US economy grows by 2.8pc in 3Q, led by consumers

: Crude oil, Metals, Natural gas
24/10/30

The US economy grew by an annualized 2.8pc in the third quarter, led by consumer and government spending and exports.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed from 3pc in the second quarter, the Commerce Department reported today. Personal consumption grew at a 3.7pc pace, up from 2.8pc in the second quarter and 3.5pc a year earlier.

Today's GDP estimate is the first of three for the quarter, and comes in slightly below analyst estimates in a Trading Economics survey of 3pc growth. The latest figure marks a 10th quarter of GDP growth since a 1pc contraction in the first quarter of 2022. It comes ahead of a closely fought presidential election on 5 November in which the health of the economy is a major issue.

Exports grew by 8.9pc in the latest quarter compared with 1pc in the second quarter. Imports, which subtract from growth, grew by 11.2pc.

Government spending, including investment for defense, rose by 5pc following 3.1pc growth in the second quarter. Private domestic investment slowed to 0.3pc growth from 8.3pc growth. Residential investment fell by 5.1pc, as the housing market remains in a downturn, after declining by 2.8pc in the second quarter.

By Bob Willis

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24/12/13

US river lock closures may delay product deliveries

Houston, 13 December (Argus) — Mid-Mississippi River and Illinois River locks are expected to undergo long-term closures starting next month, slowing down some commodity deliveries. Three locks around the St Louis, Missouri, and Granite City, Illinois, region will be closed for repairs for up to three months starting 1 January, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Mel Price Main Lock, where the Illinois River flows into the Mississippi River, and Lock 27's main lock, where the Missouri flows into the Mississippi, will also be closed from 1 January through 1 April. The Mel Price Main Lock will commence the final phase of replacement for its upstream lift-gate. Replacement of embedded metals will occur during the closure for Lock 27's main lock. Lock 25 will have a shorter closure date for a sill beam and guide-wall concrete installment from 1 January through 2 March. This is the first lock on the upper Mississippi River, after the Illinois River. These closures are expected to be more of a nuisance than a deterrent for commodity traffic, according to barge carriers. Ice in the river is likely to have melted by mid-March, which may cause barge carriers to wait in the St Louis harbor for the locks to open. Two other lengthy closures are anticipated on the Illinois River beginning on 28 January. The Lockport Lock — the second to last lock on the Illinois River — will be fully closed from 28 January through 25 March for full repairs to the sill and seal of the lock. The prior lock, Brandon Road Lock, will be closed during weekdays over the same time period, but traffic can pass through over the weekend. The lock closures and repairs are expected to delay some barge shipments, specifically to the Great Lakes and Burns Harbor. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU could tighten steel safeguard in impending review

24/12/13

EU could tighten steel safeguard in impending review

London, 13 December (Argus) — The European Commission could significantly tighten its existing steel safeguard in light of weak market conditions as part of its impending review. The commission is likely to expedite its annual review of the measure in light of increasing global overcapacity, and could announce it next week, sources said. "You can imagine the current situation of the steel industry and global overcapacity requires action from the legislator to support EU industry," one source said. Given weak steel demand within Europe, mill sources suggest the commission's review should stop the 1pc liberalisation of the quota, which provides importers with an increased share of a declining market. Buy- and sell-side sources anticipate a further tightening of import volumes over and above the 15pc cap imposed on the "other countries" quota. There is also talk of further dumping investigations, in addition to the case against hot-rolled coil (HRC) from Egypt, Japan, India and Vietnam. Vietnamese hot-dip galvanised is in scope, as is South Korean and Indonesian plate, and HRC and downstream products from other countries could possibly become subject to investigations. Recent market chatter suggests there could be an investigation of cold-rolled coil from Taiwan, and perhaps other Asian sellers. Mills have for months been pressing for tighter measures, suggesting the safeguard is not fit for purpose. In an interview with Argus in September, Eurofer director general Axel Eggert told Argus the association had asked the commission for a "structural solution" to stop the pernicious impact of global overcapacity, such as a global "tariff-like system". Countries with the largest exposure to overcapacity could have the greatest tariffs in this scenario. In a recent article in the Financial Times , Lakshmi Mittal, executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, said the EU must "urgently address imports" and "intervention is required so that European steel is better protected", adding that emergency trade measures would be a "strong first signal". By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canada sets 2035 emissions reduction goal

