Gateway to growth: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the federal permit for the Louisiana International Terminal, clearing the way for construction of a major new container port on the Lower Mississippi River. Backed by Port NOLA, Terminal Investment Limited and Ports America, LIT is designed to handle the world’s largest container ships and connect more than 30 states to global markets. The project is expected to strengthen U.S. supply chains, expand export capacity, create thousands of jobs and generate billions in economic activity and tax revenue.
Supply pressures: Gulf Coast petrochemical prices were mostly stable last week, but rising international demand for ethane could tighten supplies and push prices higher. Record U.S. ethane exports, with China taking the majority, are reversing the trade disruption seen in 2025 and could eventually lift costs for ethylene, polyethylene and other plastics. With U.S. ethane production and storage potentially unable to meet growing export and domestic demand, producers are watching supply pressures and geopolitical developments closely. Bloomberg has the full story.
Reducing labor costs: Rising warehouse wages and consumer demand for faster delivery are driving logistics companies to accelerate investments in automation, with North American businesses ordering nearly 18,000 robots worth $1.2 billion in the first half of the year. Companies are turning to technologies such as autonomous forklifts, inventory-scanning drones and humanoid robots to reduce labor costs, address worker shortages and improve supply chain efficiency. The Wall Street Journal has the full story.
Talent wars
