ExxonMobil begins Beaumont PE production

: Petrochemicals
19/07/23

ExxonMobil has begun production at a new 650,000 t/yr polyethylene (PE) unit in Beaumont, Texas, according to a letter sent to customers yesterday.

The new unit will produce linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) grades and will expand capacity at the site by 65pc to 1.7mn t/yr.

The company began flaring in late June as part of start-up activities, which will continue in the coming weeks as it works to reach commercial operating levels.

The new plant is just the latest in more than 8.8mn t/yr of new PE capacity that has come online or will come online in the US between 2017 and 2021.

New production will contribute to an already well-supplied US market.

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25/01/13

Mexico’s industrial output up 0.1pc in November

Mexico City, 13 January (Argus) — Mexico's industrial production edged up 0.1pc in November, as gains in autos and other manufacturing offset weaker construction, national statistics agency Inegi said. Mexican bank Banorte described the monthly increase as "rather small," noting it followed a 1.1pc decline in October and was largely driven by base comparison effects. The bank added that the overall industrial outlook remained "fragile." Manufacturing, which represents 63pc of Inegi's seasonally adjusted industrial activity indicator (IMAI), increased by 0.7pc in November, though it failed to fully recover from a 1.7pc drop in October. Transportation manufacturing, a key subsector accounting for 12pc of the sector, rose by 3.8pc after a steep 4.3pc decline the prior month. Despite recent volatility, Mexico's auto sector achieved record annual light vehicle production in 2024, reaching 3.99mn units. Yet, automaker association AMIA warned of potential challenges in 2025 because of economic uncertainty, which could affect investment and demand. Mining, which makes up 12pc of the IMAI, increased by 0.1pc in November following a 1.1pc decline in October. Growth was driven by a 41.4pc jump in mining-related services, while oil and gas output fell by 2.4pc, marking a fifth consecutive monthly decline for hydrocarbons. Construction, representing 19pc of the IMAI, contracted by 1.8pc in November after modest gains of 0.2pc in October and 1.1pc in September. As industry eyes potential policy shifts under US president-elect Donald Trump, Banorte projected a weak start to 2025 for Mexico's industrial output. But it expects momentum to build as government spending on priority infrastructure projects "moves more decisively." By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US physical trade in ethane, propane, rose in 2024

25/01/09

US physical trade in ethane, propane, rose in 2024

Houston, 9 January (Argus) — Growing natural gas liquids (NGL) production in the US last year led to higher volumes of physical trading for ethane and propane in 2024, according to Argus data. Volumes of physical ethane traded at the Enterprise (EPC) storage cavern in Texas surged last year by 43pc to 90.12mn bl from 63.2mn bl in 2023, according to trades recorded by Argus . The gains in physical in-well trading activity at Mont Belvieu, the world's largest storage hub for the feedstock, came even as spot ethane prices fell in 2024 to an average of 19.03¢/USG, down from 24.59¢/USG the previous year, on the back of production gains and weaker prices for natural gas. US ethane production from gas processing averaged 2.8mn b/d in the first 10 months of 2024, up from 2.64mn b/d during the same period in 2023, according to the latest US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Gains in US ethane production come amid growing demand from petrochemical buyers in China and Europe, which has bolstered US ethane exports and led to additional investments by both Enterprise Products Partners and Energy Transfer in additional dock capacity for the feedstock. US ethane exports averaged 478,800 b/d in the first 10 months of 2024, down by 1.8pc from 487,600 b/d in 2023, due in part to loading delays associated with tie-in work for additional refrigeration at Gulf coast facilities. But exports in January-October 2024 were up by 17pc from the same period in 2022 on additional term contracts with international ethylene producers. Higher trading volumes in 2024 were not limited to ethane. Physical in-well trading of propane at Energy Transfer's LST storage cavern in Mont Belvieu rose by 30pc to 44.7mn bl in 2024, and in-well trading of propane at Enterprise's EPC storage cavern rose by 19pc to 68.3mn bl in 2024 versus 2023, according to trades recorded by Argus . US propane production from gas processing averaged 2.13mn b/d in January-October 2024, according to the latest available EIA data, up from 2mn b/d during the same period in 2023. LST and EPC propane prices rose in 2024 versus 2023 alongside increases in crude. Prompt-month LST propane averaged 77.12¢/USG during 2024, up from 71.13¢/USG in 2023. EPC propane averaged 77.63¢/USG in 2024, up from 70.83¢/USG in 2023. Argus publishes volume-weighted averages of physical trading at Mont Belvieu in addition to daily ranges. Ethane's traded midpoint averaged a 0.009¢/USG premium over the volume-weighted average in 2024. LST propane's traded range averaged a 0.037¢/USG discount to the volume-weighted average, and EPC propane's traded midpoint averaged a 0.143¢/USG discount to the volume-weighted average last year. By Amy Strahan Physical trading '000 bl Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Maersk warns of US east, Gulf coast ports strike

