After dropping in H1, polyethylene prices in USA are poised to rise until October. Plant outage at BP's Texas ethylene plant, following a fire on Aug. 10, has tightened supplies. BP Plc is the world's fifth-biggest ethylene maker. Nova Chemicals has had force majeure on ethylene monomer and polyethylene resin since late June from its Joffre, Alberta, Canada site. Production problems since June have caused other temporary ethylene disruptions at Chevron Phillips plant in Sweeny, Texas, and Dow Chemical in Freeport, Texas.
This has lead to shortage in ethylene and PE supplies. To meet this shortfall, North American PE processors have depleted high ethylene inventories in the first half. PE demand outpacing ethylene-short production since June, coupled with a surge in domestic and export demand, are supporting higher PE prices.
24-Aug-05 
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