Canadian weekly chemical railcar traffic rises 21.2%

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:07:00 GMT

TORONTO (ICIS news)--Chemical shipments on Canadian railroads rose 21.2% last week from the same period in 2009, marking the 29th consecutive weekly increase this year, an industry association said on Thursday. Canadian chemical railcar loadings for the week ended on 24 July were 13,968, compared with 11,525 carloads in the same week last year, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The increase for the week came after a 15.1% year-over-year increase in Canadian chemical carloads in the previous week ended 17 July. The weekly chemical railcar loadings data are seen as an important real-time measure of chemical industry activity and demand. In

Brazil’s Vale launches public offer for copper, fertilizer firm

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:57:00 GMT

SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazilian miner and fertilizer producer Vale is launching a public offer to buy up to 100% of the common shares in a copper company that includes fertilizer producer Cibrafertil, the company said on Thursday. Copper company Paranapanema owns a 99.09% stake in Cibrafertil, which operates a phosphate fertilizer plant in Brazil. Vale’s offer for Paranapanema - to be held on 1 September - would be subject to the purchase of at least 50% plus one common share and would be extended to all Paranapanema’s shareholders, Vale said. The price per common share to be paid was reais (R) 6.30 ($3.56, €2.74), which could be adjusted in case of any distribution of dividends payment and/or interest on shareholders’ equity, the company added. Cibrafertil’s fertilizer plant is in the state of Bahia

US Bunge sees improvement in H2 amid better agricultural demand

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:28:00 GMT

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Coming off a weaker-than-expected performance in the second quarter of 2010, US agribusiness major Bunge said on Thursday it hoped for better results in the second half of the year on improving demand and processing margins. "The second quarter was disappointing, due primarily to low volumes and margins in agribusiness,” said Bunge chairman and chief executive Alberto Weisser during a conference call with investors. "We expect significant improvement in the second half of the year. In agribusiness, demand should be stronger and Northern Hemisphere harvests will contribute to new market conditions,” he added. Weisser also said that sugar and ethanol production in Brazil would peak as the harvest progresses and sugar content yields impr

US weekly chemical railcar traffic rises 7.7% year over year

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:13:00 GMT

TORONTO (ICIS news)--Chemical shipments on US railroads rose 7.7% last week from the same period in 2009, a rail industry group said on Thursday, marking their 28th increase so far this year. Chemical railcar loadings for the week ended 24 July were 28,752, up by 2,068 carloads from 26,684 in the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The increase compared with a 8.2% imcrease in the pervious week ended 17 July. The weekly chemical railcar loadings data were seen as an important real-time measure of chemical industry activity and demand. Railcar loadings represented about 20%

INSIGHT: US Senate panel dumps safer tech - but not for long

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:12:00 GMT

“The Senate Homeland Security Committee’s unanimous approval of the Collins bill - minus an IST provision - is a major win for industry.”

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Canadian weekly chemical railcar traffic rises 21.2%

Brazil’s Vale launches public offer for copper, fertilizer firm

US Bunge sees improvement in H2 amid better agricultural demand

US weekly chemical railcar traffic rises 7.7% year over year

INSIGHT: US Senate panel dumps safer tech - but not for long