25/01/02

Maersk warns of US east, Gulf coast ports strike

New York, 2 January (Argus) — Containership owner Maersk is warning clients that a potential port labor strike could disrupt cargo shipping operations on the US east coast and Gulf coast later this month. A temporary agreement on wages that was struck in October between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is set to expire on 15 January. The short-term agreement, which ended a brief strike, was intended to provide more time for negotiating the remaining contract issues. "Considering the status, we strongly encourage our customers to pick up their laden containers and return empty containers at US east and Gulf coast ports before 15 January," Maesrk said on 31 December. "This proactive measure will help mitigate any potential disruptions at the terminals." During negotiations last year, the ILA's demands included no new automation technology at US ports that would replace workers, describing this position as "non-negotiable". US president-elect Donald Trump appeared to back the union after meeting with ILA's president and executive vice president in mid-December. "The amount of money saved [from automation] is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American workers, in this case, our longshoremen," Trump said on social media. The US president does not have direct power over union negotiations, but the president can issue executive orders affecting workers and intervene in strikes, if doing so would be in the national interest. The current labor agreement covers approximately 25,000 workers employed in container and roll-on/roll-off operations at ports from Maine to Texas. Movements of dry bulk cargo, such as coal and grains, are expected to be less affected by any work stoppage, though there could be side effects from the congestion of other products being rerouted to ports not affected by the strike. Movement of crude, refined products and many petrochemicals would like be unaffected by a strike, as ILA members do not work within the private terminals that handle nearly all US dry bulk, oil, and gas exports. But some polymers that are moved by container, including polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene, could be disrupted. A segment of US steel imports could also be disrupted by the strike, as about 9pc of those imports come in via containers, according to data from Global Trade Tracker. By Stefka Wechsler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US construction spending flat, PVC demand falls in Nov

25/01/02

US construction spending flat, PVC demand falls in Nov

Houston, 2 January (Argus) — US construction spending was virtually flat in November compared with the previous month as private and public spending offset one another, according to the US Census Bureau. US polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contract prices declined by 1¢/lb in November to 57.5¢/lb, according to Argus . Producers faced pressure during the month as the softening US construction sector failed to absorb recent PVC capacity additions that had come on line. Formosa added an additional 130,000 metric tonnes (t) of PVC capacity to its Baton Rouge, Louisiana, plant in the mid-third quarter. Shintech added 380,000t/yr of nameplate PVC capacity to its Plaquemine, Louisiana, plant in the fourth quarter. PVC buyers increasingly focused on inventory management in November, further constraining demand. Many buyers and converters wished to avoid being oversupplied as the end of the year approached due to modest demand growth expectations for 2025. Private residential spending grew for the second month in a row after a sharp decline in September, but recovery slowed in November. Public spending fell for the second-straight month, offsetting minimal gains in private spending. Public spending was virtually flat or slightly down from the prior month in various major categories. Private manufacturing investment was above 10pc year over year, but sustained monthly growth has stalled. A small boost in commercial spending does not reverse year-over-year decline. By Aaron May US Construction Spending $mn Column header left 24-Nov 24-Oct +/-% 23-Nov +/-% Total Spending 2,152,581.0 2,152,250.0 0.0 2,090,690.0 3.0 Total Private 1,650,665.0 1,649,758.0 0.1 1,610,750.0 2.5 Private Residential 906,201.0 905,149.0 0.1 879,069.0 3.1 Private Manufacturing 234,917.0 235,231.0 -0.1 211,541.0 11.1 Private Commercial 118,206.0 118,127.0 0.1 130,707.0 -9.6 Total Public 501,916.0 502,491.0 -0.1 479,940.0 4.6 Public Water/Sewage 79,018.0 79,207.0 -0.2 71,683.0 10.2 Public Highway/Road 142,908.0 142,682.0 0.2 148,143.0 -3.5 US Census Bureau Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Viewpoint: North American BZ, SM output to dip in 2025

