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Rains hamper LPG distribution in south Brazil

  • : LPG
  • 24/05/08

Torrential rains that flooded southern Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state decreased LPG distribution by 7-10pc in the region in the past week, market participants said.

Distributor Copa Energia's operations at its Canoas city unit — which is responsible for 30pc of the LPG distributed in the state — are expected to resume in the coming days after being shut last week.

The heavy rains since late April — that have left 100 people dead, 128 people missing and almost 164,000 displaced from their homes, according to the state's civil defense — have spurred companies to take measures to maintain gas supply in the region. Some firms have also advanced salary benefits to help workers deal with the crisis.

State-controlled Petrobras' 201,000 b/d Alberto Pasqualini (Refap) refinery has cut LPG production, but has not disclosed by how much. The unit also produces diesel, gasoline and fuel oil, among other products.

LPG distribution began normalizing earlier this week, after "the feeling of chaos and lack of information" over the weekend had passed, according to an industry executive. Many retailers are now able to retrieve products, but it is still unknown how many routes have been compromised.

But LPG stocks have been able to meet demand so far, preventing any shortages.

Hydrocarbons regulator ANP's measure to allow collaborative actions among sector companies without the usual bureaucratic procedures to keep the market supplied has had an immediate effect, according to LPG association Sindigas' chief executive Sergio Bandeira de Mello.

Distribution has been carried out collaboratively in recent days, despite some retailers' facilities being underwater, vehicles being lost and roads destroyed. But the state will still face months of problems and precariousness, de Mello said.


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25/02/03

US delays Canada tariffs by a month: Trudeau

US delays Canada tariffs by a month: Trudeau

Calgary, 3 February (Argus) — US tariffs threatened against Canada will be delayed by 30 days, prime minister Justin Trudeau said this afternoon after talking with US president Donald Trump. "I just had a good call with President Trump," Trudeau posted on X, before describing Canada's plan to send thousands of officials to the US border to police fentanyl trafficking. The two leaders spoke twice on Monday, the eve of sweeping tariffs Trump had proposed against Canada and Mexico . Earlier in the day Mexican tariffs were also delayed by a month after similar promises for more troops on the border. "Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border," Trudeau wrote. "In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-US Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering." Canada will be putting C$200mn ($139mn) towards tackling organized crime and fentanyl. In light of the US-Canada tariff pause, manufacturing and mineral-heavy Ontario said it would pause retaliation measures of its own announced earlier in the day. That would have banned US companies from provincial contracts, removed American products in liquor stores and cancelled a contract with Elon Musk's Starlink internet services. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canada’s tariff response will be ‘forceful’: Trudeau


25/01/31
25/01/31

Canada’s tariff response will be ‘forceful’: Trudeau

Calgary, 31 January (Argus) — Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is planning an immediate retaliation should US president Donald Trump impose a 25pc tariff on imports tomorrow, 1 February. "If the president does choose to implement any tariffs against Canada, we are ready with a response," said Trudeau at a meeting of the Council on Canada-US Relations in Toronto. "A purposeful, forceful, but reasonable, immediate response." "It's not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act," he said. Trump has accused Canada and Mexico of facilitating trafficking of fentanyl and illegal migration and has threatened tariffs to persuade the two countries to tighten borders they share with the US. "Our border is safe and secure," said Trudeau. "We're committed to keeping it that way by addressing current challenges and strengthening our capacity." Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said this week Mexico is also ready to respond to US tariffs. "We will always defend respect for our sovereignty and a dialogue as equals, but without subordination," she said. Canada in mid-December said it would spend C$1.3bn ($900bn) on border security measures over six years, which Trudeau reiterated Friday while highlighting recent progress. The 8,891-kilometre (5,525-miles) US-Canada border is the longest in the world. Trump has also railed against the US' trade deficit with Canada, which is on track to settle at about C$65bn in 2024 , according to TD Bank. The bank notes the deficit is largely a result of America's thirst for energy and should not be confused with a "subsidy". Canada has increased deliveries of crude to the US beyond 4mn b/d and supplied 8.36 Bcf/d (86.35bn m³/yr) of natural gas in January-October, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). US refiners that process Canadian crude would not easily find alternative supplies, according to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). "We won't relent until tariffs are removed, and of course, everything is on the table," Trudeau said of Canada's potential retaliation, a message that has drawn concern from the premier of oil-rich Alberta who wants the unfettered flow of energy. All told, the two highly-integrated countries exchange about C$3.6bn of goods and services each day, only slightly less than daily US-Mexico trade, TD Bank said last week. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Syria issues crude, products tenders: Correction


