US Q1 perc imports down 11% from year earlier

09 May 2008 22:25  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--First-quarter US imports of perchloroethylene (perc) were 7,862 tonnes, down by 11% from the same period a year before, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) reported on Friday.

Imports in March were 140 tonnes, down by 91% from 1,555 tonnes imported in February, according to the ITC.

First-quarter shipments from the UK were 3,508 tonnes, down by 44% from the year-earlier period. But imports from Germany jumped to 2,562 tonnes from 20 tonnes.

US perc exports in the first quarter were 3,699 tonnes, down by 12% from a year earlier, the ITC said.

Overall US perc demand has been stagnant as buyers seek a less-toxic metal degreaser, and demand from the manufacturing sector continues to flag.

Prices for perc were assessed on 6 May at 43-48 cents/lb (€616-688/tonne), down by 2-3 cents/lb from the end of the March, according to data from global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

Producers include Dow Chemical, INEOS, Occidental Chemical and PPG. 

($1 = €0.65)

For more information on perc, visit ICIS chemical intelligence.

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By: Ben Lefebvre
+1 713 525 2653

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