US April chlorinated solvents exports rise by 87% year on year

09 June 2011 22:05  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US April exports of chlorinated solvents methylene chloride, perchloroethylene (perc) and trichloroethylene (TCE) increased by 87% year on year, according to data released on Thursday by the US International Trade Commission (ITC).

Total April 2011 exports of the three chemicals were 19,624 tonnes, up from 10,493 tonnes in April 2010.

April's exports increased by 63% month on month from 12,006 tonnes in March 2011.

Most of the gain in overall exports came from perc and TCE. Perc exports quadrupled year on year to 10,109 tonnes in April 2011 from 2,191 tonnes in April 2010.

TCE exports more than quadrupled year on year to 2,209 tonnes in April 2011 from 397 tonnes in April 2010.

Despite the constricted US supply of the solvents, global supply remained tighter, especially in South Korea, China and Japan.

Tighter global supply also limited import availability for US buyers, despite each of the three solvents reaching record high prices in April, as assessed by ICIS.

Total imports were down by 63% year on year to 3,279 tonnes in April 2011 from 8,807 tonnes in April 2010.

Month-on-month imports were down by 8% from 3,547 tonnes in March 2011.

The biggest fall for imports among the solvents came from methylene chloride, which fell by 97% year on year and 96% month on month.

Major US producers of the chlorinated solvents are Dow Chemical, Occidental Chemical and PPG Industries.

To learn more about the chlorinated solvents visit ICIS chemical intelligence

By: John Dietrich
713-525-2600

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