Petrochemicals in Brief

14 June 2004 00:01  [Source: ICB Americas]

BTX Benzene is in a spot range of $2.68 to $2.72 per gallon, and the June contract has settled at $2.60. Toluene is $1.82 to $1.86 per gallon. Xylenes are $1.84 to $1.86 per gallon for spot material. The main xylenes contract has settled at $1.845, and a smaller contract is at $1.85. Paraxylene is in a spot range of 31c. to 31.5c. per pound. June contracts have partially settled at 35.25c.

PHENOL pricing continues to tighten in response to higher benzene, cumene and propylene prices. A major producer has nominated a price increase of 18c. per pound, offset by a temporary voluntary allowance (TVA) of 10c. “Phenol operating rates are over 90 percent, both in the US and worldwide,” an analyst notes. “Contracts are moving from a quarterly to a monthly basis. By raising the list price way up with a TVA they can change every month, the producer has essentially gone to monthly pricing.” Spot pricing for phenol is in the mid-40s (cents per pound). Phenol contracts, prior to the announced increase and TVA, are around 51c. to 52c. per pound, which generally get discounted to the high 40s.

Celanese Chemicals will increase off-list selling prices for acetic acid and acetic anhydride by 4c. per pound in US and Canada, $90 per metric ton in South and Central America, Turkey, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico, Asia and India, and by €75 per metric ton in Europe. Prices for vinyl acetate monomer will rise by 5c. per pound in the US and Canada, $110 per metric ton in South and Central America, Turkey, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico, Asia and India, and by €100 per metric ton in Europe. All increases are effective July 1. Also effective July 1, Celanese will increase the off-list selling price of its oxo products, acetyl derivatives, acetone derivatives and LPO co-products. These price increases are in addition to the total of any mid-quarter increases announced in May and June. Celanese will also increase the price of formaldehyde by 2c. per pound in the US, Canada and Mexico. Prices of butyl formcel and methyl formcel will increase by 5c. per pound in the US, Canada and Mexico and by $110 per metric ton in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. Prices for paraformaldehyde and 1,3 butylene glycol will increase by 5c. per pound in US, Canada and Mexico and $110 per metric ton in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and €90 per metric ton in Europe. Prices for pentaerythritol will increase by 8c. per pound in US, Canada and Mexico, $180 per metric ton in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and €150 per ton in Europe. Prices for trimethylolpropane and neopentyl glycol will rise by 10c. per pound in US, Canada and Mexico, $220 per metric ton in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and €180 per ton in Europe. Prices for dipentaerythritol will increase by 20c. per pound in US, Canada and Mexico, $440 per metric ton in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and €370 per ton in Europe.

Dow Chemical Company will increase the price of monoethanolamine by 8c. per pound, and the price of diethanolamine and triethanolamine will increase by 5c. per pound effective July 1.

Perstorp Coatings Intermediates will increase the price of trimethylolpropane and neopentyl glycol in Europe by €160 per metric ton and by $200 per metric ton to overseas markets. The price of pentaerythritol will increase by €160 per metric ton in Europe as well as overseas. Furthermore, the price of n-butanol, isobutanol, 2-ethylhexanol, DOP and NX 795 ester alcohol will increase by €60 per metric ton in Europe and $80 per ton overseas. Prices for 2-ethylhexanoic acid will rise by €130 per metric ton in Europe and $150 per ton overseas.

Rohm and Haas Company Effective July 1, prices for butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, glacial acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, glacial methacrylic acid Rocryl 400 hydroxyethyl methacrylate, Rocryl 410 hydroxypropyl methacrylate, Rocryl hydroxyethyl acrylate and Rocryl 430 hydroxypropyl acrylate will increase by 12c. per pound.

Vulcan Chemicals is increasing the price of methyl chloride by 3c. per pound, not to exceed schedule pricing of 40.5c. per pound. The company is also increasing the pricing of chloroform, fluorocarbon grade, by 2c. per pound, not to exceed schedule pricing of 32.5c. per pound. Both increases are effective July 1. In addition, current inventory levels for both products require Vulcan to limit customer purchases to 1/12 of 2003 sales levels or of existing contract annual volumes.

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