US October acetic acid exports drop 25% year on year - ITC

10 December 2010 21:39  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetic acid exports dropped 25% to 68,051 tonnes in October from 90,400 tonnes in the same month of 2009, according to US International Trade Commission (ITC) data released on Friday.

Year-to-date through October, acetic acid exports totalled 797,942 tonnes, down by 11% from 899,324 tonnes during the same period last year, the ITC data showed.

Weaker demand overseas, especially in Latin America, attracted fewer US exports, sources said.

Mexico and Brazil accounted for 49% of all exports in the year through October with 393,713 tonnes, down by about 6% from their take in the same period last year.

In Europe, Belgium was by far the largest destination for US acetic acid, receiving 39% or 314,985 tonnes through October this year. Belgium's take was up by 52% from shipments received in the same period of 2009.

US Gulf coast export FOB (free on board) acetic acid prices were $525-600/tonne (€399-456/tonne) over the past month, as assessed by ICIS.

Major US acetic acid sellers include BP, Celanese and Eastman Chemical.

($1 = €0.76)

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By: Lane Kelley
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