Communicator

SP Chemical completed the first gas-based cracker in Taixing, China, in 2019, producing 780,000 tpa ethylene and 150,000 tpa propylene.

February 7, 2025 | SINGAPORE (Reuters)

Despite growing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, China's ethane imports from the United States are expected to rise significantly in 2025 as petrochemical producers seek cheaper feedstock alternatives. Major Chinese companies are investing over $16 billion in infrastructure improvements to accommodate this growth.

Industry analysts forecast China's ethane imports to reach between 6.3 million and 8.2 million metric tons in 2025, representing an increase of 9% to 34%. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects its net ethane exports to rise 6% to 520,000 barrels per day, with China expected to absorb most of this increase.

However, two main factors currently constrain this trade growth: limited U.S. export capacity and a shortage of specialized tankers. To address these limitations, U.S. pipeline operators Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners are expanding their terminal capacities.

China has also demonstrated its commitment to increasing ethane imports by reducing its import tariff to 1% in 2025, down from 2% in 2024. Enterprise CEO Jim Teague remains optimistic about the trade relationship, noting that Chinese dependence on imported propane and ethane should protect this segment from broader trade tensions.

#ethane  #china  #imports  #usa  #feedstock  #refining  #refinery  #steamcracking  #gascracker  #propane  #ethyleneplant 

22^nd Jan 2025 | Hydrocarbon Processing

Lyondell Basell Industries has started the permanent closure of its 263,776-bpd Houston refinery during the penultimate  weekend of January, said people familiar with plant operations.

Layoffs of up to 400 employees at the refinery are scheduled to begin two months after the shutdown begins, the sources said.


#lyondellbasell   #houston  #usa  #refinery 

US Presidential candidates have diverging views on the oil industry.

Trump supports expanding production, which could lower oil prices. Harris, who favors green energy, has previously supported a ban on fracking and could limit production. Under president Biden, the free cash flow of the top 10 oil and gas companies tripled in 3 years.

Trump proposes a 10% duty on all imports and a 60% duty on Chinese imports, which could reduce energy demand. Trump may tighten sanctions against Iran but ease measures against Russia.

#russia  #iran  #usa  #trump  #harris  #potus  #oilandgas  #greenenergy  #oilprice  #fracking 

Oil company Chevron is moving its headquarters from California to Houston after repeated warnings that the Golden State's regulatory environment makes it difficult to do business there. The move announced Friday will end the company's more than 140-year existence in the largest U.S. state.

Chevron has already scaled back new investment in California refining, citing "confrontational" government policies in a state with some of the strictest environmental rules in the US. In January, refining chief Andy Walz warned that the state was playing a "dangerous game" with climate rules that threaten to spike gasoline prices.

Chevron joins a long list of California emigrants that includes Oracle Corp., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Tesla Inc. and Social Network X. The migration among former Silicon Valley tech giants has been driven largely by tax and cost-of-living considerations, according to Bloomberg.

However, according to Ilon Musk's view, it's not so much about taxes as it is about policies implemented by the state's leadership. And that includes the green agenda (with its taxes on conventional oil and gas) and drug liberalization and so on.

#usa  #texas  #california  #chevron  #oilandgas  #refining  #netzero  #carbontax  #greenagenda