Market and product

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US September contract prices for oxo-alcohols were assessed on Monday as steady with prior month levels.

With producers having not announced any price increases for n-butanol, iso-butanol or 2-ethyl hexanol (2-EH) for September, ICIS assessed prices rolled over from August assessments.

While it is possible that increases could be heard for mid-September, flat demand and stable feedstock costs make mid-month increases unlikely, traders said.

September contract prices for n-butanol were assessed in a range of 92-95 cents/lb ($2,028-2,094/tonne, €1,582-1,633/tonne) DEL (delivered) before discounts, while iso-butanol was assessed in a range of 114-116 cents/lb DEL.

September prices for 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) were also assessed at a rollover from August in a range of 95-99 cents/lb DEL.

Hurricane Isaac's arrival in Louisiana two weeks ago did not result in any significant damage to the region's chemical refineries or major disruption to regional oxo-alcohol production, sources said.

Plasticizer prices had some upward pressure from rising prices in Europe and Asia, along with higher costs for some raw materials. US dioctyl phthalate (DOP) for September was assessed at 100-105 cents/lb, up from levels seen a month earlier.

September DOP prices in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America were heard in the broader range of 100-110 cents/lb.

US oxo-alcohol producers include BASF, Dow Chemical, Eastman Chemical and Oxea.

Oxo-alcohols are used as solvents and are significant ingredients in the production of paints and coatings. Demand for oxo-alcohols is closely aligned with the fortunes of the home and commercial construction industries.

($1 = €0.78)