India's naphtha exports to rise on dwindling domestic demand as fertilizer and power sectors proceed with gas substitution

11-Feb-09

Export of naphtha from India is expected to rise by over 35% in the next 3 years as demand from the fertilizer and power sectors is projected to contract as a result of increased preference to use of gas as feedstock. Naphtha exports from India will climb are expected to rise to approximately 250,000 bpd, or about 850,000 tons/month) by 2012. Domestic naphtha consumption totaled 317,000 bpd last year, with 51% from petrochemicals, 25% from the fertilizer industry and the balance 24% from power plants, steel and others. Over the longer term, the government has prioritized usage of domestic gas toward fertilizer, petrochemical, power plants and others where naphtha is currently being used. Increased use of naphtha by the power, steel and fertilizer sectors last year can be attributed to a fall in naphtha prices, a shortage of gas and the elimination of a 5% import duty on naphtha. About 1.6 mln bpd of new refining capacity is scheduled to come onstream between 2008 and 2015, significantly increasing India's naphtha production, surpassing increased demand from petrochemicals. India's imports are likely to shrink from 110,000 bpd to 50,000 bpd during this period.