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chemical intelligence : polymers, rubbers & resins : propylene : uses

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Propylene Uses and Market Data 29 Mar 11 14:23:00 GMT
VIDEO - ICIS Europe
Search for Propylene Suppliers Lunchtime Bulletin 29 March
2011
The dominant outlet for propylene is polypropylene (PP), accounting for nearly two-thirds of global
propylene consumption. Propylene is also used to produce acrylonitrile (ACN), propylene oxide (PO), a 29 Mar 11 14:21:00 GMT
number of alcohols, cumene and acrylic acid . VIDEO - ICIS Europe
Lunchtime Bulletin 29 March
There are three grades of propylene; polymer grade with a minimum purity of 99.5%; chemical grade 2011
with a minimum purity of 93-94%; and a refinery grade with a purity of around 70% with a minimum of 29 Mar 11 12:02:00 GMT
60%. Europe April C2 fully
confirmed at €1,205/t, C3 at
Polypropylene is one of the most versatile of the bulk polymers due to a €1,210/t
combination of good mechanical and chemical properties. Hence PP has secured its 21 Mar 11 00:00:00 GMT
position in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, manufactured by Olefins supply appears
several high-volume forming methods. In the automotive sector, PP and its alloys certain to tighten in quake's
have become the polymer of choice accounting for over a third of plastics used in wake
automobiles.
21 Mar 11 00:00:00 GMT
Injection moulded PP, the largest of the PP grades, can be used in electronic and Rubber-products shipment
electrical appliances, house wares, bottle caps, toys and luggage. Film grade PP volume up 19% in 2010. [1
can be found in the packaging of sweets and cigarettes, tapes, labels and table in original article]
electronic films. PP fibres are used in carpets, clothing and the replacement of sisal 21 Mar 11 00:00:00 GMT
and jute in ropes and string. PP can be extruded into pipes and conduit, wire and India's Opal complex
cable. delayed until 2013
29 Mar 11 11:00:00 GMT
During the 1990s, PP demand grew at about 10%/year, outpacing the other major EVENING SNAPSHOT - Asia
thermoplastics. Some of this growth was due to substitution of other polymers as PP was less expensive Markets Summary
due to low propylene prices. Since then propylene prices have risen relative to other base chemicals and
29 Mar 11 08:01:00 GMT
PP prices are now similar to other polymers. Growth in PP demand has slowed to an average of 5-
Idemitsu Kosan shuts Chiba
6%/year.
cracker as planned on 27
March
The second largest derivative, acrylonitrile is used in a variety of elastomeric polymers and fibre
applications. The largest outlet for ACN is acrylic fibres, which are used in clothing such as sweaters and 29 Mar 11 05:00:00 GMT
jumpers, socks and sports wear as well as home furnishings and bedding such as carpets, upholstery, NOON SNAPSHOT - Asia
cushions and blankets. Other uses for ACN include nitrile rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene- Markets Summary
styrene (ABS)/styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) resins, acrylamide and adiponitrile. 29 Mar 11 03:43:00 GMT
NPRA '11: Saudi Kayan to
The next largest outlet for propylene is propylene oxide. PO is used to make polyether polyols, which are start up ethanolamines unit
reacted with an isocyanate to form polyurethanes. Polyurethane end uses include flexible foams for the in H1 2012
furniture and automotive industries, and rigid foams for appliance and building insulation. PO is also used
to make propylene glycol, which is used in unsaturated polyester resins, antifreeze and aircraft de-icing
fluids, and propylene glycol ethers with applications in paints, coatings, inks, resins and cleaners.

A number of alcohols are made from propylene. Isopropanol (IPA) is used mainly as a solvent in
cosmetics and personal care products, paints and resins, pharmaceuticals, food, ink and adhesives.

The oxo-alcohol 2-ethylhexanol is used mainly in the production of phthalate plasticisers but it is also
used in adhesives and paints. Butanols are employed in paints, coatings, resins, dyes, pharmaceuticals
and polymers.

Cumene, which is produced from propylene and benzene, is the main feedstock for the manufacture of
phenol and acetone. They are used to produce a variety of products such as polycarbonate, phenolic
resins, epoxy resins and methyl methacrylate (MMA). ICIS Chemical Business

Acrylic acid is used in the production of acrylic esters and resins for paints, coatings and adhesives
applications.

