Egyptian Petrochemicals Co restarts Alexandria caustic soda plant

16 December 2010 12:11  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--Egyptian Petrochemicals Company has restarted production at its 400 tonne/day caustic soda plant in Alexandria, Egypt, following an unplanned shutdown last month, a company source said on Thursday.

The company took the plant off line on 29 November because of technical problems. The plant resumed normal production on 13 December, the source said.

Egypt is predominantly an export market for caustic soda, selling the majority of its volumes in markets in the Mediterranean. 

Egyptian Petrochemicals Company plans to resume exports to Europe from 1 January 2011, the source said.

The source added that domestic buying interest was strong due to the region's hot weather, which was fuelling demand downstream for soap and detergent.

Other sources in the region said there was a slowdown in demand, because end-users were destocking ahead of the end of the year to lower gearing ratios.

As a result of market inactivity, spot prices were stable at $420-500/tonne (€319-380/tonne) FOB (free on board) North Africa.

ICIS assessed spot prices of 50% liquid product at $420-500/tonne FOB North Africa.

($1 = €0.76)

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By: Mark Victory
+44 208 652 3214

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