24/12/13

Canada sets 2035 emissions reduction goal

London, 13 December (Argus) — Canada has set a new 2035 climate goal, aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45-50pc by 2035, from a 2005 baseline. This builds on its 2030 target of a 40-45pc emissions reduction, again from 2005 levels. Canada's emissions had been in 2015 projected to rise by 9pc by 2030, from 2005 levels, "but we are now successfully bending the curve", the Canadian environment and climate change ministry said. The newly-announced target is in line with a pledge Canada made at the UN Cop 29 climate summit last month. Countries that are party to the Paris climate accord must submit new national climate plans by 10 February 2025, to cover a timeframe up to 2035. Canada, the EU, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland committed at Cop 29 to set out new plans with "steep emissions cuts" that are consistent with the global 1.5°C temperature increase limit sought by the Paris Agreement. The plans are known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Canada's NDC is being considered by the cabinet, and the country plans to submit it by the deadline, Canadian climate change ambassador Catherine Stewart told Cop 29 delegates on 21 November. Tackling climate change is "both an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity", she added. The target was informed "by the best available science, Indigenous Knowledge, international climate change commitments, consultations with provinces and territories and expert advice", the ministry said. Canada will also "seek feedback on how to help companies take advantage of the economic opportunities that come with building a clean economy" in the near term, it added. Although the plan is not yet available, the ministry said that it will examine the role of carbon removal technologies for the energy transition. "Canadians are increasingly experiencing record-breaking extreme weather," the ministry noted. The country experienced record wildfires in 2023. Carbon emissions from wildfires this year were second only to the "unprecedented" levels in 2023, EU earth-monitoring service Copernicus found this month. Canada has a legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India's Gujarat Gas raises PNG prices in Morbi cluster

24/12/13

India's Gujarat Gas raises PNG prices in Morbi cluster

Mumbai, 13 December (Argus) — India's state-run city gas distribution company Gujarat Gas has increased prices of piped natural gas (PNG) in the Morbi industrial cluster in west India's Gujarat state. This came after it kept rates unchanged since July. Prices of PNG used in the industrial ceramic cluster have been hiked to 46.95 rupees/m³ ($0.55/m³) from Rs44.68/m³ in July. This comes to Rs5.60/kcal on an energy equivalent basis, based on a calorific value of 8,400 kcal/kg. This is slightly higher than propane prices, which is a competing fuel in the region's ceramic cluster. Propane prices in Morbi were pegged at Rs61/kg for December , up from Rs60.30/kg in November because of rising import costs. Propane on an energy equivalent basis is Rs5.50/kcal based on the calorific value of 11,100 kcal/kg, traders said. Gujarat Gas has regained some market share in the last few months by keeping its prices unchanged. But it remains to be seen if ceramic units in the region will switch back to propane again. Propane demand in the region fell to 3.2mn m³/d in November from 4.5mn m³/d in October, regional traders said. Overall gas demand in the region was 7mn m³/d in November. Capacity utilisation of ceramic clusters continues to remain weak because of lower export demand for the upcoming Christmas season in the west, according to traders in the region. Gujarat Gas competes with regional propane distributors, including state-controlled IOC, BPCL and HPCL, as well as private-sector firms Reliance Industries, Aegis Logistics and Gogas. It remains to be seen if propane prices will rise further next month, as Saudi Arabia's state-controlled Aramco kept its December propane contract price unchanged at $635/t. Spot LNG prices have also risen this month, which makes a fall in PNG prices unlikely. The Argus -assessed spot price of LNG delivered to India's west coast for first-half January stood at $14.09/mn Btu on 12 December, up from $12.70/mn Btu a month earlier for December-arriving vessels. Tile manufacturers in Morbi have been switching between PNG and propane depending on LNG import prices, since the latter rose in 2022 as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. By Rituparna Ghosh Propane vs PNG prices (Indian rupees/kcal) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Rio Tinto to invest $2.5bn in Argentina lithium mine

24/12/12

Rio Tinto to invest $2.5bn in Argentina lithium mine

Montevideo, 12 December (Argus) — International miner Rio Tinto will invest $2.5bn to expand its Rincon lithium operation, potentially increasing Argentina's production of the metal six-fold in the next decade, it said today. The company began initial production at Rincon's 3,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr starter plant in November. Rincon in Argentina's northern Salta province is Rio Tinto's first commercial lithium operation. It taps brine lithium. In October, it finalized the acquisition of Rincon from US-based Arcadium Lithium. The new investment will increase annual production to 60,000t of battery grade lithium carbonate. Construction on the expansion should start in mid-2025 and ramped-up production using direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology should start in 2028, eventually reaching capacity early in the next decade. The project will add to Argentina's efforts to become a world-class energy player with lithium, LNG and oil exports transforming the country in the coming years. Argentina was the fourth lithium producer in 2023, with 9,600t, according to the US Geological Survey. It has 3.6mn t of lithium reserves and 22mn t of lithium resources, second only to neighboring Bolivia. Argentina, Bolivia and Chile form the "lithium triangle," which holds around 60pc of the world's lithium resources. Chile is the world's second producer after Austria, while Bolivia's production is negligible. Rio Tinto referenced Argentina's economic reforms, including an incentive mechanism for long-term investments, known as the RIGI, as providing a new environment for investment. The RIGI is applicable to investments over $200mn and provides tax and customs benefits, as well as legal stability. Rio Tinto would join eight projects that have already applied for RIGI approval. President Javier Milei announced on 10 December, his first anniversary in office, that the government was planning sweeping tax reforms that would lower 90pc of the country's taxes, and elimination of exchange rate and customs controls. Monthly inflation in November was 2.4pc, down from 25.5pc in December 2023. In a September 2024 report, the Argentinian government listed 50 lithium projects, with 6pc producing the white metal, 10pc under construction and 14pc in the feasibility phase. The rest were in the initial development stage. By Lucien Chauvin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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