China PP demand leads global propylene recovery

Global demand for propylene recovered in 2009 due to a rebound in PP demand in China, according to
US-based consultants DeWitt & Co. China’s consumption of PP accounts for more than 15% of the
world’s propylene demand. PP demand is also growing much faster than the other derivatives with DeWitt
predicting growth rates of 5-6%/year.

However, propylene capacity is also growing strongly with 13-14m tonnes/year of new capacity coming
on-stream in 2009 and 2010, says DeWitt. Steam crackers account for most of the additional supply, latest story from ICIS
mainly in China but also Singapore, Thailand and India. New refinery-based supply such as the Chemical Business
PetroRabigh and Reliance units in Saudi Arabia and India respectively has contributed to the new
capacity. ICIS Blogs

On-purpose processes are also becoming more significant in the supply of propylene. A number of
propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plants started up in Saudi Arabia in 2009 and new units are planned in
the US and Thailand for 2010. A large metathesis plant will account for new propylene supplies in Abu
Dhabi and coal-based propylene production is scheduled to start up in China in 2010.

While there appears to be plenty of capacity to meet demand, supplies of propylene have been restricted
by co-product production from steam crackers and refinery operations. In addition, much of the new
propylene capacity is associated with the new PP plants and in some cases propylene can not be exported
from these plants. Although PP demand is expected to grow strongly in Asia, there is an abundance of
capacity that will keep operating rates in the low 80s%, says DeWitt.
For some independent
In western Europe, propylene demand has been hindered by both a slow economic recovery and a decline thinking on the burgeoning
 in PP exports due to the expansions in the Middle East and Asia. However, this lack in demand has been world of biofuels, click into
offset by restricted supplies. Refineries were hit hard by the recession but should recover somewhat. Simon Robinson's The Big
Steam cracker operators have been consuming more propane and butane feedstocks resulting in the Biofuels Blog here.
propylene to ethylene production ratio falling.

The propylene balance in western Europe hinges on whether the loss in demand from the decline in PP
exports will be more or less than the loss of supply from cuts in ethylene production rates due to growing Insight
ethylene derivative imports from the Middle East, concludes DeWitt.

US propylene supplies tighten

INSIGHT: NPRA ’11
In the US, propylene supply had tightened by early 2010 as steam cracker production was significantly moods reflect
impacted by the loss of ethylene demand. In addition, there has been more ethane cracking resulting in a opportunities and
drop in propylene production. uncertainties
"Recovery from the
DeWitt estimates that propylene to ethylene production ratios have dropped from close to 0.3lbs to just downturn has been
over 0.2lbs of propylene per tonne of ethylene produced, a drop of more than 20%. With a fall in impressive in both volume
ethylene operating rates, around 30% less propylene in the US was being sourced from steam crackers. and financial terms. But
now a degree of reality
The prospect of more refinery propylene in the US also looks limited due to increased use of biofuels, steps in." more
rising fuel efficiency standards and gasoline imports. However, the US will get a boost in supply when
Petrologistics starts up its 540,000 tonne/year PDH unit in Houston, Texas in the summer of 2010.
More from
On the demand side, the US will lose its PP export markets due to the new competitive capacity coming
on-stream. Domestic demand for all derivatives is recovering, some more slowly than others, but it ICIS TV
should result in more propylene demand.
VIDEO - ICIS
(Updated: April 2010. Sources: DeWitt 35th Annual World Petrochemical Conference, Europe Lunchtime
Houston, Texas, 24-25 March 2010; ICB Chemical Profile, 7 December 2010.) Bulletin 29 March
2011
Propylene Price Reports
ICIS pricing gives you access on a weekly or real time basis to the latest price movements and critical More...
market commentary on the Propylene market. Click below to see a quarterly market overview.
More about Propylene Price Reports Feedback

Propylene Process Technologies We welcome your

The two main sources of propylene are as a byproduct from the steam cracking of liquid feedstocks feedback. Please feel free
such as naphtha as well as LPGs, and from off-gases produced in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units in to send us your comments
refineries. The remainder of propylene is produced using on-purpose technologies such as propane on any aspect of this site.
dehydrogenation (PDH) and metathesis. Click here to make your
More about Propylene Process Technologies comments.

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Polypropylene Polymers, Rubbers & Resins
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Propylene
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US November EPS imports fall 18% from
October

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