25/01/30
25/01/30

Syria issues crude, products tenders: Correction

Corrects quality of gasoil sought in paragraph 4, from 10ppm to 50ppm. This story was originally published on 22 January Dubai, 30 January (Argus) — The new administration in Syria has issued its first tenders to buy crude and refined products since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, as acute fuel shortages continue to cause lengthy blackouts in the country. Tenders seeking 3mn bl of light crude for the 140,000 Banias refinery and 1.2mn bl of heavy crude for the 110,100 b/d Homs refinery close for bidding on 27 January. They have a 10pc flexibility either way on the volumes. The Banias refinery is undergoing maintenance at several of its production units after being taken offline last month because of a lack of crude feedstock. Syria's new administration has also issued its first import tender for refined products — 80,000t of 90 Ron gasoline, 100,000t of 50ppm sulphur gasoil and 100,000t of fuel oil — commencing as soon as possible for delivery over a 30-day period. Offers must be delivered by hand to the oil ministry in Damascus by 14:30 local time on 27 January. A tender seeking 66,000t of LPG has been issued as well. A previous tender for 20,000t of LPG was awarded at mid-teen $/t premiums to fob Lavera west Mediterranean prices. Before Assad was toppled, Syria relied heavily on Iran for its oil supplies, as international sanctions imposed in the wake of the 2011 civil war left the country critically short of feedstock for its refineries. Iran's crude exports to Syria averaged around 55,000 b/d in January-November 2024 and around 80,000 b/d in 2023, according to trade analytics firm Kpler. Iran was also sending around 10,000-20,000 b/d of oil products to Syria in recent years, according to consultancy FGE. But Tehran has halted crude deliveries to Syria since the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took control last month , leaving the new transitional government under pressure to find alternative suppliers. Government-to-government deals are a potential option. "Recent political developments have indicated that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey could play a role in solving Syria's crude and refined products shortage," FGE analyst Palash Jain said. Saudi Arabia is willing to help for a limited period, but discussions remain in a preliminary phase and are light on details, a source with knowledge of the matter told Argus . Riyadh is waiting to hear more from the Syrians on their energy needs and requirements, the source added. The latest tenders come just two weeks after the US waived sanctions that had previously prohibited energy trade with Syria. The waiver, issued on 6 January, is valid until 7 July. By Rithika Krishna and Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

NWE LPG Coasters: Propane trades


25/01/28
25/01/28

NWE LPG Coasters: Propane trades

London, 28 January (Argus) — After almost a week of quiet, Equinor returned to the market for more coaster propane. The bid, for 2,400t of propane meeting Portuguese specifications with maximum 10pc olefins, loading 6-8 February on to the Crystal Valerian, Dream Arrax, Gas Noble, Benriach, or substitute, started at $700/t fob and was quickly booked by Gunvor with tonnes out of Flushing. The deal put the premium to large at $132/t, similar to on Monday but $16.50/t lower than the equivalent differential in the last public deal on 22 January. Thin butane supplies continue to support value around 104pc of physical naphtha. At these levels, prices are driving away cracker interest, leaving only blending buyers. Currently, there is little sign of balances loosening in the short term. As a result ratios are likely to remain strong as long as blenders continue to absorb any available tonnes. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Philippines’ JG Summit to shut petrochemical assets


25/01/28
25/01/28

Philippines’ JG Summit to shut petrochemical assets

Singapore, 28 January (Argus) — Philippine petrochemical producer JG Summit is expected to shut all its petrochemical assets indefinitely after its recent decision to halt operations at its petrochemical complex until the end of the first quarter of 2025. The producer formally informed its employees on potential layoffs in a townhall meeting on 24 January. Operations at Peak Fuel — the producer's wholesale LPG trading arm — will continue to cater for domestic fuel demand. The producer plans to shut its naphtha cracker and downstream polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plants in mid-December 2024 to end-March 2025 because of profitability concerns, it announced in November . JG Summit operates a naphtha cracker, which can produce up to 480,000 t/yr of ethylene and 240,000 t/yr of propylene. It also operates a 70,000 t/yr butadiene extraction unit and an aromatics unit with output capacity of up to 90,000 t/yr of benzene, 50,000 t/yr of toluene and 30,000 t/yr of mixed xylenes. Its downstream polymer assets include a 300,000 t/yr PP plant, a 160,000 t/yr linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant, a 160,000 t/yr high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plant and its newest 250,000 t/yr PE plant, which only began operations around July/August 2024. Its 300,000 t/yr PP plant has been shut since late December 2024-early January 2025. Its 570,000 t/yr PE capacities will be shut by the end of this month. The producer will continue to supply polymer resins to its domestic customers until its inventory is depleted. Philippines consumed around 170,000 t/yr of LLDPE, 240,000 t/yr of HDPE and around 440,000 t/yr of PP in 2024, according to Argus' estimates. The nation will be fully reliant on PE and PP imports after the indefinite closure of JG Summit's petrochemical complex. Challenges for SE Asian producers Southeast Asian polymer producers have been facing strong competition from imported resins and struggled with weak profitability since 2022. PE and PP capacity additions in China since 2020 have led to oversupply of resins and strong global competition, weakening polymer production margins. Chinese producers have been exporting PP to the global markets since 2021. The southeast Asian market is one of its main export outlets. China also achieved a PP self-sufficiency rate of around 95pc in 2024, up from 93pc in 2023, according to Argus estimates. A lack of feedstock cost advantage when compared with producers in the Middle East and US led to weak margins for southeast Asian producers as they compete to retain regional market shares. The indefinite shutdown by JG Summit — the sole PE producer in the Philippines — is expected to further tighten the availability of duty-free PE and PP supplies in the domestic market and the wider southeast Asian market in 2025. Philippine refiner Petron has kept its 160,000 t/yr PP plant off line throughout 2024 and the plant will remain shut for an unspecified period, likely because of weak margins. Vietnam's Long Son shut its new petrochemical complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau in mid-October 2024 because of similar profitability concerns. The producer is expected to halt operations at its polymer plants until at least the end of first-half 2025 and anticipates slow margin recovery. But the restart of these plants will depend largely on market conditions, according to market sources. Malaysian petrochemical producer Lotte Chemical Titan has also shut its No. 1 290,000 t/yr naphtha cracker and likely reduced production of selected PE and PP grades from mid-December 2024 to mitigate production losses. The restart timeline is unclear. By Yee Ying Ang Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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