Prices for 2-ethyl hexanol firmed $55/mt this week to $1,690/mt CFR China, and for normal butyl alcohol by $30/mt to $1,475/mt. On the other hand feedstock propylene fell $15/mt week on week to $1,120/mt FOB Korea on Friday.
In light of the improved margins, South Korea's LG Chem delayed the planned three-week shutdown of its 160,000 mt/year 2-EH and NBA swing plant in Naju from late September to early November.
"We see a higher demand for 2-EH when feedstock propylene continues to be sober," a source close to the company said.
There was a similar development with respect to feedstock orthoxylene and downstream phthalic anhydride.
"A widening gap between phthalic anhydride and its feedstock orthoxylene has made Petrowidada slightly delay the turnaround of its PA plant in Indonesia," a source close to Indonesia's only PA producer Petrowidada said Friday. "The company wants to use all its OX cylinders before the shutdown."
PA was assessed stable this week at $990/mt CFR China and fell $10/mt in Southeast Asia to $990/mt. OX was assessed at $979/mt CFR China on September 3 and was assessed $9/mt lower at $970/mt Friday.
China Chemical Weekly: http://news.chemnet.com/en/detail-1411716.html
