Americas
US chemical activity barometer expands in March
In March, production-related indicators were better, with improvement in plastic resins used in packaging and strengthening construction-related resins and pigments.
MEGlobal to build new MEG plant by 2019 at Dow Chemical’s Texas hub
The new Oyster Creek MEG facility will be owned by MEGlobal and is the company’s first manufacturing unit in the US. The new MEGlobal plant will create 1,400 construction jobs at the project’s peak, and the company will employ approximately 50 new workers when it goes on stream in mid-2019.
Saudi Arabia leaves US shale-processing plants to Shell in Motiva split
The refineries in Port Arthur, Texas, and Convent, Louisiana, had been growing apart for several years before the companies recently announced plans to split ownership.
US on track for record summer gasoline demand
Recent data indicates the country is on track for its biggest-ever driving season this summer, which will keep refineries running flat-out turning crude into the motor fuel.
Braskem to import US ethane feedstocks from Enterprise Products
Brazilian petrochemical group Braskem signed a new, 10-year contract with Enterprise Products for the supply of ethane feedstocks acquired from US shale oil and gas production.
Canada approves Woodfibre LNG, with conditions
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna imposed conditions on the project, including restrictions related to construction in or near fish habitat and additional consultation with Aboriginal groups.
Crude sets new 2016 highs as US expects strong summer fuels demand
"We are leaving the period of low demand and starting to move toward the period when demand increases over the summer," said Olivier Jakob, oil market analyst at Petromatrix in Switzerland.
Brazil sees ethanol, diesel sales plunge from 2015; gasoline drops less
Diesel sales fell 6.6% in the two first months of the year versus similar period in 2015, reflecting reduced economic activity as Brazil faces its worst recession in decades.
Saudi Aramco, Shell plan to break up Motiva refining venture in US
Under the terms of a non-binding letter of intent, Saudi Aramco will take over the Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, the biggest in the US, retain 26 distribution terminals as well as the Motiva name.
Petrobras contracts Elliott on Brazil rotor storage
The contract, which was renewed for three years with an option to extend, covers a minimum of 80 spare turbine and compressor rotors for Petrobras refineries in Brazil.
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