AFPM ’19: New global ACN capacity needed to support downstream growth

SAN ANTONIO (ICIS)–New acrylonitrile (ACN) global capacity is needed to support growing demand in downstream markets, according to sources.

Demand in key end sector acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is expected to grow at least 3%/year in Asia, said one source, as demand for engineering plastics for vehicle light-weighting and other applications steadily increases, particularly in the key China market.

The sources were speaking on the sidelines of this year’s International Petrochemical Conference (IPC).

Demand is also burgeoning in smaller sectors such as carbon fibres and acrylamide.

Carbon fibre demand in the aerospace and energy sectors is increasing, with  demand expected to grow around 10%/year.

“Acrylamide is booming,” said one source, attributing the growth to the recovery in the crude oil industry as well as water treatment in the Chinese market and other regions such as the US and Europe.

The US currently exports approximately 300,000 tonnes/year of ACN.

Cornerstone Chemical Company is considering an additional 130,000 tonnes/year ACN train in the US, with commercial production expected to begin in 2023, the producer announced in September.

Cornerstone is conducting engineering and design, with the intent to reach a final investment decision (FID) in late 2019.

Nonetheless, if Chinese demand grows at the rates expected by the market, more capacity will be needed to support both domestic and export demand to the region.

Hosted by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the IPC takes place on 24-26 March in San Antonio, Texas.