(plastemart) -- A series of unplanned cracker and derivative issues in Europe are driving ethylene (C2) and propylene (C3) markets in opposite directions. Currently, cracker reductions are reported at Priolo, Italy; Tarragona, Spain; Carling, France; Cologne, Germany; and Grangemouth, UK. However, none were officially confirmed by the companies concerned.
Borealis' cracker at Porvoo, Finland with capacity to produce 380,000 tpa ethylene and 220,000 tpa propylene, is confirmed to be running at reduced rates due to a furnace issue. Dow Chemical's No 2 cracker at Terneuzen, Netherlands has been out of action after having tripped on 5 May. The cracker has the capacity to produce 590,000 tpa ethylene and 295,000 tpa propylene. Feedstock constraints triggered some production difficulties at Dow's cracker in Spain that has now been sorted and the cracker is currently running at near full rates. Scheduled maintenance continues at Dow's cracker at Boehlen in Germany and a restart is not due for another two to three weeks. LyondellBasell's Berre, France cracker continues to run at reduced rates following its restart after planned maintenance a week or so ago. Its butadiene (BD) force majeure had been extended into May because of feedstock crude C4 constraints.