Q3 olefins volumes down year on year in West Europe

20-Nov-12

Western European production of ethylene, propylene and butadiene in Q3-2012 was down from Q3-2011, as per Association of Petrochemical Producers in Europe, Platts reported. Ethylene, propylene and butadiene production in the quarter was 4.840 mln mt, 3.634 mln mt and 512,000 mt, respectively. This represents year-on-year falls of 4.9%, 2.8% and 4.8%. European steam crackers were dialed down in a low demand environment. EU chemicals production fell by 2.2% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2012, the latest Cefic Chemicals Trends Report released last week showed. Stock depletion in Q2 prompted some replenishment in Q3.