UK-based petrochemicals producer Ineos is having production problems at its ethyl acetate plant in Hull, UK, according to several market sources.
"I've heard it's a catalyst issue that occurred when cooling down the unit," one of the sources said. "It looks like they will be out of the market for the whole of July."
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
Ineos is the single biggest European ethyl acetate producer by a distance. Its Hull, UK plant has a capacity of 250,000 mt/year.
The second largest producer is Swedish Sekab which has a capacity of 50,000 mt/year at its Domsjo, Sweden plant.
"Ineos is withholding all spot sales for the moment. It's putting pressure on other suppliers for more deliveries and will lead to earlier empty tanks," another source said.
European prices were assessed Eur25/mt lower on the week at Eur925/mt FD NWE on Tuesday.
But following news of Ineos' problems prices have jumped, with the latest deal heard at Eur1,080/mt FD NWE on Friday morning.
