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US House panel approves river infrastructure bill

  • : Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Crude oil, Fertilizers, Freight, Metals, Oil products, Petroleum coke
  • 24/12/06

A US House of Representatives committee has approved a bipartisan bill that authorizes improvements to navigation channels by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and maintenance and dredging of river and port infrastructure projects.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) after several months of political wrangling to integrate earlier versions of the legislation approved by the House and Senate.

The bill will head to the full House next week, said committee chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri). This would be the sixth consecutive bipartisan WRDA bill since 2014 if passed by congress.

WRDA is a biennial bill that authorizes the Corps to continue working on projects to improve waterways, including port updates, flood protection and supply chain management.

WRDA will also "reduce cumbersome red tape", which will allow for quicker project turnarounds, Graves said. The bill authorizes processes to streamline work, he said.

The bill also adjusts the primary cost-sharing mechanism for funding for lock and dam construction and major rehabilitation projects. The US Treasury Department's general fund will pay 75pc of costs, up from 65pc, with the rest coming from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, which is funded by a barge diesel fuel tax.

By Meghan Yoyotte


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25/01/22

Syria issues first post-Assad oil tenders

Syria issues first post-Assad oil tenders

Dubai, 22 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 10ppm 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.

India’s RCF gets offers for phosrock, NPS in tender


25/01/22
25/01/22

India’s RCF gets offers for phosrock, NPS in tender

London, 22 January (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer and producer RCF received offers from seven trading firms in its tender to buy phosphate rock and/or NPS 20-20-0+13S, which closed today. TLI Tradelink, Sun International, Agrifields, Aditya Birla, Indagro, Midgulf International and Hexagon Fertilizers Asia submitted offers in the tender. RCF will open the prices after evaluating the technical offers. The importer sought offers for two 35,000t cargoes of 29pc P2O5-minimum phosphate rock. The first cargo is to be shipped within 30 days from issuing the purchase order, with the second cargo in March, both to Hay Bunder, Mumbai on India's west coast. TLI Tradelink, Sun International and Midgulf International offered Egyptian rock for both cargoes. Agrifields and Aditya Birla offered Jordanian rock for both cargoes. Indagro offered Jordanian rock only for the second cargo. RCF also sought offers for two 35,000t cargoes of 20-20-0+13S in the tender. The first cargo is to be shipped on or before 20 March and the second is to be shipped on or before 20 April, both to any port on India's east coast. Midgulf International submitted offers for both NPS cargoes. Hexagon Fertilizers Asia offered only for the second NPS cargo. Fellow importer NFL bought 25,000-30,000t of 20-20-0+13S from Saudi Arabian producer Sabic at $396-397/t cfr earlier this week. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US trade deficit with Canada is no 'subsidy': TD Bank


25/01/21
25/01/21

US trade deficit with Canada is no 'subsidy': TD Bank

Calgary, 21 January (Argus) — The US' trade deficit with Canada is largely a result of America's thirst for energy and should not be confused with a "subsidy", according to one of Canada's largest banks today. "With respect to (US president Donald) Trump's assertion that the US subsidizes Canada to the tune of US$200bn per year, it's unclear where this number is derived," TD Economics said today in its Setting the Record Straight on Canada-US Trade report. "In any event, rather than a subsidy, the US trade deficit is a by-product of US economic outperformance relative to other countries. "The bulk of the US trade deficit with Canada is owing to energy," the bank said. "Outside of that, the scales tip into America's favour." The US is on track to record a trade deficit with Canada of roughly C$65bn ($45bn) in 2024, but that would flip to a C$60bn surplus for the US if energy were removed from the equation, said the bank. About 80pc of Canada's 5mn b/d of crude production is consumed by refineries in the US, with many in the Midcontinent having no practical alternative. US gasoline prices would move higher by 30-70¢/USGif the 25pc tariffs that Trump has threatened were applied to Canada's oil, TD Bank projects. But even with energy included, the US' deficit with Canada only represents 4pc of the US' overall trade deficit, meaning "reducing imports from Canada would barely move the needle," according to TD. The two highly-integrated countries exchange about C$3.6bn of goods and services each day, only slightly less than daily US-Mexico trade, the bank said. North American trade disparities have been thrust into the spotlight with Trump threatening tariffs against both of its neighbours. Trump opted not to impose any tariffs immediately when he took office on Monday, as previously threatened, instead pushing potential action against Canada and Mexico to 1 February. Trump said Monday he would immediately begin an "overhaul" of the US trade system to protect domestic workers and to start to "tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens". Mexican crude could help fill the void left by a reduction in Canadian crude flows, but that would exacerbate the trade deficit that the US has with that country, TD said. Mexico accounts for 20pc of the US' overall trade deficit — five times that of Canada — while China makes up the largest slice of the total US trade deficit, at 30pc, according to TD Bank, which cited official US Census data. The report also highlighted that Canada is the single-largest market for American goods, with at least 34 states selling more to Canada than to any other foreign country. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump takes aim at EVs in early actions


25/01/21
25/01/21

Trump takes aim at EVs in early actions

Houston, 21 January (Argus) — US President Donald Trump put in writing his long-exepected plans to undo any incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), proclaiming the end of "the EV mandate". In the Executive Order "unleashing American Energy", Trump called for "... the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase by individuals, private businesses, and government entities alike by rendering other types of vehicles unaffordable." The order takes aim at other environmental efforts from the administration of former president Joe Biden, including rolling back Environmental Protection Agency powers on greenhouse gas emissions. The "EV mandate" is a term used by Trump regarding Biden's 2021 executive order "Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks" which aimed for 50pc of US new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. Trump's move could signal the eventual end of the $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases, which applies only if vehicles meet critical mineral and battery component requirements. The requirements aim to strengthen the US domestic EV supply chain and reduce reliance on China. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Winter storm shuts asphalt terminals, hits demand


25/01/21
25/01/21

Winter storm shuts asphalt terminals, hits demand

Houston, 21 January (Argus) — Ports in Texas and Louisiana remained closed to ship traffic Tuesday afternoon because of a winter storm. Waterborne asphalt terminals were heard shut in southeast Louisiana and Texas, and some market participants expect terminals to remain closed through Wednesday. According to vessel tracking data from Kpler, no ocean-going asphalt vessels were seen loading in Texas or Louisiana today. No exports have been heard delayed. Frigid temperatures have also halted liftings at the rack in areas across the Gulf following reports of slow retail demand earlier this month. New Orleans port officials cut off water supplies to port facilities beginning 19 January because of freezing temperatures, significant snowfall and high winds forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS). Operations are expected to be down at least for the rest of today. Marine pilots also suspended boardings at the Texas ports of Houston, Galveston, Texas City and Freeport late on 20 January. Traffic also was halted at the Sabine-Neches Waterway on the Texas-Louisiana border, which offers access to terminals and refineries in Port Arthur and Beaumont, Texas. Port Houston facilities, which include eight public terminals on the Houston Ship Channel, will remain closed through Wednesday, according to a statement from port officials. Arctic conditions are anticipated through Thursday, according to NWS. Travel will be hazardous due to the snow, ice and wind chill of up to 20mph. Even as temperatures rise, retail demand could remain muted on the Gulf coast with NWS forecasting above-normal precipitation across the region starting 27 January. By Meghan Yoyotte and Cobin Eggers Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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