ECN-European Chemical News articles from April 21 1997

ECN-European Chemical News archives from April 21 1997

Naphtha weakens with crude.
April 21, 1997... Naphtha prices softened to $178182/tonne cif NWE tracking lower crude. A sale of 14 000 tonne is reported at $180/tonne oil NWE. May swaps are quoted at around $180.50-181.50/tonne. NWE supply is said to be long with the arbitrage for export to...

Producers aim to recover lost margins. (polymer producers)
April 21, 1997... With their March hikes only partially accepted, producers are looking to make up lost ground during April. Supplies are expected to remain tight as a result of feedstock constraints. Polymer producers are struggling to recover lost margin from...

Caught on the horns of a C4 dilemma.(Special Report)
April 21, 1997... Last year was unremarkable for butadiene producers but positive growth is predicted, particularly in eastern Europe and the Asia-Pacific. However, availability of crude C4s will grow faster than demand. Growth in butadiene demand will require...

A new face on the block. (entry of Statoil A/S in European methanol market)(Special Report)
April 21, 1997... With Europe's methanol market more or less balanced, is there really room for the new Norwegian capacity due onstream shortly, or the return of Russian imports? CMAI's Cees van den Brink examines the state of Europe's methanol market. The...

Ready to perform when the price is right. (metallocene technology)(Special Report)
April 21, 1997... Improved performance is helping metallocene technology win over its detractors, but costs and a lack of availability are keeping some users away. Metallocene technology is no longer regarded as being simply a wave of the future following a...