Ineos seals TotalEnergies’ Lavera petchem deal

Spanish Market: LPG, Petrochemicals
02/04/24

UK-based chemical petrochemical company Ineos has completed the purchase of TotalEnergies 50pc stake in the former joint venture at the Lavera chemical site in southern France with the deal including storage and pipeline assets.

Ineos and TotalEnergies originally announced the deal in July 2023. Ineos now completely controls the assets at the complex including Naphthtachimie, which operates a 720,000 t/yr ethylene steam cracker at Lavera that can produce 300,000 t/yr of propylene and 120,000t/yr of butadiene. The acquisition also included the 300,000 t/yr Appryl polypropylene business and the Gexaro aromatics operation with a capacity of 270,000 t/yr, the Gexaro site will continue to be operated by Petroineos. Naphtha storage business 3TC was also included in the deal. Ineos plans to fully integrate the connected assets.

Ineos already operated and owned ethylene oxide, polyethylene and oxo-alcohol production at the Lavera site. The company also operates the 207,100 b/d Lavera refinery through its Petroineos 50:50 joint venture with state controlled PetroChina.

The deal includes Ineos taking control of southern sections of TotalEnergies' ethylene pipeline network from Lavera to the Lyon region. TotalEnergies previously stated that it did not use its share of ethylene production from the Lavera steam cracker and mainly sold it to Ineos.

Ineos operates a PVC plant in the Lyon region under the Inovyn business. TotalEnergies operates the Feyzin cracker in the same area. The deal will allow closer integration between the Feyzin and Carling sites for TotalEnergies, the company said. The northern and central sections of the ethylene pipeline will continue to be jointly owned and remain operated by TotalEnergies.

By George Barsted

Eastern France ethylene pipelines post-transaction

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14/06/25

Israel strikes Iran gas plants in first energy attacks

Dubai, 14 June (Argus) — Israel launched drone strikes on two gas treatment facilities in southern Iran on 14 June, marking the first attacks on energy infrastructure since the latest round of hostilities began on 13 June. Israeli drones targeted a gas treatment plant in Assaluyeh that processes sour gas from phase 14 of the offshore South Pars gas field, Iranian state media reported. South Pars, which Iran shares with Qatar, is the world's largest gas field and has 24 development phases. Images and videos circulating on social media showed parts of the Assaluyeh facility on fire. The plant includes four gas sweetening trains, each with a capacity of 14mn m³/d, enabling total output of up to 56mn m³/d from phase 14. At full capacity, the phase can produce 77,000 b/d of gas condensate, 2,900 t/d of LPG, 2,750 t/d of ethane and 400 t/d of sulphur. One of the four trains was hit, temporarily halting 12mn m³/d of production from one offshore platform, according to state media. A separate fire broke out at the Fajr-e-Jam gas processing plant, which handles gas from both South Pars and the Kangan field, and produces around 200 t/d of LPG and 80 t/d of gas liquids. Iran's oil ministry said emergency teams were deployed to both sites immediately after the incidents, helping to contain the fires. South Pars has been in production since 2002 and accounts for 70–75pc of Iran's total gas output. The field also supplies a significant share of feedstock for Iran's petrochemical and gasoline production. The Qatari portion of the field is known as the North field. Saturday's attacks are the first time either side has targeted energy infrastructure. Israel focused on military and nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow when it launched its initial attacks in the early hours of 13 June. Iran responded with ballistic missile and drone strikes on military targets in Israel, including the Kirya complex in Tel Aviv, which houses the defence ministry headquarters. Further Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure could threaten up to 3.4mn b/d of crude output and around 1.5mn b/d of exports. By Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Borealis not reviewing assets in Europe: CEO

