Light olefins
Overview
The global light olefins market is made up of ethylene and propylene monomers. These product markets can be affected by a great many factors.
Ethylene is the most widely used commodity chemical and is produced globally in all major regions. It is converted into many products used in daily life like plastic packaging, durable goods, hygiene products and other consumer items. The ethylene market is driven primarily by regions of low production cost and regions of high demand growth. Polyethylene, ethylene’s largest derivative, represents about 65pc of global ethylene demand. Anyone involved in the ethylene industry – directly or indirectly – needs market and pricing insight to anticipate supply shortages and potential swings in pricing.
Propylene is the second most widely used commodity chemical and is produced globally in all major regions. Propylene is a volatile commodity because of its predominantly co-product nature and unpredictable supply, but recently the industry has been trending to more on-purpose production. It is converted into many products used in daily life like plastic packaging, durable goods, automotive products, and woven fabrics. Polypropylene, propylene ’s largest derivative, represents about 70pc of global propylene demand. Anyone involved in the propylene industry – directly or indirectly – needs market and pricing insight to anticipate supply shortages and potential swings in pricing.
Our light olefins experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global market.
Latest light olefins news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global light olefins industry.
Braskem restarts Triunfo petrochemical hub
Braskem restarts Triunfo petrochemical hub
Sao Paulo, 21 May (Argus) — Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem started the gradual resumption of operations at its plants in the Triunfo hub, Rio Grande do Sul state. Braskem said it expects to complete the process in about 15 days, provided that climatic and logistical conditions remain stable. On 7 May Braskem shut down all of its operations in Rio Grande do Sul state after extreme flooding since late April, but said its polymer inventories were safe and protected from the damage caused by heavy rainfall at its operations in southern Brazil during the past two weeks. At the time, Braskem said there was no permanent damage to the industrial facilities, but critical water intake and effluent treatment systems were submerged, rendering them inoperable. Additionally, the Santa Clara River terminal, which was preemptively closed by the local port authority, has also been flooded. Braskem said the decision to resume operations takes into account the safety of people, processes, and logistics, and stated that it will keep the market informed about relevant developments, including their impacts. Since the Triunfo shutdown, Braskem was working with an operational capacity of 50pc. But the company was heard increasing its operating rates in other Brazilian plants to serve customers in the southern region. Braskem last week ruled out bringing material from Mexico. The extreme weather in southern Brazil caused a humanitarian crisis in Rio Grande do Sul and left 161 people dead, 85 missing and over 581,000 people displaced, according to the state's civil defense. Braskem owns and operates six industrial units at the Triunfo hub, with a combined production capacity of over 5mn tonnes (t)/yr of chemicals and thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), including a 260,000 t/yr bio-based PE plant. By Frederico Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Logistics, water access key for Braskem hub restart
Logistics, water access key for Braskem hub restart
Orlando, 9 May (Argus) — Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem's plants at the Triunfo petrochemical hub have come to a standstill because of logistical and water access issues and the uncertainty surrounding when water levels will subside. Braskem had to shut down all of its operations in Rio Grande do Sul state after extreme flooding in recent days, but said its polymer inventories are safe and protected from the damage caused by heavy rainfall at its operations in southern Brazil during the past two weeks. At least 428 cities and 1.5mn people have been hit by the floods. So far, there are 107 confirmed deaths and 136 people missing, according to the state's last emergency service report. There has been no permanent damage to the industrial facilities, Braskem said today in an earnings call. But critical water intake and effluent treatment systems are submerged, rendering them inoperable. Additionally, the Santa Clara River terminal, which was preemptively closed by the local port authority, has also been flooded. "We can only assess the situation and evaluate losses once the water recedes," Braskem's chief financial officer Pedro Freitas said during the company's first quarter earnings call. Freitas said that part of the production of basic resins, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), will be offset by increased production in other Brazilian states or in Mexico. Braskem has been operating under its nameplate capacity. The situation is different at Braskem's 260,000 t/yr bio-based PE plant. There is stock available abroad, as the majority of this product is earmarked for export, Freitas said. 1Q production and sales Braskem's domestic resin sales fell by 5pc in the first quarter from a year prior, with volumes also falling in the US and Europe but growing in Mexico. Domestic sales declined on the company's decision to prioritize sales with higher added value in the period, Braskem said in its preliminary first-quarter