September 2, 2021

IDA Update

Power restoration work ongoing in Louisiana after damage from Ida

Author: Adam Yanelli

2021/09/02

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Work continues in Louisiana to repair the power infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Ida, which made landfall on Sunday as a powerful category 4 storm.

Regional power distributor Entergy said on Thursday that it has restored power to 167,000 customers and continues to work in areas that are safe and where power can be received.

The company again stressed that those in the hardest-hit areas could experience outages for weeks.

Source: Entergy

Poweroutage.us is showing just more than 900,000 customers without power in the state, which likely includes electrical service from other power distributors.

Damage assessments are continuing at refineries and chemical plants in the region, but operations cannot restart until feedstock supply, power, and other essential third-party utilities are restored.

While the impact will be much less severe than from winter storm Uri in mid-February, the power outages and flooding will constrain production for weeks.

Products most impacted include the chlor-alkali chain all the way through polyvinyl chloride (PVC), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), styrene, linear alpha olefins (LAO), phthalic anhydride (PA) and butanediol (BDO).

PLANT STATUS
The following shows the status of the chemical plants and refineries affected by Ida.

RAIL UPDATE
Rail operations at the Port of New Orleans have resumed with modified daytime hours of operation to connect with BNSF, Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP).

BNSF has reopened nearly all of its main line between Lafayette, Louisiana, and New Orleans, the US railroad company said on Wednesday.

UP said on Wednesday that its rail line between St James, Louisiana, and New Orleans remains closed, making it one of three lines in the state that are out of service because of Hurricane Ida.

It expected the line to open by Thursday, but the company did not respond to requests for confirmation prior to publication.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER REOPENS
The US Coast Guard has reopened the lower Mississippi river to nearly all vessel traffic, although some key areas along the river remain closed as recovery operations continue.

Some chemicals shipped by barge on the Mississippi river are still likely to be delayed following damage caused by Hurricane Ida.

Coast Guard crews continue to work with port partners on the identification and mitigation of grounded and submerged vessels along the banks of the river.

PORTS REOPENING
The Port of New Orleans reopened on Wednesday afternoon and port condition has been set at normal, but restrictions remain for some terminal operations. Vessel movement and cargo operations are authorised with restrictions.

The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal remains closed.

Terminal operators continue restoration efforts to resume operations, which is dependent upon power restoration.

New Orleans Terminal and Ports America for containerised operations will remain closed until more information is known, and dependent upon power restoration.

Empire, Coastal Cargo, Gulf Stream Marine and Ports America for breakbulk operations will be closed until more information is known, and dependent upon power restoration.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) has paused deliveries of crude until Hurricane Ida subsides.

LOOP is working directly with shippers to minimise storm related impacts.

Facility assessments and repairs are underway.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port is the nation’s only deepwater oil port for supertankers. Some 50% of the nation’s refining capacity can be supplied by LOOP, which moves 12% of the nation’s annual crude oil imports.

Additional reporting by Joseph Chang, Janet Miranda, Al Greenwood

https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2021/09/02/10681177/power-restoration-work-ongoing-in-louisiana-after-damage-from-ida

September 2, 2021

IDA Update

Power restoration work ongoing in Louisiana after damage from Ida

Author: Adam Yanelli

2021/09/02

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Work continues in Louisiana to repair the power infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Ida, which made landfall on Sunday as a powerful category 4 storm.

Regional power distributor Entergy said on Thursday that it has restored power to 167,000 customers and continues to work in areas that are safe and where power can be received.

The company again stressed that those in the hardest-hit areas could experience outages for weeks.

Source: Entergy

Poweroutage.us is showing just more than 900,000 customers without power in the state, which likely includes electrical service from other power distributors.

Damage assessments are continuing at refineries and chemical plants in the region, but operations cannot restart until feedstock supply, power, and other essential third-party utilities are restored.

While the impact will be much less severe than from winter storm Uri in mid-February, the power outages and flooding will constrain production for weeks.

Products most impacted include the chlor-alkali chain all the way through polyvinyl chloride (PVC), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), styrene, linear alpha olefins (LAO), phthalic anhydride (PA) and butanediol (BDO).

PLANT STATUS
The following shows the status of the chemical plants and refineries affected by Ida.

RAIL UPDATE
Rail operations at the Port of New Orleans have resumed with modified daytime hours of operation to connect with BNSF, Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP).

BNSF has reopened nearly all of its main line between Lafayette, Louisiana, and New Orleans, the US railroad company said on Wednesday.

UP said on Wednesday that its rail line between St James, Louisiana, and New Orleans remains closed, making it one of three lines in the state that are out of service because of Hurricane Ida.

It expected the line to open by Thursday, but the company did not respond to requests for confirmation prior to publication.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER REOPENS
The US Coast Guard has reopened the lower Mississippi river to nearly all vessel traffic, although some key areas along the river remain closed as recovery operations continue.

Some chemicals shipped by barge on the Mississippi river are still likely to be delayed following damage caused by Hurricane Ida.

Coast Guard crews continue to work with port partners on the identification and mitigation of grounded and submerged vessels along the banks of the river.

PORTS REOPENING
The Port of New Orleans reopened on Wednesday afternoon and port condition has been set at normal, but restrictions remain for some terminal operations. Vessel movement and cargo operations are authorised with restrictions.

