Increased light cracking props up EU ethylene exports, propylene imports

17-Sep-14

The first seven months of 2014 have seen an increase in EU ethylene exports and propylene imports due to increased used of propane and butane as feedstocks by steam crackers, recent Eurostat data showed. As per Platts, ethylene exports for January-July 2014 were at 139,895 mt, almost three times the amount for Jan-July 2013. Ethylene imports, meanwhile, were down to 151,218 mt from 231,254 mt last year. Propylene imports were up 23% to 154,315 mt for January-July 2014 vs Jan-July 2013. Exports were marginally higher compared with the previous year. Additionally LPG cracking was adding length to the ethylene market, given that ethylene yields from LPG are higher than those from naphtha. This, in turn, limited propylene production. Naphtha, butane and propane were assessed at US$837/mt CIF NWE, US$721/mt and US$706/mt, respectively, on Friday.