LyondellBasell restarts 320,000 tonne/year Aubette LDPE plant

22 September 2009 13:22  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--LyondellBasell has restarted its 320,000 tonne/year low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant at Aubette, France, after it failed due to technical issues over the weekend of 12-13 September, a company source said on Tuesday.

“The plant came back at 03:00 (local time) today,” he said, adding that inventories were low, particularly for LDPE.

The company had already had LDPE production issues at its Carrington site in the UK.

September PE prices had risen by €90-100/tonne ($132-147/tonne) from August, leaving net prices around the €1,000/tonne FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe) level.

There was some nervousness over October as buyers felt that prices had peaked, but sellers said they saw little possibility of prices decreasing next month.

“We are not too concerned about October,” said the LyondellBasell source, adding that demand was expected to be good and availability was restricted.

Dow announced a €40/tonne increase for October PE, but other producers said they were waiting to see where the October ethylene monomer contract landed before commenting on October pricing.

Market consensus was for a rollover-to-small-decrease for October ethylene and for PE.

PE producers in Europe include LyondellBasell, Borealis, SABIC, Total Petrochemicals, Polimeri Europa, Dow Chemical, Repsol, and INEOS Olefins and Polymers.

($1 = €0.68)

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By: Linda Naylor
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