Petchems unaffected by Total's refinery strikes

19 December 2007 12:00  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--The impact of 24-hour strike action at Total’s French refining facilities on downstream production was cushioned by quiet December markets, industry sources said on Wednesday.

 

Total’s refineries at Donges, Gonfreville, Granpuits and La Mede had all seen members of the French union Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT) on strike from Monday evening, a company source said. 

 

“The strikes were ended yesterday as we signed a pay agreement,” the source said. 

 

“This meant that work resumed late yesterday and today. We were running the refineries at reduced rates but they were not at a standstill. As of today we are running at normal rates.”

 

The source would not comment on the extent to which refining and downstream production operations had been affected. 

 

According to ICIS plants and projects, Gonfreville produces 360,000 tonnes/year of benzene, 40,000 tonnes/year of toluene and 390,000 tonnes/year of styrene alongside 135,000 tonnes/year of paraxylene and 110,000 tonnes/year of orthoxylene. 

 

Market participants said that these product markets had not been affected, as seasonal demand was low and supply more than ample in northwest Europe.

 

“We haven’t seen much effect on the market,” said one toluene trader, adding that this product was the most likely to see immediate impact. 

 

“The December and January markets are long, and as it was a relatively short period of time it is unlikely that supply would have been disrupted particularly given the current climate.”

 

Toluene indications were stable on Wednesday morning at $860-880/tonne (€593-607/tonne) FOB (free on board) Rotterdam, with the last deal heard by global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing at $860/tonne FOB Rotterdam the previous day.

 

($1 = €0.69)

 

By: Peter Salisbury
+44 20 8652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly