Production

U.S. factory production unexpectedly fell in September, suggesting that manufacturing’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was slowing heading into the fourth quarter.

U.S. Midwest manufacturing unexpectedly surged in September, with new orders and production recovering strongly from coronavirus-related shutdowns, a regional purchasing managers’ survey showed on Wednesday.

ConocoPhillips said on Thursday it expects production curtailments in the current quarter to be roughly half as much as last quarter and will restore most of its output by the end of September, after the oil and gas producer slashed about a third of its output in April as oil prices plunged 41%.

Electrical equipment maker Philips said a recent surge in orders for scanners and other medical equipment should enable group sales and margins to rebound over the next six months from a slump in the second quarter.

The flood of canceled Boeing plane orders has returned. The company reported Tuesday that 60 orders were canceled in June, mostly by aircraft leasing companies.

The pandemic disrupted recycling and hit oil prices, challenging efforts to use more recycled plastic in drinks bottles.

Drug company AstraZeneca is to start producing a potential vaccine for coronavirus, its boss has told the BBC.

Citing 'the sudden decline in market demand,' the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is taking the proactive approach to suspend production in at least seven countries in the western hemisphere until at least April 3.

"Anheuser-Busch is leveraging their capabilities, relationships and reach to provide assistance to those in need by producing and distributing hand sanitizer to accommodate the growing need across the U.S. in the face of COVID-19"

Continuing our focus on organizations’ response to this pandemic, Pablo Jimenez, Global Vice President, Reputation & Communications at AB InBev, shares the challenges and opportunities that come with a global business whose operations are deeply connected to local communities. Pablo reminds us that Comms is a two-way function that needs to balance speed, accuracy and responsiveness, be sensitive to local context while maintaining a global coherence, and help the organization marshal its resources to help where the world needs it.