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China’s Gulei PC completes LPG import terminal

  • Spanish Market: LPG, Petrochemicals
  • 03/08/21

Fujian Gulei Petrochemical (Gulei PC) completed construction of its LPG import facility in southeast China's Zhangzhou with the commissioning of two storage tanks at the end of July, a month earlier than scheduled.

The refrigerated 120,000m³ propane and 120,000m³ butane storage tanks will enable the company to start importing LPG soon. The terminal also completed construction last month of a berth for 50,000t very large gas carriers.

Gulei PC is a joint venture between state-controlled oil firm Sinopec with 25pc, Fujian Chemical 25pc and private-sector firm Xuteng Investment owning the remainder.

Gulei PC's 800,000 t/yr steam cracker with flexible feedstocks aims to start up next month. Market participants estimate that the terminal will help meet about 200,000–300,000 t/yr of the cracker's LPG demand. Joint-venture partner Fujian Chemical can supply an additional 500,000 t/yr of propane-butane mix for the cracker by pipeline from its nearby 1.6mn t/yr paraxylene (PX) plant. The cracker's naphtha needs will also be met by a combination of imports and supplies from Fujian Chemical's PX plant.

Fujian province imported 360,000t of propane and 39,000 of butane in this year's first half through its two existing terminals, according to Chinese customs data. One is owned by the 240,000 b/d Fujian Refining and Petrochemical in Quangzhou, with the other owned by Fujian Zhongjing Petrochemical — a 750,000 t/yr propane dehydrogenation plant in Fuzhou.


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16/12/24

Viewpoint: VLGC market faces uncertainties in 2025

Viewpoint: VLGC market faces uncertainties in 2025

London, 16 December (Argus) — Looming tariffs, Panama Canal's new dynamics, limited US export capacity and a continued cap on Mideast Gulf LPG production will bring uncertainty to the VLGC market next year and may keep rates well below 2023's record levels. VLGC freight rates were largely suppressed in 2024 compared with the previous year because of smoother transits at the Panama Canal as water levels rose. Full capacity at the canal resumed mid-year, and this weighed on freight rates because it resulted in global higher tanker availability as it reduced voyage length between the US and Asia-Pacific. Panama Canal transits in 2025 will continue to affect rates with the kick off of the long term slot allocation system, where 40pc of slots available have already been allocated. This will mean there could be fewer available slots in the usual Neopanamax daily auctions, and could make it more difficult for vessels without bookings needing immediate passage. Another crucial factor that pressured VLGCs in 2024 was the reduction of available US spot cargoes because of weather related delays and maintenance at US terminals halfway through the year. High demand for export cargoes matched with a surplus of ships drove premiums for US cargoes to record highs in September, effectively capturing a larger share of the arbitrage and weighing on freight rates. This has since dialled down once terminals caught up with their schedules, but higher premiums for US cargoes is likely to remain a factor weighing on freight until further export capacity comes online in mid-2025 — when Energy Transfer's Nederland export terminal will add 250,000 b/d of export capacity with a new LPG dock. In the east of Suez market, Opec+ has voted to maintain the recent production cuts rather than unwinding them as previously intended. This will continue to cap LPG output and cargo availability in the Pacific Basin market this year, and free up ships to compete in the US Gulf instead. Fewer Mideast Gulf cargoes could add pressure over freight rates in the first half of 2025, before more US Gulf shipments are made available mid-year. This will absorb ships on the long haul Houston to Chiba route and likely support freight rates in the second half of the year. This may be boosted on occasion by short term shortages of ships while a large portion of the fleet is expected to be temporarily out for mandatory maintenance this year, reducing tanker availability. Shipowners BW LPG and Dorian LPG said 80 ships are scheduled to drydock in 2025, double the number of this year. This will match 13 expected newbuild deliveries in the year, and the outcome could support rates. Trump's tariffs But global LPG flows could be significantly disrupted in the case of another trade war between the Washington and Beijing if US president-elected Donald Trump fulfils his campaign promise to impose a tariff on Chinese goods. Should Beijing introduce retaliatory tariffs on LPG, a two-tiered market for US exports to Asia-Pacific could emerge as seen in 2018, when Mideast Gulf cargoes were bought and sold by Japanese and South Korean importers and traders and then resold to China at $15-20/t premiums. Back then several US shipments ended up redirected to Europe as US traders reduced exports to China — although such actions remain speculative for now. A potential trade war remains a significant risk for the VLGC freight market along with further disruptions at the Panama Canal and the continued Opec+ cuts, which could keep 2025 freight rates to levels recorded in 2024. By Yohanna Pinheiro Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

