Ethylene expansion delays by LyondellBasell and CPChem could tighten US market

摘要

Delays in ethylene expansion projects by LyondellBasell Industries (Houston) and Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem; The Woodlands, Texas) could mean a tight US market in 2017. LyondellBasell and Phillips 66, which operates CPChem as a joint venture with Chevron, revealed the developments during their respective quarterly earnings calls on 29 July. LyondellBasell said that it is delaying a 250,000 metric tons per year ethylene expansion of its Channelview, Texas, plant that had been slated for completion in 2017. CEO Bob Patel said the delay will allow the company to focus on its propylene oxide/tert-butyl alcohol (PO/TBA) project at Channelview, which is in the near term more important to the company’s derivative portfolio.