Updated to mid-November 2009
European market review by Madelon Ten Cate, ICIS pricing
During the three-month period ending mid-November 2009, European ethylbenzene (EB) prices moved up and down in line with upstream developments, spiking in the middle of October to about $1,030/tonne FOB (free on board) NWE (northwest Europe), up about $100/tonne since the middle of August.
In the three months leading up to the middle of November, it was not always profitable to produce styrene via the EB-route, especially from the end of October onwards, as styrene producer’s margins were squeezed due to a longer market and weak buying interest. In mid-November, EB spot prices were pegged at $850-971/tonne.
US market review by Ryan Hickman, ICIS pricing
From September-November, US EB prices tumbled in the US from August levels in the mid-to-high 40s cents/lb.
The drop into the high-30s cents/lb in September and October came from softening contract benzene prices in the US.
Benzene contract values in the US Gulf fell by a total of 105 cents/gal or 29% from August-October, but regained nearly 24% of this loss in November.
The uptick in November benzene brought the most recent EB prices above 40 cents/lb at a range of 39.75-41.75 cents/lb ($876-920/tonne).
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Ethylbenzene
Uses and Outlook
Nearly all the ethylbenzene (EB) produced is used in the manufacture of styrene monomer (SM) with the remainder, at less than 1%, used in solvent applications. In addition, most of the EB is used captively, leaving a small merchant market for the product. Hence, EB demand runs in parallel to that of styrene.
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Ethylbenzene
Process Technologies
Ethylbenzene is produced by the catalytic alkylation of benzene with ethylene, or from mixed xylenes by isomer separation and catalytic isomerisation, or from 1,3-butadiene in a two-step process where the butadiene is converted to vinylcyclohexane which is then dehydrogenated.
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