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Domestic News

2020: Optimism—and Caution

Pivotal economic shifts this year will set the scene for the decade to come. Although a new chapter begins, concerns we’ve seen building over the past several years will likely reach either a conclusion or major turning point in 2020—concerns including the ongoing trade disputes and currently unrealized recession predictions.

U.S. Rep. Garamendi Introduces Crude-by-Rail Safety Bill

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) last week introduced a bill that would establish safety standards for the maximum volatility for crude oil before it could be transported by rail.

Canadian National Secures Contract for Hauling Sulfuric Acid

Canadian National (CN) will provide rail services to NorFalco’s production facilities in Sudbury, Ontario; Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec; and Valleyfield, Quebec. NorFalco says it is one of North America’s largest merchant marketers of sulfuric acid, marketing and distributing about 2 millions tons of the acid each year.

Lean Times Predicted for Wisconsin Sand

According to Rich Kremer, writing for Wisconsin Public Radio, after a year of decline for Wisconsin's frac sand mining industry marked by closures and bankruptcy, a national analyst expects more sluggish demand in 2020.

International News

Can the New Silk Road Compete with the Maritime Silk Road?

China’s President Xi Jinping refers to the Belt and Road Initiative, aka the New Silk Road, as the “Project of the Century,” and according to a recent Bloomberg article, Morgan Stanley anticipates Chinese investments will total $1.3 trillion by 2027.