Chinese domestic BD prices weaken as supply eases

02 March 2010 03:49  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Chinese domestic butadiene (BD) prices dropped below yuan (CNY) 14,000/tonne ($2,050/tonne) this week as BD plants in China ramp up operating rates following the Lunar New Year holidays, market sources said.

Domestic BD prices fell to CNY 13,700-15,300/tonne ex-tank this week as Liaoning Huajin Chemical ramped up production at its 100,000 tonne/year BD plant in Panjin, Liaoning, to full capacity after running at a reduced rate since January.

Domestic BD prices in China were at CNY 15,000-15,500/tonne ex-tank in early February prior to the Lunar New Year holidays from 13-22 February.

“Liaoning Huajin BD’s plant was running at a reduced rate due to heavy snow falls and technical issues earlier this year, but it is now running at 100%,” a downstream Chinese synthetic rubber producer said.

BD is used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber that goes into tyre making.

Another Chinese BD plant, Tianjin Petrochemical has also increased the operating rate of its 200,000 tonne/year BD plant to more than 70% after running it at around 60% prior to the Lunar New Year holidays.

Maoming Petrochemical also restarted its 100,000 tonne/year BD plant in February after shutting down in December for maintenance.

($1 = CNY6.83)

Please visit the complete ICIS plants and projects database
For more information on BD, visit ICIS chemical intelligence
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Helen Yan
+65 6780 4359

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