May 18, 2026 - Today's Industrial Market News from Industrialinfo.com

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Industrial Info Resources - Industry News Podcast 3 min 1 speaker 4 chapters transcribed 1 month ago

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What is the current state of U.S. plastics production and investment?

Christine Ramos 0:11

This is the World Industrial News for Monday, May eighteenth. Brought to you by Industrial Info Resources of Sugarland, Texas. Economies rise and fall, wars come and go, but the need for plastics never ends. The U.S. trails only China in its production and consumption of plastics, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and it shows.

Which countries are leading new mining‑equipment plant construction and why?

Christine Ramos 0:36

According to Industrial Info Resources data, more than twenty-two billion dollars worth of projects for the manufacturing of plastics materials, synthetic resins, and non-vulcanizable products are active or have been proposed across the US Egypt. Industrial Info Resources Data find twenty five construction projects geared toward the manufacture of mining equipment across the world, valued at a combined one billion dollars Armet. China clearly emerges at the forefront for mining equipment plant construction, accounting for the large majority of both the number of projects and the overall spending. Finland comes in a distant second place, primarily thanks to one large project. Conflict simmering since the end of February is roiling global energy markets and the economy.

How are recent geopolitical tensions affecting global energy markets and refinery operations?

Christine Ramos 1:25

The International Energy Agency said this week the supply shock stemming from the tacit closure of the Strait of Hormuz was unprecedented. Industrial info resources data continue to show the regional impacts to everything from refineries such as Saudi Aramco's RS Tanura refinery to Qatar energy halting production of liquefied natural gas due to drone strikes on its infrastructure. Luis Caputo, Argentina's Minister of Economy, announced two more projects have been approved under Argentina's incentive regime for large investments, or RI GI. A total of sixteen projects now have been approved under the program. San Jorge's Copper Project and the Kachari Olaro's Lithium expansion are the latest two projects to be added to the scheme.

What new mining and lithium projects have Argentina approved under its RI‑GI incentive program?

Christine Ramos 2:15

Norway's government has taken the controversial decision to reopen three North Sea gas fields that were shut down almost 30 years ago in an effort to boost gas production for Europe. According to Industrial Info data, there are a combined nine projects across the three gas fields worth roughly $2 billion. For details on these and other breaking news, read the full stories at industrialinfo.com. I'm Christine Ramos, reporting for Industrial Info News.

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