HDA economics improve in Europe on benzene's strength.

摘要

On July 3, European spot benzene barges were assessed at $>880/mt CIF ARA, up on the month by $65/mt. At the same time, both nitration- and TDI-grade toluene were assessed at $790/mt FOB ARA, putting the spread between the two chemicals at $90/mt. Benzene's premium was well short of the $200/mt spread required to make it profitable to convert toluene to benzene via hydrodealkylation, but sources noted mat the spread was heading in the right direction, widening from $21/mt a month ago.