US benzene supplies fell to 95,090 bpd for the week ending October 10 from the previous week's 96,070 bpd, according to a Platts analysis of US Energy Information Administration data. Benzene supplies from refineries fell 1.5% to 53,020 bpd as refinery throughputs fell in the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions. Estimated benzene supplies from petrochemical sources fell to 17,890 bpd from 18,170 bpd a week prior. Chevron Phillips and Eastman Chemicals began planned maintenance at their Sweeny, Texas, and Longview, Texas, crackers in the last two weeks, according to sources. In addition, Chevron Phillips' Port Arthur, Texas and Williams' Geismar, Louisiana, ethylene crackers remain down for maintenance work. ExxonMobil's Baytown, Texas, steam cracker is expected to come back online from a planned maintenance on October 21 and the return to production will increase benzene supplies by about 1,250 bpd, according to Platts estimates.
On-purpose benzene production from toluene disproportionation and Mobil select toluene disproportionation were estimated unchanged at 24,180 bpd, based on information from market sources. Production margins for TDP and MSTDP units improved to US$29.24/mt and US$23.70/mt on Wednesday from US$20.70 /mt and US$12.16/mt a week prior.
Meanwhile, downstream demand for benzene climbed to 99,920 bpd from 99,520 bpd a week earlier as styrene produces increased utilization rates on an open arbitrage to Europe. The higher rates are aimed at filling the void created by the downtime of two major producers, sources said.
Styrene producer Styrolution remains in a planned five-week maintenance at their Bayport, Texas, facility and Westlake's Lake Charles, Louisiana, unit is down on poor margins, according to market sources. Benzene demand is estimated to rise to 122,630 bpd in November, when both styrene units come online, market sources said.
17-Oct-14 
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