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Americas

US chemical production continues to rise by end of 2017

WASHINGTON — According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the US Chemical Production Regional Index (US CPRI) rose 1.2% in November, following a 0.5% gain in October, and a 1.2% decline in September. The upturn reflects the rebounding overall manufacturing activity in addition to continued recovery from the hurricanes. During November, chemical output increased in all regions.

Brazil 2017 oil exports up 25% over prior year

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) — Brazilian oil exports rose nearly 25% to 51.96 MMt in 2017 compared with the prior year, Brazilian government data showed on Tuesday.

Chevron Phillips ethane cracker at Cedar Bayou hits milestone

​Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP announced that its world-scale ethane cracker at Cedar Bayou in Baytown, Texas successfully achieved the major milestone of mechanical completion.

Oil trades near strongest levels since mid-2015 on Iranian unrest

SINGAPORE/LONDON (Reuters) — Oil prices posted their strongest opening to a year since 2014 on Tuesday, with crude rising to mid-2015 highs amid large anti-government rallies in Iran and ongoing supply cuts led by OPEC and Russia.

US crude ends year above $60 on strong global oil demand

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) — US oil prices closed above $60/bbl on the final trading day of the year, the first time since mid-2015, as the commodity ended 2017 with a 12% gain spurred by strong demand and declining global inventories.

After Trump criticism, China denies selling oil illicitly to N.Korea

BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) — China on Friday denied reports it has been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea after US President Donald Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation.

Oil prices stay near high on strong US refinery runs, China data

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Oil prices edged up on Thursday, remaining near 2-1/2-year highs after data showed strong demand for crude imports in China and on increased US refining activity that drew more crude from inventories.

Explosion at major Venezuela refinery injures two

PUNTO FIJO, Venezuela (Reuters) — A furnace exploded during a unit restart at Venezuela’s largest refining complex, injuring two workers, a union leader and a family member of one of the victims said on Wednesday.

Demand to ship gasoline on Colonial Pipeline at 2-month low

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Demand to ship gasoline on Colonial Pipeline has sunk to a two-month low as Gulf Coast supplies are increasingly being exported or sent to the Midwest rather than to the New York harbor, three sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

USTDA to host reverse trade mission for refinery optimization with India government, executives

USTDA is hosting a group of Indian oil and gas officials, and senior executives from state-owned and private sector Indian refineries on a visit to the United States where they will see the design, manufacture, and operation of US goods and services.