production and sales report. Domestic resin sales fell to 839,000 metric tonnes (t) in the first quarter, from 884,000t a year earlier. On the other hand, the company's Brazil resin sales rose by 7pc from the prior quarter on higher demand for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) because of inventories rebuilding in the supply chain. In Mexico, polyethylene (PE) sales through the Braskem Idesa joint venture rose by 6pc to 209,000t in the period, primarily because of the higher availability of products for sale in the period. Sales rose by 17pc from the fourth quarter of 2023 mainly thanks to seasonality and replenishment of PE stocks in the fourth quarter of 2023. First quarter polypropylene (PP) sales hit 508,000t, according to consolidated numbers for the US and Europe. That is a 2pc drop from a year earlier and down by 1pc from the previous quarter. The declines are mainly because of better handling of inventory, which partially offset the lower availability of products for sale in the US thanks to an unscheduled shutdown in the region. Braskem reported a $270mn loss in the first quarter, swinging from a profit of $46.9mn in the same period last year, largely because of additional provisions related to the Alagoas state geological event . By Frederico Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Polymers stocks safe in storm-hit Brazil: Braskem
Polymers stocks safe in storm-hit Brazil: Braskem
Orlando, 8 May (Argus) — Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem said its polymer inventories are safe and protected from the damage caused by heavy rainfall at its operations in southern Brazil during the past two weeks. The inventories include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), ethylene and basic chemicals. Braskem had to shutdown all of its operations in Rio Grande do Sul state after the extreme weather event in recent days , the company told Argus on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the NPE Plastics fair in Orlando, Florida. The shutdown was completed safely, with no harm to the company's plants at the Triunfo petrochemical hub, which represents about 30pc of its ethylene production capacity in Brazil. Braskem is reevaluating its supply chain strategy to deal with the lack of production at the Trinfo hub. This includes serving its clients with PE produced at other company hubs in Brazil and Mexico, where it owns PE manufacturing joint venture Braskem Idesa. The same goes for PP and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with other production hubs serving customers if the weather situation does not improve in the coming days. Operations at Braskem's 260,000 t/yr bio-based PE plant will restart as soon as conditions improve, the company said. No fatalities occurred at the company's operations, but part of its workforce has lost their homes and are being taken care of by Braskem, according to the company. State governor Eduardo Leite called the the flooding "the worst disaster in Rio Grande do Sul's history." There are 100 people dead and 128 missing, according to the state's civil defense. Braskem said it will resume its operations gradually, after weather conditions normalize and logistics in the state such as airports, railroads and flooded roads resume. Braskem is the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas and a leader in biopolymer production. By Frederico Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Enchentes afetam operações de empresas no Sul do Brasil
Enchentes afetam operações de empresas no Sul do Brasil
Sao Paulo, 8 May (Argus) — Diversas empresas brasileiras suspenderam operações no Rio Grande do Sul em razão das chuvas intensas que causaram diversos alagamentos e danos à infraestrutura. As enchentes ocasionadas pelo recorde de chuvas geraram pelo menos 83 mortes e 111 pessoas desaparecidas, de acordo com o governo estadual. Mais de 23.000 pessoas foram obrigadas a deixarem suas casas em meio a danos generalizados, incluindo pontes e rodovias inundadas em diversas cidades. A barragem da usina hidrelétrica 14 de Julho, com capacidade de 100MW, no rio das Antas, rompeu na semana passada em meio às fortes chuvas. A Companhia Energética Rio das Antas (Ceran), que opera a usina, implementou um plano de evacuação de emergência em 1 de maio. A produtora de aço Gerdau informou em 6 de maio que suspendeu suas operações em duas unidades no estado até que seja assegurada a "segurança e proteção das pessoas". A empresa não divulgou o volume de produção de aço dessas unidades. A empresa de logística Rumo interrompeu parcialmente suas operações e informou que os "danos aos ativos ainda estão sendo devidamente mensurados". A gigante petroquímica Braskem desligou duas unidades no complexo petroquímico Triunfo, como uma medida de prevenção em decorrência dos "eventos climáticos extremos" no estado, afirmou em 3 de maio. A empresa adicionou que não há expectativa de data para retomar as atividades. A Braskem opera oito unidades industriais no Rio Grande do Sul, que produzem 5 milhões de toneladas (t)/ano de petroquímicos básicos, polietileno e polipropileno, de acordo com seu website. Por Carolina Pulice Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Under Pressure: Weather Extremes Take Toll on Chemicals Industry
The fire at the Dow Glycol II unit, the INEOS pipeline explosion, or the olefin unit fire at Shell’s Deer Park, are just a few of the 100 chemical accidents in the USA thus far in 2023. Texas holds the largest share with 27 incidents according to the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters. On average a chemical fire, explosion, or toxic release occurs every two days in the USA.
null - 23/10/20Podcast - 23/09/04