Costs in focus at US Southeast Chem Conference

07 June 2007 23:10  [Source: ICIS news]

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (ICIS news)--Volatile raw material costs, downstream economics and plant security will be the major topics at the Southeast Chemical Conference (SECC), which began on Thursday.

 Nearly 500 representatives of the southeast US chemicals industry were expected to attend the event.

The annual conference includes industry officials who buy, sell, trade, transport or distribute chemicals.

Topics for discussion include chemical feedstock costs and global supply, plant security and forecasted economic readings.

Globally, raw material costs are at all time highs, which have squeezed margins more than anyone ever would have imagined, a producer said on the sidelines.

But demand from major downstream markets, such as the housing and auto industries, are extremely low, a buyer argued.

A broker said that getting material from point A to point B is another challenge players must consider.

“We are experiencing all kinds of delays getting product to customers because of delays in sea traffic, limited space on rails and a shortage of truck drivers,” the broker said.

The conference lasts until Saturday.

By: Heather McGuire Doyle
+1 713 525 2653

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