DATE : 2017-05-25
Dow Chemical lifted the last of its US acrylates order controls on Thursday, but extended other monomer sales limits “until further notice”.
In a letter to customers, Dow announced it is lifting sales limits on its butyl acrylate (butyl-A) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM).
The letter, however, extended order controls on Dow’s methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl methacrylate (BMA) and glacial methacrylic acid (GMAA).
In the 25 May letter, Dow also removed the 10-day lead-time requirement for all of its performance monomers, but asked customers to provide “as much lead time as possible”, citing heightened demand for the products via tank trucks.
One month ago, the company lifted sales controls on its glacial acrylic acid (GAA), ethyl acrylate (ethyl-A), methyl acrylate (methyl-A) and GMAA, but extended its sales limits on its other monomers.
In late December 2016 and early January 2017, Dow Chemical and another producer began implementing sales controls on acrylic monomers, stemming partly from a mid-October explosion at BASF’s Ludwigshafen complex in Germany, which eventually constrained US supply.
Acrylic monomers are commonly used to make products including paint and coatings, plastics and construction and pressure-sensitive adhesives.
Other US acrylic monomer suppliers include Arkema, BASF, Lucite, Evonik and Sasol.
Source Icis News