US MIBK could see 5-7 cent March hikes on higher feedstock costs

19 February 2010 22:01  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) contracts for March have been nominated up from 5 to 7 cents/lb ($110-154/tonne, €80-112/tonne) on pressure from escalating raw material costs, sources confirmed on Friday.

The proposed increase range - atypical for this market - will make the level of expected hikes uncertain, several buyers said. However, the rationale was clear.

“The whole focus of these initiatives is propylene,” a buyer said.

In the first week of February, feedstock refinery-grade propylene (RGP) traded at 55.00 cents/lb, which was up from deals done at 48.50 and 49.50 cents/lb compared with a week earlier. The surge stemmed from curtailed production as US refineries ran at lower rates because of weak gasoline demand and high inventories, sources said.

Fuelled by the jump in RGP spot prices in January, monomer contract prices also rose in February by 12%.

In the meantime, February MIBK contract price initiatives of plus 3 cents/lb ($66/tonne) have yet to uniformly settle, but gains were imminent, buyers said.

Though sources generally agreed that raw material price and supply pressure would drive prices up, not every major producer had nominated a February increase, which made the level of the final increase uncertain.

Among other MIBK feedstocks, US isopropanol (IPA) contracts were up by 3 cents/lb for February on raw material pressure, buyers said. Trucked acetone was steady during the week at 60-63 cents/lb.

Current US MIBK prices were 90-100 cents/lb, according to data from global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

US MIBK producers include Dow Chemical, Eastman and Celanese.

($1 = €0.73)

To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Larry Terry
1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly