(ICIS) -- Louisiana's chemical industry is returning to normal operations as water levels on the Mississippi river continue to fall from historically high levels, the president of a trade group said on Thursday. At New Orleans, the river is below flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.
At Baton Rouge, the river is still at major flood stage, but water levels have fallen from their peaks, the service said. Levels are now at 43.8 feet (13.4m), and they will continue falling through the end of the month.
Plants that were under high restrictions are starting to ship again, said Louisiana Chemical Association president Dan Borne. Some vessels have resumed their routes to Houston, the nation's petrochemical hub.
Dow Chemical has not said whether it has resumed normal operations at the docks at its sites in Plaquemine and St Charles. Also, Georgia Gulf has not said if it has lifted its sales allocation on phenol and acetone.