Westlake lifts force majeure on US styrene

John Donnelly

27-Oct-2020

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Westlake has lifted a force majeure on styrene after its 260,000 tonne/year US Lake Charles, Louisiana, styrene plant resumed operations October 25.

The plant was shut down for two months. The entire site, including ethane crackers, polyethylene (PE) units and other production units, was knocked offline by the loss of electrical power following Hurricane Laura’s high winds and flooding on 27 August.

Other parts of the complex restarted earlier this month.

The force majeure, lifted Monday, had contributed to a tighter styrene market in the US. Spot US styrene prices have firmed this month as heavy Asian demand and an open arbitrage window drew US exports.

Styrene is a chemical used to make latex and polystyrene resins, which in turn are used to make plastic packaging, disposable cups and insulation.

Major North American styrene producers include AmSty, INEOS Styrolution, LyondellBasell Chemical, Pemex, Shell Chemicals Canada, Total Petrochemicals and Westlake Styrene.

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