As Trump tariffs cause demand concerns, refining stocks plummet to levels not seen in two years.
Investors were rattled by fears about a slowdown in oil and fuel consumption and a decline in refining margins after President Trump announced new tariffs. According to LSEG data, the market capitalization of top refiners Marathon Petroleum and Valero Energy, as well as Phillips 66, has dropped by more than 20 billion dollars since Trump announced new tariffs Wednesday afternoon.
Shell sells Singapore refinery assets to Chandra Asri Glencore group
Shell announced the deal in January last year and has now closed the sale. The deadline for the completion of the deal was slightly delayed from its original end-of-last-year date. The deal's value is still unknown. Shell stated that the transaction was completed through the sale shares of Aster Chemicals and Energy Pte Ltd., a Singapore-based company and SSPL's fully-owned subsidiary.
Bosch plans to generate billions of dollars in revenue from hydrogen by starting production of electrolyser components
Bosch announced on Wednesday that it will start producing electrolyser parts for hydrogen production and expects its hydrogen business revenue to reach billions of Euros by 2030. Germany is looking to increase its reliance on hydrogen for future energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from highly polluting industries that can't be electrified, such as steel or chemicals.
Germany's green employment doubles but lack of staff threatens growth
A study released on Thursday showed that the number of German jobs related to energy transition has increased by more than two-thirds since 2019. However, the shortage of skilled workers is threatening a sector which has so far managed to resist the recession in the country. Berlin's drive for solar and wind energy expansion has helped the sector. It is helping Berlin meet its climate goals…
US Senate confirms Trump's trade chief Greer before Canada and Mexico tariffs
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to confirm Jamieson Grer as U.S. trade representative, giving the veteran of Donald Trump's first term of trade wars the full authority of his new position just days before the March 4 deadline that will punish imports from Canada or Mexico with 25% tariffs. Greer's nomination was confirmed by a majority of senators, even though voting is still ongoing.
Chevron restructures its business and reshuffles the leadership
Chevron announced on Monday that it will reorganize its business structures, and reshuffle its leadership team. This is the latest step taken by the U.S. oil major to streamline its operations. As it deals with cost overruns, delays and delays on a major Kazakhstan project, the company said that it could lay off as much as 20% of its worldwide workforce by 2026.
Vopak's profits are unlikely to change much by 2025 as one-offs have a negative impact on the 4th quarter results
Dutch tank storage company Vopak said that it expects to see little difference in its earnings by 2025, despite the fact that strong demand for energy-storage infrastructure is boosting its results. Analysts cited a missed quarterly core profit and a cautious outlook as the reason for the 7% drop in shares of this company that operates terminals and stores fuels and chemicals around world.
Lightsource bp has secured 10 power purchases totaling 1.3 GW in the last 12 months
The firm reported on Wednesday that Lightsource bp - a renewable energy developer and a subsidiary of British oil giant BP - secured 10 power purchase agreement (PPA) in the last year, totaling 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity worldwide. Lightsource bp stated that the PPAs have been contracted in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific for solar power.
In the shadow of tariffs, Europe's markets can benefit from a ceasefire in Ukraine
The markets have bet that a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine will ease the pressure on energy and euro prices, and also reduce the impact of increased U.S. tensions. Meanwhile, expectations about defence spending has already sent stocks in this sector soaring. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, arrived in Saudi Arabia Monday to discuss with Russian officials. President Donald Trump ordered U.S.
First Solar wins early victory for ESG group with the use of deep sea minerals
First Solar has agreed not to use minerals from the deep ocean. This is a win for shareholders and environmentalists, as well as a sign that their agenda may make progress in spite of opposition from U.S. president Donald Trump's government. According to an agreement summary provided by the advocacy group As You Sow, the Tempe-based photovoltaic company will…
India reviews tariff surcharges on luxury goods, renewables and chemicals amid US pressure
India will review the import tariffs for over 30 items, including luxury cars and photovoltaic cells. This could lead to a rise in imports from America, according to a senior official at the finance ministry. To counteract President Donald Trump's increasing tariff actions, the Government has already reduced the tariffs on several products, including high-end cars, bikes, and chemicals, in the latest Budget.
Samsung E&A awarded a $1.7 billion contract by TA'ZIZ for the UAE's first methanol facility
Abu Dhabi's TA'ZIZ announced on Monday that it had awarded a $1.7billion contract to Samsung E&A for the construction of the UAE's 1st methanol facility. The plant is expected to produce 1.8m tons of methanol annually upon completion in 2028. TA'ZIZ is a joint venture of Abu Dhabi's state oil giant ADNOC with the sovereign fund ADQ. It was launched in 2020 in order to promote the development and growth of the new chemical industries.
Austrian OMV and ADNOC are interested in acquiring Nova Chemicals
Austria's OMV, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's (ADNOC), said that they were considering a joint-venture to purchase Canada's Nova Chemicals, if the owner of Nova Chemicals, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund Mubadala agrees. According to a press release, the proposed acquisition would create an international polyolefins group that would include Nova Chemicals Borealis, and Borouge.
Germany builds up LNG import terminals
Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply, a drive intensified by the latest suspension of Russian flows via Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump targeting Europe with liquefied natural gas exports.Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and green hydrogen under decarbonization strategies.
Germany builds LNG import terminals
Germany is increasing its natural gas imports to replace Russian supplies. This drive has been intensified due to the recent suspension of Russian gas flows via Ukraine, and U.S. president Donald Trump's targeting Europe with LNG exports. Here are some details about the terminals that will be developed to house floating storage regasification (FSRU) units for seaborne LNG.
Air Products announces timeline for CEO departure, Neuberger supports dissident slate
Air Products and Chemicals gave a specific date for the departure of its CEO, while investors began voting for directors in an intensely contested boardroom fight. The company announced that it would announce a new CEO by the end March. This person will replace Seifi Hasemi within three months after joining. Air Products announced that it would split the roles between chairman and CEO and announce Ghasemi's retirement from the board.
Air Products splits CEO and chair roles in response to activist pressure
Air Products and Chemicals has separated the roles of chair and CEO as an activist investor is pressing the company to create a succession plan. It said that the company would name a new President no later than 31 March and expected the transition of the new CEO within three months after the person joins the company. Seifi Ghasemi is currently the CEO as well as the president of the company. He has held these positions for over a decade.
Beware of Egypt's smokestack reshoring as Cement Exports Soar: Maguire
North Africa's second largest natural gas producer and its largest economy have increased the production and exports of several energy-intensive commodities in an effort to boost the growth of their industrial sector. Egypt's exports of chemicals, fertilizers, and cement doubled from 2022 to 2024. They have also grown by 350% in the last year thanks to government initiatives aimed at promoting rapid industrial growth.
Beware of Egypt's smokestack reshoring as Cement Exports Soar: Maguire
North Africa's second largest natural gas producer and its largest economy have increased the production and exports of several energy-intensive commodities in an effort to boost the growth of their industrial sector. Egypt's exports of chemicals, fertilizers, and cement doubled from 2022 to 2024. They have also grown by 350% in the last year thanks to government initiatives aimed at promoting rapid industrial growth.
Corn prices surge, triggering a wave of sales by US farmers
Iowa farmer Caleb Hamer picked up his phone this week and called a local buyer of corn, eager to get his grain sold as the prices rose to their highest levels in over a year. Grain dealers in Iowa Illinois Indiana and Nebraska reported that farmers across the Midwest increased crop sales after corn and soybean futures spiked on Friday when the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its harvest estimate for 2024.
