Category: News

Tall Oil Fatty Acid (TOFA) Market & Impact

Tall Oil is produced from the liquid rosin of coniferous pine trees and is largely produced as a byproduct of paper production during the Kraft process of wood pulp processing. Its composition consists of the three primary components: resin acids, unsaponifiable, and fatty acids (mainly palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid). Tall Oil Fatty... Read more »

Winter Weather Causing Delays

More than 15 million Americans are expected to be impacted by hazardous winter weather this week, as a storm system prepares to pummel the the US from Texas to West Virginia. In addition to winter precipitation, temperatures have reached dangerous and record lows in other portions of the country.  Accidents and dangerous conditions have heavily... Read more »

ChemCeed Celebrates 5-Years: Vickie Gaerlan

ChemCeed is proud to announce the five-year anniversary of Vickie Gaerlan in December 2022. As one of our Operations Coordinators, Vickie is an integral part of our team.  In addition to her hard work in Operations, she assists with Accounting, and is instrumental in training new team members. ChemCeed offers their congratulations to Vickie and... Read more »

Major Rail Strike Threatens Economy, Chemical Industry

At a time of year when transportation and freight are already pressed, the possibility of a major rail strike threatens to further disrupt the US economy.  In September, a tentative agreement was made between rail companies and unions, temporarily preventing a strike.  Now it appears that a strike may be imminent next month. Contract negotiations... Read more »

Superfund Second Wave to Begin January 1st

  A second wave of Superfund taxes will go into effect on January 1, 2023.  The new round of taxes will be applied to imported crude oil and petroleum products.  The petroleum excise tax applies to crude received at a US refinery and is to be paid by the refinery operator.  Taxes on petroleum products... Read more »

Mississippi Drought Worsens, Supply Chain Strained

  The global supply chain has taken many blows over the last three years. Today, it faces yet another strain – a drought on the Mississippi River.  A major US transportation hub, the Mississippi is the second longest river in the United States, covering more than 2,300 miles.  In addition, its tributaries run through 32... Read more »

Lithium Supply Lags Demand – Impact on Lubricants & Greases

  The demand for lithium has boomed in recent years, particularly with the global push towards electric vehicles (EVs). What was once an element with limited applications, lithium’s use in rechargeable batteries has caused an explosion in demand.  Since 2021, the pricing of lithium carbonate has increased more than 400% and continues to rise. The supply... Read more »

Ocean Shipping Reform Act Promises Positive Changes

Ocean shipping issues have been a major factor in the supply chain difficulties since the start of the pandemic.  In 2021, US legislators proposed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) in an attempt to mitigate some of the problems plaguing the industry.  Signed into law by President Biden in June 2022, the OSRA intends to... Read more »

Potential Rail Strike Looms Near

  US rail workers could be headed for a nationwide strike if an agreement is not reached within days, which could be a devastating blow to the economy and manufacturing.  Union members voted in July to strike, seeking better quality-of-life provisions in their contracts. These provisions center around attendance policies and vacation and sick days. ... Read more »

Cyber Attacks Have Increased – Is Your Company Protected?

One As chemical companies become more computer controlled, the dangers of possible cyber attacks have increased. The more computer controlled, the greater chances are of becoming a prime target for those that want to steal, damage, or cause havoc in your company. A cyber attack not only can corrupt and expose company information, it can... Read more »