R esin manufacturers who have to justi-lfy price increases tend to get defen--L.Vsive.In past years all fingers have pointed at China,Wal-Mart,natural gas prices.This year,all fingers point farther up the supply chain to benzene,according to industry analysts speaking at the Canadian Plastics Resin Outlook Conference in October.Benzene is an important precursor to styrenics,nylon and polycarbonate.Benzene is also a precursor to many other petrochemical-based products,which plays a role in its elevated pricing.Gregory Masica of BASF Corp.explains that petrochemicaf companies have a choice whether to direct toulene toward the gasoline stream for blending,or to direct it toward other products,where it can be converted to benzene and xylene for plastics,urethanes and pesticides.
展开▼