12/06/25

Borealis not reviewing assets in Europe: CEO

London, 12 June (Argus) — Austria-based petrochemicals producer Borealis is not conducting any asset reviews in Europe despite prolonged weakness in the region's polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets, chief executive Stefan Doboczky told Argus . "It's not that we would never look into something," Doboczky said. But "none of our major installations [in Europe] I would say are being a real problem, they are all contributing [to profitability]." Doboczky acknowledged that "Europe will never be the cost leader". But "there are strong differences between the economics of crackers and the polyolefin systems", he said. "If you look at our more coastal setups, we are much more flexible than certain steam crackers would be inland." Borealis' coastal steam crackers in Porvoo, Finland, and in Stenungsund, Sweden, have greater flexibility to run lighter feedstocks and optimise product yields. Their location also allows for easier feedstock procurement via vessel, Doboczky said. Borealis will continue to bring polyolefins into Europe from its sister plants in the Middle East and North America, which have advantageous positions on feedstock and production costs. Doboczky's comments follow Netherlands-based LyondellBasell's announcement last week that it plans to divest four European olefins and polyolefins plants to focus on "economically sustainable sites". The European petrochemicals sector has faced mounting pressure from weak demand and high costs, prompting several producers to review or close assets. Saudi Arabia's Sabic is also understood to be assessing its European footprint, although details remain limited. Borealis, by contrast, is pursuing a differentiation strategy focused on downstream expansion. Last week, it announced a €100mn ($114mn) investment to triple PP foam production capacity at its Burghausen site in Germany. The firm has 650,000 t/yr of PP production capacity at that site. "We are very much focused on investing in smaller units, in the €50mn-100mn space to gain a strong share in a particular niche," Doboczky said. This is in addition to around €2bn of overall capital expenditure already committed in Europe for new projects. "Borealis has no alternative to this [polyolefins] business," Doboczky said, adding that the company will continue to focus on specialty, high-end applications rather than volume-driven segments. It also has a notable presence in the downstream compounding sector, which uses part of its PE and PP resin output. Demand outlook Borealis expects 2025 demand to be broadly in line with 2023-24 levels, although it could vary by grade and segment. "We see too much volatility at the moment and I think we need to see how the world looks like after 9 July," Doboczky said, referring to the 90-day tariff pause on US imports. "The general sentiment that PP is even more difficult, I would subscribe to that." PP demand has been hit harder than PE, given its exposure to big-ticket consumer goods and the automotive segment, both of which have been affected by cost-of-living pressures. Construction demand is also under pressure due to economic headwinds and high financing costs. For the time being, Borealis continues to see offtake from the automotive segment within its expected range, owing to a larger share of electric vehicle production, which uses a higher proportion of PP to offset battery weight. The company is also targeting growth in rigid and flexible packaging through increased innovation. Project updates Earlier this year, OMV and Adnoc agreed to merge Borealis and Borouge into a new entity, Borouge Group International, which will be headquartered in Vienna and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The move coincided with the acquisition of Canada-based Nova Chemicals by the new entity. Borealis is constructing a 750,000 t/yr propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in Kallo, Belgium, which is scheduled to come online in the second quarter of 2026. The Borouge 4 project in Abu Dhabi is on track to start up ethylene and PE production in late 2025 or early 2026, Doboczky said. By Sam Hashmi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mexico inflation quickens in May

09/06/25

Mexico inflation quickens in May

Mexico City, 9 June (Argus) — Mexico's consumer price index (CPI) accelerated to an annual 4.42pc in May, with strong pressures on meat and egg prices and modest acceleration in core inflation. The index increased for a fourth consecutive month, accelerating from 3.93pc in April after reaching a four-year low of 3.59pc in January. The result from statistics agency Inegi came in above the 4.37pc median estimate of analysts polled in Citi Research's 5 June survey to reach the fastest inflation since November 2024. It also pushes CPI to above the central bank's long-term objective inflation range of between 2pc and 4pc. Nevertheless, the central bank has been clear in its communication that the rate-cutting cycle will continue, with a likely half-point cut in the target interest rate to 8pc at the next policy meeting on 26 June. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy, reached an annual 4.06pc in May from 3.93pc in April, ending a run of eight consecutive months below the 4pc level. Within the core, consumer goods inflation rose to 3.67pc from 3.38pc the previous month. while services accelerated to 4.63pc from 4.56pc in April. Meanwhile, annual non-core inflation surged to 5.34pc in May from 3.76pc in April, largely tied to agricultural goods prices. Annual energy inflation in May reached 3.5pc with regular 87-octane gasoline inflation just 0.54pc, as prices remain capped at Ps24/l ($4.78/USG) under a voluntary price cap between fuel retailers and the government. Month-over-month, headline CPI rose by 0.28pc in May after a 0.33pc increase in April. Core prices were up by 0.30pc from 0.43pc from April, while non-core prices sped 1.24pc, driven by a 3.5pc month-over-month acceleration in meat and egg prices, as well as produce prices speeding 2.8pc from April. This more than offset the moderation in energy prices with a second tranche of seasonal subsidies starting in May, slowing electricity inflation 18pc monthly. Looking ahead, Mexican bank Banorte said it would continue to monitor inflationary pressures on eggs and poultry after a ban on the import of the products from Brazil, as well as the evolution of the screwworm outbreak in the south of the country and on the coming tropical cyclone season and its impacts on fruits and vegetables prices. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ethane rejection concerns heighten on export block

