AFPM ’12: US ACN market players see partial repeat of last year

01 April 2012 17:06  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US acrylonitrile market is contending with tight supplies of feedstock propylene as the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC) starts on Sunday. 

Propylene is tight because of outages and turnarounds. As a result, propylene have risen by 39% since the start of the year, pushing up ACN prices.

ACN spot prices have climbed to $2,125-2,280/tonne FOB (free on board) from $1,620-1,665/tonne at the start of the year. That is an average increase of 34%.

The formula-based ACN contract prices also reflect the higher feedstock costs. The February contract prices of 109.18-113.62 cents/lb DEL (delivered) are an average increase of 19% since the December contracts

Plants outages and turnarounds have not been restricted to upstream feedstock facilities. There have been some turnarounds and outages at ACN plants as well.

On average, about 90% of the global ACN capacity is available and it is being utilised to the maximum, producers say.

Downstream markets of ACN, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), are feeling the increase cost of ACN.

North American producers of ACN include Ascend Performance Materials, Cornerstone Chemical, INEOS Nitriles and Unigel.

Hosted by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the IPC continue through Tuesday in San Antonio, Texas.

By: Wesley Busch
+1 713 525 2653

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