Heavy olefins
Overview
Global butadiene production and demand are dominated by northeast Asia. Although the region continues to add both supply and derivative projects, there have been market inefficiencies that have resulted in deep sea imports into the region. Accurate and timely analysis will help producers, consumers and traders navigate these turbulent times.
The C5 and hydrocarbon resins industry has experienced a fundamental shift in the past few years, going from several acute shortages to a glut of products in the markets. Producers, industrial chemicals companies, chemical distributors, traders and technology providers all need to understand how this will play out, especially in light of new entries into the global market. Argus’ C5 and Hydrocarbon Resins Service is the only global service of its kind.
Our experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest heavy olefins news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global heavy olefins industry.
EU confirms delay to deforestation rule on IT issues
EU confirms delay to deforestation rule on IT issues
Brussels, 23 September (Argus) — The European Commission today has confirmed a further one year delay to the bloc's deforestation regulation (EUDR) citing IT issues and supply chain concerns. The EUDR sets due diligence requirements for palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber and rubber and derived products, including beef, furniture and chocolate. "While our simplification efforts have been substantial, we have concluded that we cannot meet the original deadline without causing disruptions to our businesses and supply chains," said commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill. The delay is also a result of IT system capacity issues. "We have serious capacity concerns regarding the IT system, given the projected load," Gill said. The delay provides the "necessary time to get the IT system capacity that we need" according to EU environment commissioner Jessika Roswall. EPP environment spokesperson Peter Liese said that if the deforestation regulation had entered into force unchanged on 1 January, technical issues would have caused unsolvable problems. This second delay to the EUDR, for a further 12 months, will require approval by EU member states and the European parliament. In October 2024, the commission proposed a first 12 month delay or " "phasing-in time ", shifting EUDR implementation from 1 January to 30 December 2025. The EUDR entered into force in June 2023. Parliament's largest centre-right EPP group welcomed the new postponement. The EUDR's problems run deep, said Christine Schneider, parliament's lead negotiator on EUDR. She also called for a zero-risk category under the regulation where regions and products posing no risk of deforestation would be treated "in an non-bureaucratic manner and without additional documentation requirements". The EU pledged to address US producers and exporters' concerns , recognising that the US poses "negligible" risk to global deforestation. Roswall added that the delay was not linked to the EU-US trade deal. US chocolate and snack giant Mondelez had requested a one-year delay earlier this month, receiving criticism from environmental and civil rights organisations. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Invista touts investment in nylon fiber portfolio
Invista touts investment in nylon fiber portfolio
Houston, 5 August (Argus) — US chemical firm Invista is stepping up investments in nylon textiles, primarily for fiber and fabric solutions under the Cordura brand, after opting to maintain ownership of the business. This investment focuses on next-generation performance fabrics to gain ground in end-use apparel markets, including outdoor, workwear, military and lifestyle sectors. Across the company's global operations, Invista has committed to spend upwards of $500mn over the next five years. "Invista's nylon business — including the Cordura brand — remains a critical part of our portfolio," said chief executive Brook Vickery in a press release. The Wichita, Kansas, firm decided against selling its nylon fiber business following a marketing process that began last year. Invista cited long-term value for continued ownership, with five manufacturing sites located in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Invista specializes in the production of nylon intermediates and polymer resins for automotive, electrical and consumer goods applications. Butadiene is a feedstock further upstream in the value chain, used to make adiponitrile, which is then hydrogenated into hexamethylenediamine, a key monomer for nylon 6,6 production. By Joshua Himelfarb Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Dow to close German cracker, other assets by 4Q 2027
Dow to close German cracker, other assets by 4Q 2027
London, 7 July (Argus) — US chemicals firm Dow said today it will permanently close its ethylene cracker in Bohlen, Germany, and chlor-alkali and vinyl assets in nearby Schkopau, in the fourth quarter of 2027. It will close its siloxanes plant in Barry, UK, in mid-2026. "The shutdown of upstream assets in Europe will right-size regional capacity, reduce merchant sale exposure, and remove higher-cost, energy-intensive portions of Dow's portfolio in the region," the company said. The assets were included in Dow's strategic review in April. It said at the time the sites were being considered for idling or closure. The Bohlen cracker has a nameplate capacity of 540,000 t/yr of ethylene and a propylene capacity of 285,000 t/yr. It also has a butadiene extraction unit with a nameplate capacity of 105,000 t/yr. At Schkopau, Dow has a membrane cell chlor-alkali capacity of 250,000 t/yr and 740,000 t/yr of ethylene dichloride capacity. The site previously had around 330,000 t/yr of capacity for chloride monomer (VCM) production, with two lines operating at the site, but Dow closed the larger of the two lines to reduce capacity to roughly 110,000 t/yr earlier in 2024. Dow's polyethylene assets in Schkopau — a 210,000 t/yr LLD-HDPE unit and 108,000 t/yr LDPE unit — were not part of the review and will continue to operate. Dow said closure of the upstream assets would "improve our ability to supply profitable derivative demand and optimise margins". The PE units can utilise an ethylene pipeline that runs between them and Dow's storage and import infrastructure in Stade, Germany. The extended lead-time of the closures will allow Dow to wind down existing contracts and give customers time to attempt to source alternative material. Customers include the former Dow polypropylene plant at Schkopau, which it sold to Brazil-based petrochemical company Braskem in 2011 and that receives feedstock propylene from the Boehlen cracker. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
LyondellBasell agrees sale of select European assets
LyondellBasell agrees sale of select European assets
London, 17 June (Argus) — Petrochemicals firm LyondellBasell is in exclusive negotiations with Munich-based industrial investment firm Aequita regarding the sale of four olefin and polyolefin assets in Europe. The deal includes its integrated cracker and polyolefin assets in Berre, France, and Muenchsmuenster, Germany, as well as stand-alone polypropylene sites in Carrington, UK, and Tarragona, Spain. The deal is contingent on local council approval and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, LyondellBasell says. The sites were part of six put under strategic review in May 2024. The assets "represent a scaled olefins and polyolefins platform strategically located in proximity to a long-standing customer base", the firms say. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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US tariffs: Will they change supply/demand dynamics for butadiene?
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Blog - 07/11/24