LyondellBasell lifts force majeure on Polyethylene from Texas, Illinois

12-Oct-16

LyondellBasell lifted force majeure on polyethylene from its LaPorte, Texas, and Morris, Illinois, sites, the company said in a letter to customers obtained by S&P Global Platts.
The force majeure was instituted May 17 following unexpected mechanical issues at plants in Texas and Illinois, the company said in a previous customer communication announcing the move. The force majeure impacted linear low density polyethylene grades.
The La Porte plant has an annual LLDPE capacity of 355,166 mt/year and the Morris facility has an annual LLDPE capacity of 295,292 mt/year.

LLDPE grades, particularly butene, have been talked tight by market participants in recent months, with spot and export resin difficult to secure, or available at price levels that made exports to some regions difficult, sources have said.
Platts assessed LLDPE butene Monday at US$1235-1257/mt FAS Houston. Contract pricing is expected to remain stable in October after producers implemented a 5-cent increase in September.