Sasol lifts force majeure on LLDPE from US Louisiana site

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Sasol has lifted a force majeure on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) from its Lake Charles, Louisiana complex, according to a letter to customers on Monday.

The force majeure was declared on 31 August after the site was shut following the impact of Hurricane Laura on Lake Charles. Laura caused significant damage to the area and prolonged power outages to many residents and industrial sites.

US PE supply tightened following Hurricane Laura and other storms in what has been a very active Atlantic hurricane season. However, PE supply tightness has begun to ease in recent weeks, resulting in some downward movements in spot export pricing.

According to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database, Sasol’s Lake Charles, Louisiana plant has a capacity of 470,000 tonnes/year.

PE is the most widely used plastic in the world and is primarily found in packaging including plastic bags, plastic films and geomembranes.

Major US producers of PE include Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem), Dow, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, Formosa, INEOS, Total Petrochemicals and Westlake.

Thumbnail image shows PE. Source: Shutterstock