By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 6 -- US production of a selection of petrochemicals in the fourth quarter of 2003 increased 3% to 52.4 billion lb over production in the third quarter, according to a study released Jan. 29 by the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association. VERIS Consulting LLC of Reston, Va., which conducts the survey for NPRA, based the regular quarterly petrochemical survey on 19 petrochemicals produced in the US, including ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, and mixed xylenes.
Total production of these 19 petrochemicals during the fourth quarter was up 10% vs. fourth quarter 2002 production of 47.5 billion lb for 20 reportable petrochemicals. (NPRA noted that, if the comparison were based on 19 to 19 reportable petrochemicals, the increase in production compared with fourth quarter 2002 would have been 12%.)
"From the third quarter of 2003 to the fourth quarter of 2003, production of 12 of the 19 petrochemicals surveyed and reportable increased; inventories of 3 of the 6 petrochemicals surveyed decreased," NPRA reported.
Total fourth quarter 2003 inventories of the 6 petrochemicals surveyed and reportable was 3.6 billion lb, a decrease from third quarter 2003 inventories of 5.1 billion lb for seven reportable petrochemicals, the study said. "Compared with fourth quarter 2002 inventories of 5.2 billion lb for 7 reportable petrochemicals, the decrease is 30%."