INEOS runs Cologne PE normally despite site fire

LONDON (ICIS news)–INEOS Polyolefins is running its polyethylene (PE) line at Dormagen near Cologne in Germany normally despite a fire at the site on Monday which reduced cracker rates to 60-80%, a company source said on Wednesday.

INEOS has two PE units at the site, producing linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE).

The LLDPE plant has a capacity of 230,000 tonnes/year, while the LDPE lines produce 400,000 tonnes/year.

One of the two LDPE lines had only just come back on line after suffering technical problems for several weeks.

The cracker has an ethylene capacity of 600,000 tonnes/year.

PE prices were largely steady in March, with some limited erosion of around €10/tonne ($16/tonne) on LDPE, to the mid-€1,300s/tonne FD (free delivered ) NWE (northwest Europe) on a gross basis.

Demand was not as strong as it had been, however, and the market generally expected some easing in the weeks to come, in spite of record high oil prices.

PE producers in Europe include LyondellBasell, Borealis, SABIC, INEOS Polyolefins, Repsol, Dow, Polimeri Europa and Total Petrochemicals.

($1 = €0.64)

For more on LDPE and LLDPE visit ICIS chemical intelligence

YouTube footage of the fire: