Optimal Chemicals’ Malaysia butac plant shut for turnaround

29 January 2010 10:21  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Malaysia’s Optimal Chemicals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd shut its 50,000 tonne/year butyl acetate (butac) plant in Kertih, Terengganu last weekend, as scheduled, to facilitate a catalyst change, sources close to the company said on Friday.

“Operations should resume by early February,” he added.

As previously reported, the planned shutdown may not have a significant impact on Asia's butac market as demand from downstream paint, printing ink, leather and wood furniture/automotive coatings market was largely unchanged.

Prices, however, face upward pressure due to strong values of feedstock n-butanol, the source said.

Fresh offers for February cargoes were pegged higher at $1,250-1,350/tonne (€900-972/tonne) CFR (cost and freight) SE Asia, up $50-100/tonne from mid January levels.

($1 = €0.72)

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By: Helen Lee
+65 6780 4359

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