Germany Preps for More FSRU Vessels
Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply. Following are updates on key facilities and terminals being developed to host floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and…
German chemical lobby VCI reduces its 2024 forecast amid political turmoil
The German chemicals industry association VCI lowered their annual forecasts on Wednesday, citing the economic stagnation in Germany and political turmoil. The association, which represents 1,900 companies within Germany's third largest industrial sector, is expecting production volumes, including pharmaceuticals, to increase by just 2% in this year. This is a significant drop from the 3,5% growth it predicted for nearly six months.
Occidental Petroleum exceeds profit expectations for the third quarter on higher production
Occidental Petroleum, a U.S. oil-and-gas firm, beat Wall Street expectations for the third quarter profit on Tuesday. However, overall earnings dropped 14% due to losses on asset sales and a decline in chemical results. The third quarter results of oil companies were lower than the previous year due to lower prices for oil and gas. Occidental's quarter profit includes one-time losses on asset sales…
Three Industrial Projects for Le Havre Announced
The French government has selected winning proposals for a hydrogen import terminal, a renewable fuels facility and a lithium production factory to be built at the state-run port of Le Havre as part of an effort to attract industrial investment, the finance ministry said on Thursday.The land around the port was labelled a turnkey investment site under the 30 billion euro "France 2030" plan…
SABIC, a petrochemicals company, makes a profit in the third quarter but fails to meet market expectations
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), a major petrochemicals company in the world, reported a net profit of $1.5 million for the third-quarter, compared to a loss the previous year. This was due to higher revenues and core profits. In a press release, the company reported that its net profit for three months ended September 30 was 1 billion riyals (266.27 millions dollars), compared to a loss last year of 2.87 billions riyals.
Chevron exceeds expectations for quarterly profits on the back of higher oil production
Chevron Corp. beat Wall Street expectations for the third quarter profit on Friday. However, its earnings dropped from a previous year. Chevron Corp, which has had its proposed $53 billion takeover of Hess delayed by Exxon Mobil Ltd and CNOOC Ltd due to their challenge, reported a profit adjusted of $4.53 billion. This compares to $5.72 million a year earlier. The shares rose by 2.6% ahead of normal trading hours.
Shell sales increase in Q3 vs TotalEnergies due to higher Asian LNG prices
LONDON, October 31 - Analysts and traders say that higher production and sales of liquefied gas in Asia helped Shell to outperform TotalEnergies in the third quarter. However, group profits for both companies were affected by a drop in oil refining. Shell's quarterly profit of $6 billion beat forecasts by 12 percent, while TotalEnergies reported a profit of $4.1 billion that was slightly below expectations.
Phillips 66, the refiner, reports a Q3 profit increase on the strength of midstream and chemicals
Phillips 66 surpassed quarterly profit expectations on Tuesday, as its chemical and midstream segments were able to more than compensate for a decline in refinery margins due to a lackluster fuel demand. This year, the company has increased its market share for natural gas liquids by expanding its pipelines. It owns more than 72,000 miles in U.S. The super…
Sinopec's Q3 profits fall by 52.1% due to lower oil prices and refining margins
Sinopec, a Chinese refiner, reported a 52.1% drop in its net profit year-on-year to $8.54 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) during the third quarter due to lower oil prices. Sinopec, the world's biggest refiner based on capacity, reported 790.4 billion Yuan in revenue for its third quarter, a 9.8% drop from the year before, according to a filing made by the company.
Oil prices rise, recovering some of the 7% drop from last week
The oil prices increased on Monday as the Middle East conflict continued and markets were worried about the supply of crude from the region. Brent crude futures rose 58 cents or 0.79% to $73.63 per barrel at 11:02 am ET. ET (15:02 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures were up 67 cents or almost 1% at $69.89 per barrel. Brent closed the week more than 7% down, while WTI fell around 8%.
After a 7% drop in a week, oil prices are on the rise again
The oil prices rose in Asian trading Monday after a drop of more than 7% last week due to concerns over demand in China, which is the world's largest oil importer. Also, there were fewer worries about possible supply disruptions in Middle East. Brent crude futures were up 27 cents or 0.37% to $73.33 per barrel at 0625 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose 31 cents or 0.45%, to $69.53 per barrel.
Shell's refining margins in the third quarter drop dramatically
Shell said that its refining profits fell sharply from the previous quarter to the third due to a slump in global demand. Its oil product trading earnings were also down, the company added. Shell's trading update, released ahead of its quarter-end results on October 31, revealed that its refining margins had fallen by almost 30% in the three months leading up to the end September. They were $7.7 per barrel the previous period.
Hindalco, a subsidiary of India's Hindalco, plans to manufacture solar modules.
Hindalco Industries, a company based in India, plans to manufacture solar modules and establish a factory in Gujarat's western state. Two people with knowledge of the matter confirmed this on Tuesday. One of the sources stated that the company, which is owned by the cement to fashion retail conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, is evaluating its five-year plan for the competitive sector.
Eni restructures its chemicals business to unlock value and improve profitability
Eni, the Italian energy company, announced on Thursday that it had approved a new structure for its business aimed at developing main units, speeding up a revamp of its chemical business, and integrating both its upstream activities and its trading activities. The new structure aims to unlock some of the "satellite companies" of the group, including Plenitude, Enilive and others.
Grangemouth Oil Refinery in Scotland to close by 2025 and lose 400 jobs
Petroineos, the operator of Scotland's sole oil refinery, announced on Thursday that it would close the facility in 2025, resulting in the loss of 400 positions. The closure is part of plans for the site, which has been around 100 years, to be converted into a fuels-import terminal. Petroineos will shut down the refinery in the second quarter next year. This is subject to employee consultations, according to a spokesperson for the company.
Rural towns in New Mexico's arid region are looking to treated oil wastewater for a drought solution.
Stephen Aldridge, a pilot of a four-seater helicopter, could see a dozen lagoons filled with toxic waste glistening in the distance between drill rigs. The mayor of Jal, a tiny town nestled in the middle of U.S. Oil Country near the Texas border, saw the scene as a chance to find water for the state that is suffering from a worsening drought. Aldridge belongs…
German chemical sector recovers loses momentum in Q2, according to industry group
The second quarter saw a slight slowdown in the German chemical sector, according to a report released by VCI, the industry association. Both domestic and international orders, particularly in the pharmaceutical branch, were down in April-June. In a press statement, VCI's Director Wolfgang Grosse Entrup stated that the global economy had not picked up as fast as expected.
Methanex acquires OCI's methanol division in a $2.05 billion deal
Methanex, a Canadian methanol manufacturer, announced on Sunday that it would acquire the methanol division of Dutch green fuel maker OCI Global for $2.05 billion. The deal involves $1.15 billion cash and the issuance 9.9 million Methanex shares valued at $450 millions, according to the methanol manufacturer. It also includes $450 in debts and leases. OCI…
The policy uncertainty highlighted by the rise in US executives' election talk
U.S. executives are more concerned about the presidential election this year than they were four years ago. A wider policy divide between Donald Trump and Kamalah Harris raises concerns over taxes, tariffs, and pricing power. According to a LSEG Workspace screen on S&P 500 companies, mentions of the "election" and "White House" in earnings calls were 34% more than they would have been for the corresponding period of 2020.
Survival of the fittest: petrochemical manufacturers battle global glut
The survival mode of petrochemical producers is on in Europe and Asia. Years of capacity building in China, the top market for petrochemicals, and high energy prices in Europe have pushed margins down two years in a row. The weakness of the sector is concerning for an oil industry that looks to petrochemicals as a way to maintain profits in future years when transportation fuel demand will fall with the energy shift.
