TotalEnergies plans to close one of two crackers at its integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Antwerp, Belgium, by the end of 2027 owing to "considerable overcapacity in the petrochemicals market", the firm says. No downstream units at Antwerp are expected to be affected as the cracker is not integrated with them, it says. The non-renewal of a major third-party ethylene contract by the end of 2027 was the main driver behind the announcement, TotalEnergies says. The company will shut down the 570,000 t/yr flexible cracker that can be fed with up to 40pc butane, 10pc propane and 10pc ethane as well as 40-100pc naphtha. The other unaffected 600,000 t/yr unit can use the same ratios of butane and ethane but up to 40pc of propane. The planned closure will come shortly after the expected start-up of UK firm Ineos' 1.45mn t/yr ethane cracker in Antwerp.
Related news posts
US butane exports hit all-time high in April: Kpler
US butane exports hit all-time high in April: Kpler
Houston, 4 May (Argus) — US butane exports hit an all-time high of 689,000 b/d, or 1.9mn metric tonnes (t), in April as buyers in Asia scrambled to replace lost production out of the Middle East. Data tracking firm Kpler showed US butane loadings surpassed the previous high of 1.76mn t in May 2025, when the US trade war with China rerouted loadings and India — a large buyer of butane for residential use — agreed to take US-origin cargoes as part of a trade deal. India was the primary destination for many of the April exports, with 247,000t en route there in April, according to Kpler. Roughly 231,000t shipped to Morocco, 162,000t went to China and another 134,000t to Korea. Mideast LPG cargoes are predominately split evenly between propane and butane, whereas export terminals in the US are configured to mostly load propane. The resulting surge in demand for US butane pushed spot terminal fees for May and June-loading split cargoes to a 10¢/USG or more premium to full-propane loadings, even as global supplies of both products are tightening in the face of the blockade at the strait of Hormuz. In the US, inventories of butane remained 27.5pc above year-before levels as of February at 33.76mn bl, or 3.13mn t, according to the latest data available from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Prompt-month US butane prices at Mont Belvieu, Texas, are up by 21.875¢/USG, or 23.6pc, since the war with Iran began but have lagged steeper gains in crude because of ample supplies. US butane stood at 47.2pc of Nymex WTI on 1 May, versus 65.6pc last year. By Amy Strahan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s petchem supplies to last into next year: PM
Japan’s petchem supplies to last into next year: PM
Tokyo, 1 May (Argus) — Japan's supply of naphtha-derived chemical products is sufficient to last beyond the end of this year, prime minister Sanae Takaichi said. Japanese refiners are continuing to produce domestically refined naphtha, while naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East — including the US, Algeria and Peru — will treble in May compared with levels before the escalation of geopolitical tension in the Middle East, Takaichi said on 30 April. Naphtha imports from such countries were 900,000 kilolitres (190,000 b/d) in April and will surpass 1.35mn kl in May, according to the trade and industry ministry Meti. Japan has also secured stocks of intermediate chemical products, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, totalling around 1.8 months' worth of use. These procurement efforts and inventory utilisation mean Japan can maintain its supply of naphtha-derived chemical products beyond the end of the year, Takaichi said, up from the previous estimate of over six months made in early April. Japan has secured around 1.4mn b/d of crude oil for May, accounting for around 60pc of the country's requirement based on average 2025 imports of 2.36mn b/d, Takaichi said. The country secured more than 500,000 b/d in April, around 20pc of its needs, according to Meti. Japan has been drawing on its stockpiles to cover its remaining requirements. It began releasing a second batch of oil from its national reserves on 1 May, Meti said today. The ministry previously said on 30 April that the start of this release would be delayed by one day to 2 May. Takaichi also reiterated that Japan has sufficient oil supplies to last beyond the end of this year, taking into account its oil reserves and alternative purchases. Tokyo has been providing fuel subsidies to ease the impact of rising oil prices caused by supply disruptions through the strait of Hormuz, as it aims to cap retail gasoline prices at around ¥170/l ($1.08/l). Japan's nationwide average gasoline price has fallen to ¥170/l, which is half the level in European countries and similar to prices in oil-producer the US, Takaichi stressed. Japan's subsidised retail gasoline prices averaged ¥169.7/l as of 27 April, according to Meti. By Kohei Yamamoto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Braskem names Petrobras chief as board chair
Braskem names Petrobras chief as board chair
Sao Paulo, 30 April (Argus) — Brazil's Braskem has appointed Petrobras chief executive Magda Chambriard as chair of its board of directors, following a decision taken at the company's shareholders' meeting on 29 April, the petrochemical producer said. The appointment was made under the slate of directors nominated by Petrobras, which is Braskem's second-largest shareholder, and aligns with the new governance framework currently in place at the company. Braskem said the new board will serve for the term set out in its bylaws, and the company did not announce any changes to executive management. Petrobras confirmed the nomination, saying the appointment reflects the governance arrangements agreed with Braskem and reinforces cooperation between the two companies. The oil major did not provide further details on the scope of the chair's role. Braskem is in the middle of a control transition following fellow conglomerate Novonor's agreement to sell its controlling stake to the IG4 fund, ending its long-standing position as Braskem's controlling shareholder. As part of that transaction, Braskem is moving to a shared-control structure, in which IG4 and Petrobras hold key governance rights. Under the new model, neither shareholder exercises unilateral control, and strategic decisions require alignment between the parties, while Braskem's management and day-to-day operations remain unchanged. By Fred Fernandes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UAE's Borouge starts up Al Ruwais polymers project
UAE's Borouge starts up Al Ruwais polymers project
Singapore, 30 April (Argus) — UAE-based Borouge has started polymer production at its 1.4mn t/yr Borouge 4 megaproject in Abu Dhabi's Al Ruwais Industrial city from early April. The XLPE 2 unit, which produces cross-linked polyethylene, was the first to start production, the company said today in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Output at Borouge 4 will be ramped up through 2026 as the remaining units are commissioned. Once fully online, Borouge 4 is expected to lift the company's total polymers capacity by 28pc to 6.4mn t/yr, making the Al Ruwais complex one of the world's largest single-site polyolefins facilities. Output from the project will primarily target India and China — Asia's largest petrochemical markets. The start-up comes as Borouge works to normalise operations after halting production at some units following damage caused by falling debris from drone attacks. The initial repairs have been completed on affected lines and, following a phased restart, most units are now online, with utilisation increasing. The company's sales volumes over January-March fell by 13pc year on year, partly due to the closure of the strait of Hormuz, Borouge said. It was able to export 61pc of its March production volumes via alternative routes, it added. By Sourasis Bose Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Related Products
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more