|
(ICIS) -- Five US polystyrene (PS) plants
are either shut down or operating at reduced rates caused by flooding and severe
weather, creating an unprecedented imbalance in supply and demand, market
sources said on Thursday.
Americas Styrenics was experiencing delays in styrene monomer (SM) barge
shipments to its three plants in Ohio and Illinois because of historic flood
levels on the Ohio and Illinois rivers, a market source said.
The producer has responded by either idling lines or cutting back
operating rates, and it could still resort to a full shutdown depending on how
much longer the barges are delayed, the source said.
The affected plants are located in Joliet, Illinois (125 KTa); Marietta,
Ohio (360 KTa); and Ironton, Ohio (85 KTa).
Assuming no further heavy rains fall in the Ohio and Illinois river
valleys, market participants expect all three Americas Styrenics plants could
return to full operating rates toward the end of May.
Meanwhile, INEOS Styrenics is facing its own set of supply woes. The
company began a planned turnaround at its 400 KTa plant in Joliet, Illinois, and
is waiting for the main power supply to be restored to its 190 KTa Decatur,
Alabama, plant following severe weather a week ago.
mrcplast.com
| 