E-PVC buyers build stocks ahead of US tariffs


13/12/24
13/12/24

E-PVC buyers build stocks ahead of US tariffs

Houston, 13 December (Argus) — Emulsion-grade polyvinyl chloride (E-PVC) producers and buyers are racing to build inventories ahead of potential US tariffs on imported goods, according to market participants at the Vinyl Week conference this week in Louisville, Kentucky. President-elect Donald Trump has said he would impose 25pc tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico after he takes office next month, and that he would raise tariffs on Chinese imports by 10pc. Tariffs on Mexican imports are of particular concern to buyers who rely on the country for some imported E-PVC, also known as specialty or paste PVC. Some US buyers at the conference sponsored by the Plastics Industry Association said a more expansive tariff policy would not only raise delivered prices for E-PVC, it also would also be inflationary for everyday goods. Higher prices could reduce consumer spending power and cut demand for E-PVC in flooring or automotive manufacturing. Other buyers of E-PVC said a more focused scope for tariffs that centered on supporting industry in the US could be beneficial. One flooring producer said tariffs could allow it to recapture market share for products like luxury vinyl tile that have been increasingly dominated by imports from countries like China. Flooring is one of the two largest end use consumers for E-PVC. Suppliers are taking precautions, even if the tariff policy proves to be limited. European producers with extensive warehouse networks in the US have been exporting even greater volumes to North America ahead of potential tariffs that Trump threatened during his campaign, as well before a potential resumption of dockworker strikes in mid-January. US distributors are building inventories of Mexican imports in order to beat the threatened tariffs. US dependence on E-PVC imports deepened after Orbia closed its 60,000 t/yr Pedricktown, New Jersey plant in the fourth quarter with plans to supply US cusomers from its plant in Marl, Germany. The closure leaves the US E-PVC manufacturing capacity at around 156,000 t/yr. While the E-PVC market is more niche compared to the suspension-grade market used in pipe production, the US is structurally short on supply for specialty resins. Many E-PVC buyers with operations on both sides of the Atlantic expect US demand growth to be stronger than in Europe. Some European producers have been raising operating rates above 70pc because exporting excess volume to the US was a viable option. Tariffs could challenge that strategy as higher import prices for US buyers would pressure export prices, and European producers are not inclined to cut prices, market participants said. If Trump does not implement his promised tariffs, E-PVC buyers and producers alike generally agreed that US market demand would be stable to up slightly in 2025. By Aaron May Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US PET recycling rate rose in 2023


13/12/24
13/12/24

US PET recycling rate rose in 2023

Houston, 13 December (Argus) — The 2023 US recycling rate for PET bottles rose to 33pc, its highest level since 1996, according to data from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). The US collected 1.96bn lbs of PET bottles for recycling in 2023, up by 2.7pc from 1.91bn in 2022, even while fewer bottles were produced, according to NAPCOR. Overall PET bottle production was 5.95bn lbs in 2023, a 9.8pc drop from 2022. The rPET content rate in US bottles reached a high of 16.2pc in 2023, up from 13.2pc in 2022. Total US rPET content in bottles reached 966mn lbs in 2023, up from 870mn lbs in 2022. NAPCOR said the increase in collection demonstrates increased demand for rPET across the US. Overall North American PET bottle recycling rates also increased in 2023, reaching a high of 41.3pc. Despite the increase in recycled production in 2023, it was a tough year for recyclers due to a drop in consumer spending, which tightened the amount that bottlers and brands were willing to spend on recycled material. By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mexico’s industrial output falls 1.2pc in October


