Toluene

19 February 2001 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Impending changes to European regulations on aromatics in gasoline could lead to a toluene surplus, while demand from the chemical industry is not expected to grow in the near futureUPDATED FROM PRODUCT PROFILE, ECN 19 JULY 1999

Uses

Toluene's major outlet is in gasoline where it boosts the octane rating. However, most of that portion is never removed from refinery streams. Its major chemical use is to make xylenes (and benzene) via disproportionation (TDP) or benzene via hydrodealkylation (HDA) processes. About 16% is used to make solvents, although this outlet is declining because of stricter emissions laws. About 8% of world demand is from toluene diisocyanate (TDI) used in polyurethane foams. It also has minor use in phenol and caprolactam production, and is used as a chemical intermediate to make nitrobenzene, benzoic acid and benzyl chloride.

Supply/demand

There are three grades of toluene: TDI-grade with a purity of 99.9%, nitration grade at 98.5% which is used as a solvent, as feedstock for HDA and TDP plants and for phenol manufacture. In the US there is a commercial grade with only 95% purity used for gasoline blending and HDA feedstock. European demand for toluene is about 1.7m tonne/year with extraction capacity rated at about 2.16m tonne/year. DeWitt consultancy is expecting to see a slight decline in production during 2000 compared to 1999. Europe is a net importer of toluene and imports in 1999 are put at about 120 000 tonne. DeWitt estimates imports for first half 2000 at 88 000 tonne, mainly from Hungary, Israel, US and Korea. Significant imports from the US and Asia also arrived in the second half and are continuing to appear in Europe in quarter one. Supply is tight with the gasoline pool still consuming high amounts of toluene because of more attractive returns. Current operating rates are in the low to mid-70% range.

Pricing

Prices are primarily driven by gasoline values, and its blend value in the gasoline pool generally sets a floor to pricing. The quarter one European contract price settled at E375/tonne ($356/tonne) fob, a E25/tonne fall on quarter four reflecting weaker crude and gasoline numbers. Spot prices were quoted early last week in the range $370-390/tonne fob Rotterdam. TDI-grade generally commands a $5-10/tonne premium over nitration.

Technology

Most toluene is sourced from pyrolysis gasoline (pygas) or from the catalytic reforming of naphtha. The reformate is fed to a solvent extraction unit and then to fractionation columns to separate benzene, toluene and mixed xylenes. Toluene can also be obtained from the aromatics produced from propane/ butane in the BP/UOP Cyclar process and from light oil formed by the carbonisation of coal.

Health and safety

Toluene is a clear mobile liquid with a characteristic sweet, pungent odour. It is soluble in benzene, ethanol, ketones and most organic solvents but only slightly soluble in water. It is highly flammable, burning with a sooty flame, and flashback can occur due to its heavy vapour. Vapours are irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract and exposure leads to drowsiness, confusion and headaches. Repeated exposure can damage bone marrow, liver and kidneys, but it is not considered to be carcinogenic.

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Outlook

No major growth is forecast for toluene demand from the chemical industry, says DeWitt. The current issue is the impending change in European regulations in 2005, which require a further 7% reduction in aromatics content in gasoline to 35%, which could lead to a large toluene surplus. In theory, an additional 4m tonne/year of toluene and xylenes could be released into Europe. Most refiners are already aiming to meet the new requirement ahead of the 2005 deadline. According to DeWitt, if the US proceeds with a partial ban of MTBE as an octane booster, European gasoline exporters may have to increase toluene volumes in the blend to compensate, resulting in a positive effect on the toluene balance.

EUROPEAN TOLUENE CAPACITY, '000 TONNE/YEAR

Company	Location	Capacity
Western Europe
Aral	Gelsenkirchen, Germany	30
BASF	Mannheim, Germany	140
Cepsa	Algeciras, Spain	200
DEA	Heide, Germany	130
	Wesseling, Germany	100
EniChem	Porto Marghera, Italy	50
	Porto Torres, Italy	60
	Priolo, Italy	240
Erdölchemie	Dormagen, Germany	100
ExxonMobil	Botlek, Netherlands	230
FinaAntwerpOlefins*	Antwerp, Belgium	100
HICI	Wilton, UK	340
PCK	Schwedt, Germany	52
Petkim	Aliaga, Turkey	15
Petrogal	Oporto, Portugal	140
Shell	Stanlow, UK	80
	Godorf, Germany	150
TotalFinaElf	Gonfreville, France	40
	Feyzin, France	50
Veba	Lingen, Germany	60
Eastern Europe
Arpechim	Pitesti, Romania	60
Borzesti Petrochemical	Borzesti, Romania	50
INA Rafinerija	Rijeka, Croatia	70+
	Sisak, Croatia	88+
Mol	Szazhalombatta, Hungary	110
Neftochim	Burgas, Bulgaria	45
PC Blachownia	Kedzierzyn, Poland	40
Petrobrazi	Brazi, Romania	200
Petrochemia	Plock, Poland	90
Petromidia	Midia, Romania	50
Slovnaft	Bratislava, Slovakia	80

* shared with ExxonMobil+ operational status unknownSource: DeWitt

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