Lockdowns, oil crash taking a toll on US ethane exports

摘要

US ethane exports are poised to decline in April under pressure from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns and naphtha’s new cost advantage. Two major term-lifters of US ethane, European chemical major Ineos and Reliance Industries of India, have slowed liftings and appear set to load fewer barrels than normal this month, according to preliminary data from OPIS. Preliminary ship- tracking tallies by OPIS suggest that April exports out of America’s two waterborne ethane outlets, Sunoco LP’s export complex in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, and the Enterprise Products Partners–operated Morgan’s Point facility on the Houston Ship Channel, will lag March and recent monthly averages.