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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
ChemCeed will be exhibiting at the International Elastomer Conference in Knoxville, TN on October 11-13, 2022. ChemCeed would like to invite all attendees to stop by booth number 911 to discuss the many products ChemCeed offers into the rubber industry. As a full-service chemical supplier, ChemCeed offers a reliable supply of plasticizers, flame-retardants, rubber accelerators,... Read more »
While the Russian invasion of Ukraine has largely fallen from the daily headlines, the economic effects of the conflict are still being felt worldwide. Prior to the conflict, the European Union (EU) imported 40% of its natural gas from Russia, with Germany as their largest consumer. Nearly 1/3 of Germany’s natural gas was supplied by... Read more »
With nearly 5 billion people active on the internet, digital marketing has moved into center stage in most business sectors. Approximately 80% of buyers do their research about a product online before purchasing it. When looking for a specific brand, buyers will conduct around 12 online searches about it. In today’s world, people want everything... Read more »
