Polymers
Overview
Global polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) supply and demand dynamics are in transition. Supply is increasing much faster than demand and international trade is shifting due to political and economic events. About 40% of the US polyethylene production is exported, mainly to Asian markets, whereas only about 10% of the polypropylene production is exported, mainly to LATAM markets.
Ethylene prices in Asia and Europe are tied to naphtha whereas ethylene prices in the US are impacted by natural gas and ethane supply. Asia is also self-sufficient on PP whereas they must import 25% of their PE demand.
The impacts of other ethylene and propylene derivatives such as PVC or propylene oxide also require assessment.
Our polymer experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest polymers news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global polymers industry.
Dutch PVC recycler to file for bankruptcy
Dutch PVC recycler to file for bankruptcy
London, 14 November (Argus) — Dutch PVC recycler Vinylrecycling will file for bankruptcy on 19 November after a legal battle with the Dutch government over clarifications regarding PVC waste exports. The company recycles 20,000-30,000 t/yr of PVC waste. Vinylrecycling has been in a prolonged legal battle with the Netherlands Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) over exports to third countries including Guatemala, India and Algeria of what the ILT described as "PVC waste" but the company declared to be "raw material". The ILT then restricted exports for Vinylrecycling and fined the company. Vinylrecycling has been appealing this decision, with a judgment expected by 1 January, but the company said "some creditors no longer have the patience to wait," and the company will be filing for bankruptcy. "The Council of State is expected to issue its verdict, hopefully before January 1, but that might be too late for our company. No one will step in to take on the 20,000 to 30,000t of PVC we recycle, so I'm concerned it may all end up in a landfill," chief executive of Vinylrecycling Huib van Gulik told Argus . "Although rebuilding our company will be a complex task, we will speak with the trustee to explore whether a restart is possible or if we will contest the bankruptcy," the company added. "Vinylrecycling warmly invites potential investors, strategic partners, and other interested parties to discuss a restart and/or a contestation of the bankruptcy with us or, later, with the trustee," the company said. Vinylrecycling produces regrind, granulate and micronised powder rPVC. By George Barsted Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s Tosoh starts producing CO2-derived isocyanate
Japan’s Tosoh starts producing CO2-derived isocyanate
Tokyo, 14 November (Argus) — Japanese petrochemical producer Tosoh has started the production of isocyanates by using captured carbon dioxide (CO2) at its Nanyo plant in Yamaguchi prefecture, in line with its decarbonization efforts. Tosoh's new facility, which can capture 40,000 t/yr of CO2 and generate unspecified volumes of carbon monoxide (CO), started operations this month, a company spokesperson told Argus on 14 November, after the completion of its construction at end-October . Before converting CO2 into CO, the firm will capture CO2 from the conventional facility that uses naphtha to manufacture CO — a feedstock used to manufacture isocyanate goods such as methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Isocyanates are used to manufacture polyurethane. Tosoh's reliance on the new feedstock will curb its existing use of petroleum feedstock naphtha. But the firm declined to disclose how much naphtha usage it has reduced. Tosoh produces 400,000 t/yr of MDI and 43,000 t/yr of HDI at the Nanyo plant. Tosoh has set a goal to achieve a 30pc reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year against 8.33mn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2018-19, before becoming carbon neutral by 2050-51. It targets to curb 3pc of its GHG emissions by 2030-31 through the conversion of CO2 into petrochemical feedstock. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU records 11.8pc use of circular materials in 2023
EU records 11.8pc use of circular materials in 2023
London, 13 November (Argus) — The use of circular materials in the EU increased by just 0.3pc in 2023 compared with 2022, according to Eurostat data. The 27 EU countries reported an average of 11.8pc for circular material use rate compared with 11.5pc in 2022. The Netherlands reported the highest rate of circular material use with 30.6pc, up from 27.2pc in 2022. Italy was the next highest, with 20.8pc recorded in 2023. Eurostat also released data on the amount of recyclable plastic waste raw material imported into the EU in 2023, with a decrease seen on the year. A total of 754,525t were recorded imported in 2023, down from 817,668t in 2022. Sweden was the largest importer in 2023, receiving 158,340t, closely followed by the Netherlands, which imported 147,460t. The EU exported 1.325mn t of recyclable plastic waste raw material in 2023, up from 1.116mn t the year before. Germany was the largest exporter, shipping 312,000t of plastic compared with 277,000t in Germany. The Netherlands was the second largest exporter of recyclable plastic waste, shipping 282,000t. By George Barsted Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Shell completes Moerdijk pyrolysis oil upgrader
Shell completes Moerdijk pyrolysis oil upgrader
London, 11 November (Argus) — Shell has completed construction of a 50,000 t/yr unit that can upgrade pyrolysis oil at its site in Moerdijk, the Netherlands. The upgrader purifies pyrolysis oil, derived from plastic waste, so it can be used as a feedstock for the cracker at Moerdijk to produce new chemicals. Shell recently signed a supply deal with Brazilian petrochemical and polymer producer Braskem to supply "circular" feedstock for polypropylene (PP) production from pyrolysis oil processed at Moerdijk. In July Shell secured a pyrolysis oil offtake agreement with German waste management and recycling organisation Der Gruene Punkt . Shell signed an offtake agreement in 2021 with chemical recycler Pryme. By George Barsted Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Post-pandemic cracker margins: when will Northeast Asia margins turn positive?
WhitePaper - 16/09/24Can Rationalisation Solve the Polyethylene Glut?
WhitePaper - 13/09/24
Key Manufacturing Considerations For World Scale Polyethylene Plants
Large world-scale polyethylene plants are positioned to take advantage of low-cost North American shale-based ethane that is critical to be competitive in the global markets. But these projects come with pros and cons, both financially and logistically, according to Argus polymer expert Terry Glass.
Explore our polymers products
