Butadiene production in the second quarter of 2015 was reported to be approximately 346,000t -  an increase from the first quarter and better than the quarterly average in 2014. Butadiene output from US crackers increased due to a modest rise in propane, butane and naphtha cracking. The shift in cracker feedstock preference was somewhat seasonal as propane and butane demand drops and prices decline in the spring months; however, higher production from shale gas and the collapse of energy values over the past year have also added to the lower cost of LPG's. In fact, butane prices today are at the lowest levels since mid-2012.

 

Source: Dewitt August 19 2015