The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal remains closed.

Terminal operators continue restoration efforts to resume operations, which is dependent upon power restoration.

New Orleans Terminal and Ports America for containerised operations will remain closed until more information is known, and dependent upon power restoration.

Empire, Coastal Cargo, Gulf Stream Marine and Ports America for breakbulk operations will be closed until more information is known, and dependent upon power restoration.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) has paused deliveries of crude until Hurricane Ida subsides.

LOOP is working directly with shippers to minimise storm related impacts.

Facility assessments and repairs are underway.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port is the nation’s only deepwater oil port for supertankers. Some 50% of the nation’s refining capacity can be supplied by LOOP, which moves 12% of the nation’s annual crude oil imports.

Additional reporting by Joseph Chang, Janet Miranda, Al Greenwood

https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2021/09/02/10681177/power-restoration-work-ongoing-in-louisiana-after-damage-from-ida

September 2, 2021

Middle East Demand

Mideast petrochemical demand may improve; shipping woes remain

Author: Felicia Loo

2021/09/02

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Petrochemical demand in Middle East may see some improvement, shored up by post-summer restocking, although concerns remain about high freight costs and difficulties in securing empty containers and vessel space.

September is the archetypal month when peak demand kicks off for some products.

For base oils, market sentiment remains on a largely even keel, with any improvement in year-end demand tied to economic recovery.

Steady Iran Group I supply will be expected over the coming weeks, with mild improvement likely for Group II Asian bulk supply to the UAE.

While there are minimal known turnarounds so far among base oils producers in the Middle East throughout the second half of the year, spot supply for Group I and Group II are improving, albeit slowly.

There are concerns that slow automotive sales around the world could further dampen demand for downstream finished lubricants.

For polyethylene (PE), demand in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is likely to remain stable from August, with players looking forward to restocking for a seasonal Q4 demand uptick.

The GCC is home to several processors which export finished goods to Europe and Africa, and they are expect a steady flow of enquiries from buyers ahead of the year-end holiday season.

Regional players are also awaiting clarity on any impact on cargo availability following power supply issues at key PE facilities in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

For general purpose polystyrene (GPPS), prices in the GCC market were stable as high freight costs are offset by lower cost of feedstock styrene monomer (SM).

Concerning toluene diisocyanate (TDI), regional buyers have procured volumes for delivery in September – the start of peak demand season for downstream foam markets.

Sellers are worried over worsening freight issues such as a shortage in empty containers, uncertainties in the cargo loading date and possible delays.

Regarding polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI), expectations are that demand should pick up over the next few months, on increased construction activity after the summer.

For polyols, activity has been subdued, with buyers maintaining a wait-and-watch stance on the market due to the volatility of feedstock propylene oxide (PO).

Buyers are not in a hurry to procure volumes and are waiting for PO prices to stabilise.

High freight costs and difficulties in securing empty containers and vessel space are also issues affecting the polyols market.

Focus article by Felicia Loo

https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2021/09/02/10680560/mideast-petrochemical-demand-may-improve-shipping-woes-remain

September 2, 2021

Middle East Demand

Mideast petrochemical demand may improve; shipping woes remain

Author: Felicia Loo

2021/09/02

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Petrochemical demand in Middle East may see some improvement, shored up by post-summer restocking, although concerns remain about high freight costs and difficulties in securing empty containers and vessel space.

September is the archetypal month when peak demand kicks off for some products.

For base oils, market sentiment remains on a largely even keel, with any improvement in year-end demand tied to economic recovery.

Steady Iran Group I supply will be expected over the coming weeks, with mild improvement likely for Group II Asian bulk supply to the UAE.

While there are minimal known turnarounds so far among base oils producers in the Middle East throughout the second half of the year, spot supply for Group I and Group II are improving, albeit slowly.

There are concerns that slow automotive sales around the world could further dampen demand for downstream finished lubricants.

For polyethylene (PE), demand in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is likely to remain stable from August, with players looking forward to restocking for a seasonal Q4 demand uptick.

The GCC is home to several processors which export finished goods to Europe and Africa, and they are expect a steady flow of enquiries from buyers ahead of the year-end holiday season.

Regional players are also awaiting clarity on any impact on cargo availability following power supply issues at key PE facilities in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

For general purpose polystyrene (GPPS), prices in the GCC market were stable as high freight costs are offset by lower cost of feedstock styrene monomer (SM).

Concerning toluene diisocyanate (TDI), regional buyers have procured volumes for delivery in September – the start of peak demand season for downstream foam markets.

Sellers are worried over worsening freight issues such as a shortage in empty containers, uncertainties in the cargo loading date and possible delays.

Regarding polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI), expectations are that demand should pick up over the next few months, on increased construction activity after the summer.

For polyols, activity has been subdued, with buyers maintaining a wait-and-watch stance on the market due to the volatility of feedstock propylene oxide (PO).

Buyers are not in a hurry to procure volumes and are waiting for PO prices to stabilise.

High freight costs and difficulties in securing empty containers and vessel space are also issues affecting the polyols market.

Focus article by Felicia Loo

https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2021/09/02/10680560/mideast-petrochemical-demand-may-improve-shipping-woes-remain

September 2, 2021

Arsenal’s Meridian Makes Another Acquisition