Dow's Boehlen, Germany, BD in start-up phase, back on by Friday

02 June 2010 12:23  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Dow Chemical’s butadiene (BD) unit at Boehlen in Germany is still in start-up phase because of restart problems at the site’s cracker, a company source said on Wednesday.

“We are still starting up, [we] should be back by Friday” the source said.

The company had taken the unit down for eight weeks of planned maintenance at the beginning of April, which had run alongside a turnaround scheduled at the site’s cracker.

The Boehlen unit has the capacity to produce 105,000 tonnes/year of butadiene, according to ICIS plants and projects. 

LyondellBasell was able to lift its force majeure on butadiene supplies from its Berre, France, site earlier this week. However, SABIC’s forces majeures on butadiene and raffinate 1 supplies from Wilton, UK were still in place.

Spot BD prices were firm and currently pegged around €1,700/tonne ($2,073/tonne) FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe), according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

The second quarter contract price settled at €1,275/tonne, up €325/tonne from the first quarter because of tight supply and demand conditions.

The June monthly contract price recently settled at €1,400/tonne FD, up €50/tonne from May.

($1= €0.82)

For more on butadiene visit ICIS chemical intelligence
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By: Nel Weddle
+44 20 8652 3214

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