13/12/24
13/12/24

Mexico’s industrial output falls 1.2pc in October

Mexico City, 13 December (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production dropped by 1.2pc in October, driven by declines in manufacturing and mining, statistics agency Inegi said today. The seasonally adjusted industrial activity indicator (IMAI) reversed a 0.6pc increase recorded in September, surprising analysts who had expected a smaller contraction. Banorte had forecast a 0.1pc decline, while the market consensus pointed to a 0.6pc decrease. The sharper-than-expected downturn was largely attributed to a 1.9pc drop in manufacturing, which accounts for 63pc of the IMAI. This followed growth of 1pc in September and 0.4pc in August. Within manufacturing, transportation manufacturing — a key segment making up 12pc of the sector —fell by 4.3pc, reversing a 2pc increase in September and a 1pc uptick in August. Despite this decline, light vehicle production reached 382,101 units in October, up from 378,583 in September, on track to set a new annual record . Mexican auto industry association AMIA told Argus the drop in transportation manufacturing was unrelated to light vehicle production. Instead, Alejandro Cervantes, director of quantitative economic research at Banorte, suggested the decline could be linked to trucks and heavy-duty equipment manufacturing. "Despite [being] a negative month for industrial activity and possibly for aggregate economic activity, the fact is that we have seen a strong rebound in the production of vehicles," said Cervantes. Mining, which makes up 12pc of the IMAI, contracted by 1.9pc in October, following a 1.2pc decline in September. Oil and gas extraction fell by 0.9pc, marking its fourth consecutive month of contraction. In contrast, construction — accounting for 19pc of the IMAI — increased by 0.5pc in October after a 1.1pc increase in September. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India's Gujarat Gas raises PNG prices in Morbi cluster


13/12/24
13/12/24

India's Gujarat Gas raises PNG prices in Morbi cluster

Mumbai, 13 December (Argus) — India's state-run city gas distribution company Gujarat Gas has increased prices of piped natural gas (PNG) in the Morbi industrial cluster in west India's Gujarat state. This came after it kept rates unchanged since July. Prices of PNG used in the industrial ceramic cluster have been hiked to 46.95 rupees/m³ ($0.55/m³) from Rs44.68/m³ in July. This comes to Rs5.60/kcal on an energy equivalent basis, based on a calorific value of 8,400 kcal/kg. This is slightly higher than propane prices, which is a competing fuel in the region's ceramic cluster. Propane prices in Morbi were pegged at Rs61/kg for December , up from Rs60.30/kg in November because of rising import costs. Propane on an energy equivalent basis is Rs5.50/kcal based on the calorific value of 11,100 kcal/kg, traders said. Gujarat Gas has regained some market share in the last few months by keeping its prices unchanged. But it remains to be seen if ceramic units in the region will switch back to propane again. Propane demand in the region fell to 3.2mn m³/d in November from 4.5mn m³/d in October, regional traders said. Overall gas demand in the region was 7mn m³/d in November. Capacity utilisation of ceramic clusters continues to remain weak because of lower export demand for the upcoming Christmas season in the west, according to traders in the region. Gujarat Gas competes with regional propane distributors, including state-controlled IOC, BPCL and HPCL, as well as private-sector firms Reliance Industries, Aegis Logistics and Gogas. It remains to be seen if propane prices will rise further next month, as Saudi Arabia's state-controlled Aramco kept its December propane contract price unchanged at $635/t. Spot LNG prices have also risen this month, which makes a fall in PNG prices unlikely. The Argus -assessed spot price of LNG delivered to India's west coast for first-half January stood at $14.09/mn Btu on 12 December, up from $12.70/mn Btu a month earlier for December-arriving vessels. Tile manufacturers in Morbi have been switching between PNG and propane depending on LNG import prices, since the latter rose in 2022 as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. By Rituparna Ghosh Propane vs PNG prices (Indian rupees/kcal) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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