STB chair Oberman to leave rail agency on 10 May
US Surface Transportation Board (STB) chairman Martin Oberman (D) said today that he would retire in two weeks, though a replacement has not been named.
Oberman informed President Joe Biden of his decision in a letter earlier today.
Oberman said in mid-November 2023 that he would exit the agency in early 2024. His five-year term expired on 31 December but he continued to serve into his one-year holdover term.
No additional details have been announced, but vice chairman Karen Hedlund (D) is expected to lead the rail regulator until a formal appointment has been made.
Chairman Oberman's "commitment to exploring all sides of an issue was pivotal in helping to find solutions for stakeholders," the Freight Rail Customer Alliance said.
National Grain and Feed Association chief executive Mike Seyfert said pointed to Oberman's actions in working toward significant regulatory milestones for agricultural shippers and railroads.
Under Oberman's leadership, STB has moved forward on long-standing proposal to allow reciprocal switching. The switching plan would allow a shipper served by a single railroad to request that its freight be transferred to another major railroad at a designated interchange point.
STB is expected to act on reciprocal switching as early as this month, after introducing a plan tied to railroad service performance in September 2023.
His term was also highlighted by several major industry events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern and the 2022 rail service crisis.
Oberman was nominated by former US president Donald Trump in July 2018. His appointment was confirmed by the US Senate in January 2019 and he was appointed chairman by President Joe Biden in January 2021.
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La Nina outlook offers boost to Australian agriculture
La Nina outlook offers boost to Australian agriculture
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Australia’s IPL fertiliser sale process 'advanced'
Australia’s IPL fertiliser sale process 'advanced'
Singapore, 16 May (Argus) — Australian chemicals and fertilizer producer Incitec Pivot (IPL) said the sale of its fertilizer business, first proposed last year, is now in "advanced negotiations". The potential sale of Incitec Pivot Fertilizers (IPF) to Indonesian producer Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (PKT) is subject to agreeing and executing final binding transaction documents, although there is no certainty that any deal will be reached or that any sale will occur, IPL said its financial report for its October 2023-March 2024 half year on 16 May. While IPL considering the sale of its fertilizer unit first emerged in July 2023, it was unclear who the interested buyers were. PKT is a subsidiary of state-owned fertilizer group Pupuk Indonesia Holdings and has production capacity of 2.74mn t/yr of ammonia, 3.43mn t/yr of urea and 300,000 t/yr of NPKs. Should the deal eventuate, the Indonesian producer intends to continue supplying fertilizers to Australia, support the retention of IPF's workforce and grow IPF's business in Australia, PKT confirmed to IPL. IPL reported a 77pc year-on-year fall in its first-half earnings before interest and tax (ebit) to A$10mn ($6.7mn). This was mainly attributed to the closure of Gibson Island that was producing ammonia, urea, granular ammonium sulphate and diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue, as well as reduced manufacturing performance at Phosphate Hill in Queensland with a capacity of 1mn t/yr of DAP, MAP and specialty products. But its distribution business was supported by firm demand and a well-managed fertilizer supply chain with its first-half ebit more than doubling from a year earlier to A$27mn, which partially offset a weaker manufacturing performance. By Huijun Yao Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia’s live cattle exports slip back in April
Australia’s live cattle exports slip back in April
Sydney, 16 May (Argus) — Australian cattle exports fell in April from a month earlier as demand from Indonesia waned, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) data show. Live cattle exports fell by 20pc to 60,521 head in April, as Indonesian demand dropped by 16pc but still made up 86pc of the monthly total. Indonesian imports rose sharply in March , likely in preparation for the end of Islamic fasting month Ramadan celebrations in early April. Total exports may have also been affected by the continued wet season in northern Australia, supporting domestic prices and motivating producers to retain stock. The fall was partially offset by increased exports to Vietnam that rose by 37pc in April from March and comprised a 14pc share of shipments. January-April exports were 20pc higher than the same period of 2023. Australia as at 3 May has used 16pc of the total quota of 672,669 head of live male cattle under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, according to DAFF. By Edward Dunlop Australia live cattle exports (head) Apr '24 Mar '24 Apr '23 Apr '22 Apr '21 Jan-Apr '24 Jan-Apr '23 Jan-Apr '22 Jan-Apr '21 Indonesia 51,941 62,041 26,926 35,936 39,659 129,381 97,170 102,860 138,384 Vietnam 8,290 6,041 9,580 4,688 3,713 32,037 20,721 7,730 44,367 China 0 3,500 7,160 1,609 7,061 32,306 27,003 41,439 34,600 Malaysia 290 0 0 59 1,893 1,490 1,749 879 6,667 Israel 0 501 9,252 1,596 0 2,728 19,798 13,041 11,909 Total 60,521 75,704 55,611 45,288 59,396 209,592 175,299 171,482 250,100 Source: DAFF Totals include all destinations not just those listed Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Texas barge collision shuts GIWW section
Texas barge collision shuts GIWW section
Houston, 15 May (Argus) — Authorities closed a six-mile section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) near Galveston, Texas, because of an oil spill caused by a barge collision with the Pelican Island causeway bridge. The section between mile markers 351.5 and 357.5 along the waterway closed, according to the US Coast Guard. A barge broke away from the Philip George tugboat and hit the bridge between Pelican Island and Galveston around 11am ET today. Concrete from the bridge fell onto the barge and triggered an oil leak. The barge can hold up to 30,000 metric tonnes of oil, but it was unknown how full the barge was before the crash, Galveston County county judge Mark Henry said. It was unclear when the waterway would reopen. An environmental cleanup crew was on the scene along with the US Coast Guard and Texas Department of Transportation to assess the damage. Multiple state agencies have debated the replacement of the 64-year-old bridge for several years, Henry said. The rail line alongside the bridge collapsed. Marine traffic does not pass under the bridge. By Meghan Yoyotte Intracoastal Waterway at Galveston Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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