06/06/25

Ethane rejection concerns heighten on export block

Houston, 6 June (Argus) — US traders and gas producers are mulling over the implications of higher rates of US ethane rejection as the indefinite curtailment of US ethane cargoes to China spurs fears of a supply glut of the feedstock. Exporters Enterprise Products and Energy Transfer , the only waterborne exporters of US ethane, announced on 29 May and 4 June, respectively, that the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) had ordered them to apply for licenses to export ethane to China. On 4 June, Enterprise reported that emergency license applications for three of its cargoes, totaling 2.2mn bl, had been denied . "News that the [BIS] doesn't intend to issue ethane export permits suggests an increasingly dire situation," said one market participant. US ethane inventories stood at 63.9mn bl in March, the latest data available from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), up 9.8pc versus last year, when supplies totaled 58.2mn bl. The US produced 2.83mn b/d of ethane from natural gas processing in 2024, according to annual data from the EIA, resulting in a surplus of 500,000 b/d over its domestic petrochemical consumption. Nearly all of this excess is exported, and about 46pc of shipments last year, or 227,000 b/d, went to China. Large-scale exports of the feedstock, which is used in ethylene production at steam crackers, are relatively new. Waterborne exports of ethane began in 2016, and until that time, excess supply that wasn't profitable to fractionate and pipe to storage caverns at Mont Belvieu, Texas, were rejected upstream at processing plants into the natural gas stream. Midstream operators estimated that US ethane rejection clocked in around 500,000 b/d in 2015, when the US produced a little more than a third of the ethane it does today at 1.13mn b/d and consumed only 1.07mn b/d domestically. Some analysts fear higher rates of US ethane rejection going forward could depress natural gas prices. "The recently announced ethane export restrictions to China have raised some concerns over a potential oversupplied domestic market, which could lead to more ethane rejection and create near-term price pressures," on natural gas, RBC Capital Markets analyst Scott Hanold said in a note to investors. An uptick in ethane left in the gas stream also pushes gas operators to potentially contend with a higher calorific content. Natural gas producers have been investing in additional pipeline capacity to accommodate growing demand for LNG exports, however, and the infrastructure is more flexible now than it was back in 2016. "The US exports approximately 250,000 b/d of ethane to China, and that's about 0.4bn cf/d of ethane that would need to be rejected into the US natural gas system," according to Craig Barry, Argus ' lead ethylene consultant. "That should be manageable for US producers, especially as new natural gas egress pipelines come online in the second half of 2025 and into 2026." Short-term pricing From 28 May to 5 June, prompt-month Mont Belvieu, Texas, EPC ethane fell by 19.4pc to 19.25¢/USG, its lowest point since 13 November. Ethane's differential to its fuel value relative to Nymex natural gas at the Henry Hub turned negative on 29 May and remained negative thereafter, troughing at -5¢/USG on 4 June, the steepest discount since 15 December 2022. A flip to rejection by gas producers is typically indicated when ethane enters negative territory relative to its fuel value in spot natural gas in the Permian. Ethane's premium to spot gas prices at the Waha hub in west Texas declined from 12.37¢/USG to 9.4¢/USG across the period, and if Waha prices remain steady, ethane prices would need to halve to enter rejection territory in the Permian. Major operators may also be incentivized, however, to reject ethane into the gas stream at greater rates if prices fall below spot gas on the US Gulf coast, according to market participants, and would need to dip below a milder 17.375¢/USG to turn negative relative to its fuel value in Houston Ship Channel gas, which it sits at its tightest premium to since 4 March at 1.88¢/USG. Steep declines in prompt-month ethane pricing have widened the contango seen along the forward curve, possibly reflecting stronger sentiment once the US trade dispute with China is resolved. The prompt-forward month carry widened to 1.625¢/USG yesterday. June EPC ethane traded at a stronger 21.25-22.5¢/USG Friday morning, and sits at a 2.8¢/USG discount to its fuel value relative to Nymex gas, based on intraday values. By Joseph Barbour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Growth, challenges for Mexico’s chemical industry: ANIQ

05/06/25

Growth, challenges for Mexico’s chemical industry: ANIQ

Houston, 5 June (Argus) — The Mexico chemical industry faces challenges in the coming years, said National Chemical Industry Association (ANIQ) foreign trade director Guillermo Miller said this week. There has been a decline in chemical production from Mexico's state-owned Pemex. The company produced around 9mn metric tonnes (t) of chemicals in 2010 but only 2.5mn t in 2024. This is a challenge to the industry which needs to find formulas that allow Pemex to increase production, Miller said at the UTECH Las Americas polyurethane conference in Mexico City, Mexico. Additionally, investment has slowed into the chemicals industry in Mexico. The last peak was in 2014 for a polyethylene project. Logistics also pose a challenge for the country and increase costs as the current infrastructure is forcing product to move around to be used, said Miller. Mexico currently relies heavily on imports of chemical feedstocks, with the majority coming from the US. The availability of raw materials is extremely limited, especially for byproducts of natural gas, ethane and propane. Despite these challenges, the chemical industry, which was 1.7pc of the country's GDP in 2024, is projected to have growth of 5pc on average over the next 10 years, Miller said. There also remains a strong demand for polyurethane since Mexico is in the top five countries for car and refrigerator production and is first in television production, said Miller. The country should focus on innovation, infrastructure, certainty in investments and addressing the raw material shortage, said Miller. By Catherine Rabe Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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