Lanxess targets PBT restart in May following a force majeure (FM) declaration on 15 April, according to reliable sources.
Lanxess had to recently stop production of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) at the site in Hamm-Uentrop, Germany.
The Hamm-Uentrop plant is a joint venture between Lanxess and DuPont called DuBay Polymer GmbH. And its capacity is of around 80,000 metric tons per year.
After INEOS had reduced allocations of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), a key raw material, the company had little choice but to stop production of PBT.
However, Lanxess has now reportedly told clients of a realistic restart in the third week of May.
PBT buyers in Europe have been struggling with high prices and short supplies since Q1.
The PTA issue is yet another supply problem for PBT after the recent shortages and price climb of butanediol (BDO).
At the same time, demand has been strong and imports have declined, owing to good demand in Asia and shipping disruptiosn.
As a result, PBT supply in Europe has become very short, with some buyers unable to source all the volumes they require.
The restart will be a much needed boost for the European PBT market.
With the critical supply shortages , prices posted big gains. According to GC Intelligence market analysis, PBT prices for unfilled grade reached above €3,000 per metric ton for many buyers.
PBT’s main applications are automotive and electrical components.
Lanxess AG is a specialty chemicals company based in Cologne, Germany.