BASF declares force majeure on ethylene oxide and monoethylene glycol in Europe

23-May-15

BASF has declared force majeure on ethylene oxide and monoethylene glycol in Europe due to technical problems, as per a company spokesman in Platts. "Our European production sites for EO have experienced significant technical problems over the last days leading to a shutdown of the Ludwigshafen, Germany EO-plant on Sunday May 17, 2015," the spokesman said. "To remedy the situation we were forced to keep the plant down and start with the necessary repair work immediately. For the Antwerp, Belgium, EO plant the production rate had to be reduced." The EO shortage led to the force majeure for MEG, he added. EO is a feedstock for MEG. BASF produces EO at two sites in Europe, at Ludwigshafen and Antwerp, with capacities of 375,000 mt/year and 500,000 mt/year respectively.