(ICIS) -- US-based tyre producer Goodyear
declared force majeure on styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and other butadiene
(BD) derivatives because its supplier is short of the monomer, the company said
on Friday.
BD is a key feedstock for styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), used to make
tyres, belts, hoses and numerous other products.
Domestic BD supply is tight because of an ongoing turnaround by one
producer that is expected to last until the middle of June.
Other factors are the sales control from another producer following
production issues earlier in the year and limited crude C4 exports from Libya in
the first quarter. Crude C4 is the feedstock for BD.
The shortage has driven BD spot prices to the USD 2/lb (USD 4.409/tonne,
EUR 3.130/tonne) mark, while contract nominations for the June BD settlement
were USD 1.50-1.65/lb, according to ICIS.
mrcplast.com
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