US Nov butac exports up 38% over same month 2008 - ITC

12 January 2010 20:58  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US exports of butyl acetate (butac) in November totalled 5,355 tonnes, up 38% compared with 3,870 tonnes during the same month last year, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) said on Tuesday.

November exports moved up 4% over 5,133 tonnes in October, the ITC said.

But for the first 11 months of last year combined, butac exports fell 11% to 53,120 tonnes, compared with 59,685 tonnes in the same period of 2008, according to the data.

The decline largely reflects a dive in auto sales brought on by the global recession, market sources said. Butac is a major ingredient in automotive paint.

Mexico and Brazil continued to lead export destinations, accounting for a collective 21,193 tonnes through November, or about 40% of total shipments.

Those two countries plus Canada and the United Arab Emirates received 64% of all butac exports through November.

US Gulf coast export FOB (free on board) butac prices were 54-69 cents/lb ($1,191-1,521/tonne, €822-1,049/tonne) over the past month, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

Major US butac producers include Dow Chemical, Eastman Chemical and Oxea Group.

($1 = €0.69)

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By: Lane Kelley
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