Baltimore bridge collapse forces freight changes
Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, has been suspended indefinitely in the wake of a container ship collision early today that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, an accident that will force the rerouting of coal, car and light truck shipments.
The prolonged closure of one of the largest ports on the US east coast could have a ripple effect on trade flows across much of the US, as shippers grapple for alternatives in the absence of a certain reopening timeline.
Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing in the Patapsco River, after the 116,851dwt Dali headed to Colombo, Sri Lanka, slammed into a bridge support. The crew had lost control of the vessel. The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean and managed by Synergy Marine Group.
The Maryland Port Administration said it does not know how long it will take for the shipping channel to be cleared and for traffic to resume. Shipping companies are bracing for a closure of at least two weeks, but many expect the clean-up effort could take significantly longer.
President Joe Biden vowed the federal government will provide whatever resources are needed to get the port "up and running again as soon as possible."
The port is a major trade hub for steam and coking coal, automobiles and scrap metal. Many market sources are still trying to determine whether the disruption will be dramatic enough to move prices.
But coal markets were already being affected today.
Baltimore is home to two key coal export terminals: eastern US railroad CSX's Curtis Bay Coal Piers and coal producer Consol Energy's Consol Marine Terminal. The facilities are upstream of the bridge, meaning ships will not be able to serve them until the route reopens.
The terminals handle thermal and coking coal from Northern and Central Appalachia. They have a combined export capacity of 34mn short tons (30.8mn metric tonnes). The two terminals loaded 2.4mn t of coal in February, up from 2.1mn t a year earlier, according to analytics firm Kpler, mostly exports to India and China.
An India-based trader said that the suspension of coal exports will probably raise prices in India, as brick kilns enter the peak production season in the summer. Buyers could look to petroleum coke as a substitute, but the higher sulphur content may not be appealing to some users despite the higher calorific value.
Prices for deliveries to northern Europe are also likely to rise given that the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium combined are the second-largest market for North Appalachian coal. April API 2 futures rose by $2/t to $113.30/t. The incident has added a "level of volatility [which] could have big implications," a European paper broker said.
The lack of information has prompted some coal producers to hold off on activating force majeure clauses in their contracts.
Curtis Bay is served only by CSX, while CSX and fellow eastern carrier Norfolk Southern serve Consol.
CSX said it is in contact with existing coal customers and contingency plans are being implemented. The railroad at this point intends to keep Curtis Bay open but will continue to assess the circumstances moving forward. Norfolk Southern did not respond to questions.
Some scheduled Baltimore coal exports may be redirected to the other three eastern US coal export terminals in Hampton Roads, Virginia, but such reroutings likely will entail increased costs.
Not all coal mines will be able to shift terminals. Such decisions will depend on available capacity in Hampton Roads. Exports from the three terminals in January reached a five-year high, signaling somewhat limited capacity.
Mine location and railroad access may also determine whether coal can be rerouted, an industry source said. But some producers do not have much of a choice about trying to send coal to Hampton Roads. They may need the cash so will be forced into a decision.
The producers most vulnerable to delays may be Consol and Arch Resources. Arch's Leer coking coal mine may be in the best position because it co-owns Dominion Terminal Associates in Hampton Roads with Alpha Metallurgical Coal Resources.
The sudden lack of export capacity could put a floor under US coal prices, which have mostly been falling since last year amid low domestic demand. The competition to replace Baltimore coal exports could prevent further cuts, another coal trading source said.
Metals sources say the accident will have only isolated effects on the global ferrous scrap market, but many market participants are still assessing the situation. The port is the 10th largest ferrous scrap export port in the US, and over the last five years an average of 44,000 metric tonnes/month of ferrous scrap was exported from Baltimore, according to US Department of Commerce data.
But the port closure is likely to affect other freight. Baltimore is the nation's top handler of automobile traffic.
Motor vehicles and parts accounted for about 42pc of all Baltimore port imports and 27pc of all exports, according to state data. The Port of Baltimore handled 847,158 cars and light trucks in 2023.
"It's too early to say what impact this incident will have on the auto business — but there will certainly be a disruption," said John Bozzella, chief executive of industry trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
Dry bulk freight rates likely unaffected
Several sources told Argus Baltimore's closure is unlikely to have a major impact on dry freight rates despite short-term interruptions to coal transports.
"We are in the shoulder months with less demand for thermal coal," a shipbroker said, suggesting mild global temperatures means the collapse "may not have too much of an impact" on freight markets overall.
Vessel traffic in ports such as Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, may increase on diversions from Baltimore.
Kpler identified 17 vessels that will likely be impacted because they are either in the Port of Baltimore or were expected to load there in the coming days.
