The United States is preparing to impose substantial fees on ships associated with China, aiming to revitalize its struggling domestic shipbuilding industry and counter China’s growing dominance in global maritime trade. A draft executive order proposes levying fees on vessels docking at U.S. ports if they are part of a fleet that includes Chinese-built... Read more »
In recent weeks, significant uncertainty has been injected into the business landscape, particularly within the chemical distribution industry, due to the new tariffs announced by the Trump administration. These tariffs, which are set to impact Canada and Mexico starting March 4, 2025, have raised concerns about the effect on both domestic and international chemical trade,... Read more »
On January 14, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its risk evaluation for Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP), confirming its continued safety in the vast majority of its applications. This comprehensive assessment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) underscores DINP’s crucial role in various industries and reaffirms its suitability for widespread use, with... Read more »
Since Donald Trump’s second inauguration, his administration has been rapidly rolling out executive orders that will significantly affect the U.S. chemical distribution industry, energy policies, and international trade. A key focus is trade and tariffs, particularly with China, Canada, and Mexico. Trump’s “America First” trade policy aims to address U.S. trade deficits and potentially... Read more »
Lithium greases have traditionally dominated the global grease market, accounting for approximately 70% of usage. 1 It is expected lithium grease will always dominate the market due to their versatility. However, the increasing demand for lithium in electric vehicle (EV) batteries has led to price volatility and concerns about the long-term availability of lithium for... Read more »
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 »
