PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS
BASF cuts caprolactam output to about 65%
BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) has reduced its worldwide production of caprolactam to about 65%, citing the high cost of raw materials and energy as well as unsatisfactory market demand. The cutback announced on 17 October 2008 involves the sites in Freeport, Texas / USA; Antwerp / Belgium and Ludwigshafen / Germany and was initiated at the end of September. According to news reports, the units were averaging utilisation rates of only 70% in September. Caprolactam is the feedstock for PA 6, and a considerable amount of the output goes into BASF’s own downstream production.
21.10.2008 Plasteurope.com [212051]
Published on 21.10.2008
German version of this article...