US IPA exports for Q1 fall by 12% year on year

12 May 2009 12:21  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US exports of isopropanol (IPA) fell in first-quarter 2009 to 72,396 tonnes, a decline of 12% from 82,566 tonnes during the same period last year, according to the US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Tuesday.

While the quarterly numbers reflected a weaker global economy versus the same time last year, US IPA exports rose by 82% to 31,621 tonnes in March from February.

Belgium, Singapore, China and Mexico were the top four destinations for US IPA exports in March, and comprised 63% of total shipments.

First-quarter imports of 16,507 tonnes were down only marginally from the same period a year ago.

Month-over-month imports nearly doubled to 7,082 in March from February, reflecting some restocking by buyers who had depleted inventories, sources said.

Ninety-four percent of the US imports in March came from Canada, which shipped 6,680 tonnes in March compared with 3,004 tonnes in February.

US prices for IPA were 55-57 cents/lb ($1,213-1,257/tonne, €898-930/tonne), according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing 

US IPA producers include Shell Chemicals, Dow Chemical, LyondellBasell and ExxonMobil.

($1= €0.74)

For more on IPA, visit ICIS chemical intelligence
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By: Larry Terry
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