25/01/02

Viewpoint: North American BZ, SM output to dip in 2025

Houston, 2 January (Argus) — North American benzene (BZ) and derivative styrene monomer (SM) production and operating rates may decline in 2025 as production costs climb. SM and derivative output will likely see a drop due to the permanent closure of a SM plant in Sarnia and an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plant in Ohio. In 2024, SM operating rates averaged about 71-72pc of capacity, up by 1-2 percentage points from the year prior, according to Argus data. In 2025, operating rates are expected to pull back closer to 70pc due to lackluster underlying demand, offsetting the impact of the two plant closures. Many SM producers on the US Gulf coast are entering 2025 at reduced rates due to high variable production cash costs against the SM spot price. The BZ contract price and higher ethylene prices recently pushed up production costs for SM producers. A heavy upstream ethylene cracker turnaround season in early 2025 will keep derivative SM production costs elevated in Louisiana, stifling motivation for some downstream SM operators to run at normal rates. Gulf coast BZ prices typically fall when SM demand is weak. But imports from Asia are projected to decline, leading to tighter supply in North America that could keep BZ prices elevated. BZ imports from Asia are expected to decline in 2025 because of fewer arbitrage opportunities, as Asia and US BZ prices are expected to remain near parity in the first half of the year. The import arbitrage from South Korea to the Gulf coast was closed for much of the fourth quarter of 2024. Prices in Asia have garnered support because of demand from China for BZ and derivatives, as well as from aromatics production costs in the region that have increased alongside higher naphtha prices. In January-October 2024, over 60pc of US BZ imports originated from northeast Asia, according to Global Trade Tracker data. Losing any portion of those imports typically tightens the US market and drives up domestic demand for BZ. But tighter BZ supply due to lower imports may be mitigated by SM producers, if they continue to run at reduced rates in 2025. The US Gulf coast is around 100,000 metric tonnes (t) net short monthly on BZ, but market sources say the soft SM demand outlook for 2025 will cut US BZ import needs almost in half. Despite fewer BZ imports to North America, reduced SM consumption could hamper run rates for BZ production from selective toluene disproportionation (STDP) unit operators. The biggest obstacle for STDP operators in 2025 will like be paraxylene (PX) demand. Since STDP units produce BZ alongside PX, there needs to be domestic demand for PX. But demand has been weak due to PX imports and derivative polyethylene terephthalate (PET). STDP operations increased at the end 2025 after running at at minimum rates or being idled since 2022. This came as BZ prices consistently eclipsed feedstock toluene prices. The BZ to feedstock nitration-grade toluene spread averaged 30.5¢/USG in 2024 and the BZ to feedstock commercial-grade toluene (CGT) spread averaged 49.25¢/USG, according to Argus data. This means that for much of the year STDP operators could justify running units at higher rates to produce more BZ and PX. But another challenge to consider on STDP run rates in 2025 is the value of toluene for gasoline blending compared to its value for chemical production. In 2022 and 2023, the toluene value into octanes was higher than going into an STDP for BZ and PX production. Feedstock toluene imports are poised to fall in 2025, a factor that would narrow STDP margins and further hamper on-purpose benzene production in the US in 2025. By Jake Caldwell Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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