MOSCOW (MRC) -- Rohm (Darmstadt, Germany) says the methacrylates market is facing “a global shortage of several petrochemical raw materials” as a result of global business and service disruptions, which could lead to extended product lead and delivery times, reported Chemweek.
The company says its methacrylates monomer team is “currently addressing a number of challenges” and that it remains in close contact with its suppliers in order to “effectively manage supply and continue production” of its product portfolio for customers.
Rohm says in its latest market update it is monitoring and managing “external constraints in intercontinental logistics, including container shipping shortages, and limited availability of packaging materials.” Seasonal high water levels at the Rhine river in Europe have put “additional stress on the supply chain of raw materials and finished goods,” it says.
The company’s logistics and supply chain teams are “working hard to secure supply by accessing the resources of our global production network,” it says, adding that working closely with its customers and having open communication are “key to keeping the methacrylates industry supplied during these turbulent times.”
However, Rohm warns that “despite all efforts, extended lead and delivery times may occur. In such cases, details will be communicated as early as possible.”
Earlier this week Rohm announced a price increase for its polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) products in Europe due to a sharp rise in raw material costs. In January it also put methyl methacrylate (MMA) and all its other methacrylate monomer products in Europe on sales control with immediate effect due to a shortage of raw materials.
In December it also highlighted a tightening of the MMA market, with “prices surging in Asia and continuously firming in Europe” on strong demand, combined with production and supply issues and rising prices for feedstocks such as acetone.
“The most salient issue for the MMA industry is not demand but feedstock availability, which affects costs and operating rates. The European acetone market has gone through a volatile first few weeks of 2021, with acute tightness developing across Europe that has brought big spikes in spot pricing,” according to IHS Markit’s latest Global Acrylates and Superabsorbent Polymer monthly market report.
As MRC informed previously, Rohm plans to carry out a scheduled turnaround in September 2021 of its methacrylate monomers plant at Worms, Germany. No specific date or duration for the planned maintenance program has been given. The company announced in early January a series of scheduled shutdowns for four of its methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylate monomer facilities in the first half of 2021, including one planned for 10–22 March also at its Worms plant. The other plants planned for turnaround in the first six months of the year are in Wesseling, Germany; Shanghai, China; and Fortier, Louisiana.
The principal application, consuming approximately 75% of the MMA, is the manufacture of polymethyl methacrylate acrylic plastics (PMMA). Methyl methacrylate is also used for the production of the co-polymer methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS), used as a modifier for polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
According to MRC's DataScope report, imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (SPVC) into Russia totalled about 40,800 tonnes in 2020, down by 20% year on year. At the same time, exports decreased by 6%. December SPVC imports to Russia dropped to 0,600 tonnes from 1,600 tonnes in November. High PVC prices in foreign markets and a seasonal decline in demand in the last two months had put serious pressure on import purchases of PVC from Russian companies.
MRC