Supply Chain & Logistics

US barge suppliers expand fleets to capture petchems export growth

Mar 17, 2017

Rising LNG and petrochemicals exports are spurring investments in new barge fleets and suppliers are building larger vessels despite high construction costs, industry experts said.

US ethane cracker construction costs rise a further 1% in Q4 2016

Feb 3, 2017

Total project cost estimates for a typical 1.5 million ton-per-annum (mtpa) ethane cracker on the U.S. Gulf Coast rose by $14.2 million (0.7%) to $2.1 billion in the period September-December, according to Petrochemical Update’s U.S. Ethylene Plant...

Houston port haulers facing 5 to 10-year transport infrastructure gap

Feb 2, 2017

Transport congestion is forecast to worsen around the port, spurring new logistics solutions in the interim before government infrastructure is built, Scott Campbell, Associate Director of Customer Fulfilment at Lyondellbasell, said at the Petrochemical...

Senior consultants see positive outlook for US petrochemicals but supply-chain risks ahead

Jan 16, 2017

What is the general consensus when three senior consultants to the North American petrochemicals industry discuss their market outlook? A healthy dose of optimism, but without getting carried away.

Transporting modules a much bigger task than just crossing Pacific

Dec 9, 2016

When planning for modular construction, notify heavy lifters at least 18 months in advance and contract a vessel one year in advance, experts told Petrochemical Update’s Refining, Engineering & Construction Conference in Houston.

US shippers successfully testing Mexican rail links to Pacific

Oct 28, 2016

Various U.S. shippers have successfully tested Mexican rail links to the Pacific this year, a senior Kansas City Southern (KCS) official revealed during a recent panel discussion hosted by Petrochemical Update.

Plastic resin distributors set sights on automotive sector, Latin America

Oct 28, 2016

Distributors of plastic resins have experienced strong growth in the past five years and, for one, the next course of action is to strengthen links with end users in a handful of selected industries including the automotive sector.

Chemicals supply chain can learn from Expedia, Amazon on sharing information

Sep 30, 2016

Many ports, terminals and carriers have implemented information-sharing programs, but now a federal advisory committee has concluded more visibility is needed to improve the efficiency and flow of cargo in U.S. supply chains.

Petrochemicals industry defies U.S. rail-freight transport slowdown

Sep 2, 2016

A slowdown in U.S. rail-freight transportation has done nothing to dampen enthusiasm for chemicals, which is one of just three commodity categories to enjoy an increase in rail traffic this year.

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