Related news posts
Etanol hidratado impulsiona início da safra 2024-25
Etanol hidratado impulsiona início da safra 2024-25
Sao Paulo, 26 April (Argus) — A produção de etanol no Centro-Sul aumentou 7,2pc na primeira quinzena de abril em relação ao ano passado, com produtores ainda favorecendo o hidratado em meio à demanda crescente. As usinas da região entregaram 841.000m³ ao mercado na primeira quinzena da safra de 2024-25, em comparação com 784.000m³ no mesmo período do ano anterior, segundo os dados mais recentes da União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar e Bioenergia (Unica). A produção de etanol hidratado subiu 39pc e impulsionou a alta anual, totalizando 693.000m³. Já o processamento de anidro, utilizado como mistura na gasolina, caiu 48pc, para 174.000m³. As usinas permanecem destinando mais matéria-prima para o E100, em um cenário de paridade favorável para o biocombustível frente à gasolina na bomba. O hidratado está mais vantajoso para os motoristas em 80pc do mercado de combustíveis leves, disse a Unica. As plantas do Centro-Sul venderam 1,3 milhão de m³ de etanol para o mercado doméstico em abril, salto de 41pc na variação anual. As vendas de hidratado representaram 902.355m³ deste total, alta de 61pc, enquanto as de anidro subiram 14pc, para 448.431m³. Já as exportações totalizaram 52.104m³, queda de 6,2pc. O mix de produção na quinzena foi de 56,4pc para o etanol e 43,6pc para o açúcar, em comparação com 62pc para o biocombustível no mesmo intervalo em 2023. No período, a moagem de cana-de-açúcar avançou 14pc, para 15,8 milhões de t, à medida que a temporada inicia suas operações. Até 16 de abril, 171 usinas estavam operando no ciclo de 2024-25, número maior do que as 166 no mesmo intervalo do ano anterior. A Unica espera que mais 54 unidades recomecem as atividades durante a segunda metade do mês. O etanol à base de milho representou 32pc do volume total produzido na primeira parte de abril, somando 270.500m³, crescimento de 12pc na comparação anual. Por Laura Guedes Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
Lyondell Houston refinery to run at 95pc in 2Q
Lyondell Houston refinery to run at 95pc in 2Q
Houston, 26 April (Argus) — LyondellBasell plans to run its 264,000 b/d Houston, Texas, refinery at average utilization rates of 95pc in the second quarter and may convert its hydrotreaters to petrochemical production when the plant shuts down in early 2025. The company's sole crude refinery ran at an average 79pc utilization rate in the first quarter due to planned maintenance on a coking unit , the company said in earnings released today . "We are evaluating options for the potential reuse of the hydrotreaters at our Houston refinery to purify recycled and renewable cracker feedstocks," chief executive Peter Vanacker said on a conference call today discussing earnings. Lyondell said last year a conversion would feed the company's two 930,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr steam crackers at its Channelview petrochemicals complex. The company today said it plans to make a final investment decision on the conversion in 2025. Hydrotreater conversions — such as one Chevron completed last year at its 269,000 b/d El Segundo, California, refinery — allow the unit to produce renewable diesel, which creates renewable naphtha as a byproduct. Renewable naphtha can be used as a gasoline blending component, steam cracker feed or feed for hydrogen producing units, according to engineering firm Topsoe. Lyondell last year said the Houston refinery will continue to run until early 2025, delaying a previously announced plan to stop crude processing by the end of 2023. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US M&A deals dip after record 1Q: Enverus
US M&A deals dip after record 1Q: Enverus
New York, 26 April (Argus) — US oil and gas sector mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are likely to slow for the rest of the year following a record $51bn in deals in the first quarter, consultancy Enverus says. Following an unprecedented $192bn of upstream deals last year, the Permian shale basin continued to dominate first-quarter M&A as firms competed for the remaining high-quality inventory on offer. Acquisitions were led by Diamondback Energy's $26bn takeover of Endeavor Energy Resources. Other private operators, such as Mewbourne Oil and Fasken Oil & Ranch, would be highly sought after if they decided to put themselves up for sale, Enverus says. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU adopts Net-Zero Industry Act
EU adopts Net-Zero Industry Act
London, 26 April (Argus) — Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have adopted Net-Zero Industry Act, which plans to allocate funds towards the production of net-zero technologies. The act provides a pathway to scale up development and production of technologies that are critical towards meeting the EU's recommendation of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. This would include solar panels, electrolysers and fuel cells, batteries, heat pumps, onshore and offshore wind turbines, grid technologies, sustainable biomethane, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS). The act is designed to help simplify the regulatory framework for the manufacture of these technologies in order to incentivise European production and supply. It also sets a target of 40pc production within the EU for its annual "deployment needs" of these technologies by 2030. Time limits will be instated on permit grants for manufacturing projects, at 12 months if the manufacturing capacity is under 1 GW/yr and 18 months for those above that. It will introduce time limits of nine months for "net-zero strategic projects" of less than 1 GW/yr and 12 months for those above. This is further complemented by the introduction of net-zero strategic projects for CO2 storage, to help support the development of CCS technology. The act was met with positive reactions from the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA), which said the bill will set the benchmark for member states to match 40pc of the deployment needs for clean fuels for shipping with production capacity. ECSA said the Net-Zero Industry Act will be instrumental in supporting the shipping industry to meet targets set under FuelEU Maritime regulations , which are set to come into effect next year. By Hussein Al-Khalisy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. 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