In October, a three-day strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) at East and Gulf Coast ports brought the country to a standstill. After reaching a temporary agreement, the strike ended, but the issue is far from resolved. The ILA and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) agreed to extend the current contract through mid-January while... Read more »
The chemical distribution industry has faced its share of challenges in recent years. High interest rates, excess inventories, and market volatility have been difficult obstacles to navigate. However, Connor Lokar, Senior Forecaster and Economic Consultant at ITR Economics, now part of Crowe LLP, shared a message of optimism for 2025 and beyond during his keynote... Read more »
After midnight on October 1, the port workers from The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) launched a strike, effectively halting operations at key ports stretching from Maine to Texas. This work stoppage follows months of tense negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents the shipping ports. Unfortunately, the inability of both sides to... Read more »
Currently there are ongoing negotiations between the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) which may halt operations due to a potential strike on October 1st. According to Supply Chain Dive News, in June the ILA canceled a planned meeting with USMX due to the use of automated truck... Read more »
Effective September 15, 2024, the Chinese government has opted to restrict exports of a metal, Antimony. Antimony is used in everything from ammunition to batteries, but is also a key component of the widely used flame retardant, Antimony Trioxide (ATO). Prices are expected to rise even higher following this decision. The trading price of... Read more »
The global market for citrus products has recently faced a significant disruption. Brazil, the world’s largest producer and exporter of citrus products, is on track to register one of its worst orange harvests in more than three decades. Nearly 70% of global supply comes from Brazil, and the yield is expected to down by... Read more »
Two major Canadian railroads are on the brink of a strike. Teamsters working for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway (CN) are set to strike on August 22nd unless a new labor contract is agreed upon. The union is demanding higher wages, better benefits, improved fatigue management, and better scheduling for... Read more »
ChemCeed, a leading innovator in the chemical industry, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming International Elastomer Conference (IEC) 2024, taking place from September 9-12 in Pittsburgh, PA. At this renowned rubber & silicone industry event, ChemCeed will proudly showcase its latest advancement in sustainable chemistry: a groundbreaking line of reduced carbon footprint... Read more »
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) contract that includes 3 dozen ports and 45,000 dockworkers, covering Maine to the Gulf of Mexico near Texas, is set to expire on September 30th. If the ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance cannot reach an agreement by this deadline, this would lead to a strike. This strike would... Read more »
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Texas on Monday. Beryl landed about 85 miles southwest of Houston. With a maximum wind speed of 80 mph, much damage was sustained to the surrounding area. Nearly 3 million Texans are without power across the coast. Many of Port Houston’s key facilities were damaged, including... Read more »
