Schlumberger Sale Marks Shale Turning Point

Schlumberger has become the biggest oil-service industry player yet to abandon frack work in North America, a sign that activity in the U.S. shale patch may never revisit previous highs. The provider of drilling and oil-production equipment agreed to sell its U.S. and Canadian fracking business to smaller rival Liberty Oilfield Services Inc.

China Is Hungry for Imported Farm Goods Amid Demand Recovery

China boosted imports of farm goods ranging from corn to pork to sorghum last month, signaling a demand recovery for protein in the world's most-populous nation. Imports of corn, used in animal feed by the world's second-largest consumer, climbed to a three-year high in July as the country sought more supplies to plug a widening shortage and cool surging prices.

Eying a Shale Rebound, Liberty Oilfield Strikes Deal With Schlumberger

Liberty Oilfield Services' acquisition of Schlumberger's shale fracking business will make it the third-largest oilfield services firm by North American revenue, nudging out Baker Hughes Co in a bet on a shale rebound. Denver-based Liberty Oilfield on Tuesday agreed to swap a 37% stake in the company in exchange for Schlumberger's North American hydraulic fracturing fleet, two Texas sand mines and other units.

Alberta Aggregate Producers Relieved With Government's Quick Passing of Bill 31

Aggregate producers in Alberta are breathing a sigh of relief after the United Conservative Party and opposition NDP managed to put aside their political differences and quickly pushed through legislation aimed at restoring normalcy to the gravel and sand industry in the province. The legislation, known as Bill 31, creates certainty for producers by clarifying how minerals and pits are defined in provincial legislation and how sand operations are regulated.

Westlake, Sasol Declare Force Majeure After Hurricane Laura Shutdowns

Two companies with significant operations in Hurricane Laura-battered Lake Charles, Louisiana, declared force majeure on some products on Aug. 31 as widespread power outages, expected to be lengthy, hindered restart plans. Westlake Chemical declared FM on construction staple polyinyl chloride and upstream intermediate vinyl chloride monomer, while Sasol declared FM on polyethylene, including all grades of linear low PE and high density PE.

PNW Shippers Face Delays on Vancouver, Prince Rupert Congestion

With month-long rail issues at Vancouver and Prince Rupert continuing, beneficial cargo owners shipping through the Canadian ports must now contend with vessel arrival delays of as much as two weeks.

Kurt Volker Joins Board of Private Ukrainian Railcar Company

Kurt Volker, the former U.S. special representative for Ukraine, has joined the board of BGS Rail, a private railcar company operating in Ukraine. The company announced Volker's affiliation in a press release on September 1.

PKP Cargo Receives 21 Slovak Container Wagons

Tatravagónka has delivered PKP Cargo 21 platform container wagons under a contract for the supply of a total fleet of 936 wagons for intermodal transport. Since the beginning of the project, PKP Cargo has increased its 80-foot Sggrs container wagons to 197 units.