US Q1 VAM exports jump 25% over same quarter 2009

12 May 2010 21:24  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US exports of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) totalled 110,970 tonnes in the first quarter, a 25% jump over 88,604 tonnes in the same quarter last year on increased demand, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) said on Wednesday.

The increased shipments stem from recovering demand and a weaker start last year during the global economic downturn, market sources said. Plant outages have also tightened the VAM market this year, sources said.

VAM exports in March totalled 34,073 tonnes, down by 4% from 35,517 tonnes shipped abroad during the same month of 2009, according to the ITC data.

However, March VAM exports rose more than 6% from February this year, when 31,985 tonnes were shipped.

Four countries - Belgium, Mexico, Canada and Brazil - accounted for a collective 61,871 tonnes or 55% of all exports, according to the data. Those four countries increased their take of VAM shipments 32% this year compared with the first three months in 2009.

ICIS pricing assessed that US Gulf coast export free on board (FOB) prices ranged $920-1,020/tonne (€727-806/tonne) over the past month, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

Major US VAM sellers include Celanese, Dow Chemical, DuPont and LyondellBasell.

($1 = €0.79)

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By: Lane Kelley
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