "irrational" campaign against plastic straws had forced Americans to use "nonfunctional" paper straws that are more expensive and may pose a risk to human health, Trump said in the order signed Monday. Health risks include the leaching of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from paper straws into drinks, the White House said. The order signed on Monday bans the purchase of paper straws for use in federal buildings and requires within 45 days the development of a " National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws". Former president Joe Biden had directed the federal government to end the use of single-use plastic in food applications by 2027. The Plastics Industry Association praised the executive order. "Plastic is the best material for nearly everything it is used for, while being sustainable," Plastics Industry Association chief executive Matt Seaholm said. "Straws are just the beginning — 'Back to Plastic' is a movement we should all get behind." Plastic straws are typically made from polypropylene. Environmental group Greenpeace USA accused Trump of signing the order as a distraction from his administration's moves to prevent federal institutions from protecting Americans from microplastics and "dangerous chemicals". By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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