AROMATICS 
The US benzene market may see continued pressure from the downstream styrene market 

heading into the week after LyondellBasell-Covestra declared force majeure on production 

from its propylene oxide styrene monomer unit at Maasvlakte, the Netherlands. US styrene 

exports emerged last week in light of the production issues at Maasvlakte, and could also 

continue to move overseas this week. The demand from the styrene market has otherwise 

kept benzene from seeing further declines amid lackluster energy futures. Sources have said 

with the US summer driving season nearing an end, toluene and xylene markets may see a 

decline as refiners look to transitional gasoline grades. Supply has been well-stocked for 

aromatics alongside thin demand and more competitive blendstocks. However, mobil selective 

toluene disproportionation markets still remain positive and have been an outlet for toluene 

supply. The MSTDP margins, which were at $112.34/mt on Thursday, are expected to remain 

positive heading into the week. Toluene disproportionation (TDP) margins, which have also 

been in positive territory since late July, may also stay positive this week. TDP margins were 

at $37.44/lb on Thursday. 

US METHANOL 
US spot methanol participants expect bearish market conditions this week, as trading activity 

remains thin. OCI Beaumont's 912,500 mt/year methanol unit in Beaumont, Texas, was heard 

to have successfully restarted by Friday following an unplanned outage on July 24, multiple 

sources said. Further confirmation and details were not available. Sources suggested the site 

went down because of a steam methane reformer issue, putting expectations that it could 

take 10-14 days for the plant to come back online. 

US OLEFINS 

Ethylene participants will be monitoring the impact of recent production issues in the US. 

Ethylene spot prices ended on Friday at 15.25-15.75 cents/lb FD USG, up 0.50 cents/lb on 

the week amid a series of production issues. Market participants are still awaiting word on the 

impact of a compressor trip at the Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny 33 steam cracker in Old 

Ocean, Texas. This comes after the company recently shut its 670,000 mt/year Sweeny 24 

cracker for a 25-day maintenance. In addition, last week Ineos reduced operating rates and 

restarted an acetylene reactor at its 910,000-mt/year ethylene-capacity Olefins No. 1 cracker 

in Alvin, Texas, following a process upset. Meanwhile, the propylene market may continue to 

its downstream with all three US propane dehydrogenation up and running this week. Flint 

Hills Resources recently restarted its 658,000 mt/year PDH unit in Houston in early August. 

Propylene spot prices on Friday was assessed at 59.75 cents/lb FD USG, down 1 cent on the 

week.