Glossary

Acetaldehyde (or ethanal) is a two-carbon aldehyde used as an intermediate in the production of acetic acid. Acetaldehyde is produced by direct oxidation of ethylene. Acetic acid used to be the major derivative for acetaldehyde, but except in China, this is no longer the case. Major End-Uses now include ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, synthetic pyridine derivatives and peracetic acid.

Acetic acid is a colourless liquid traditionally made by fermentation (vinegar is mainly acetic acid). It is a raw material for several key petrochemical intermediates and products, including vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) for coatings and adhesives, purified terephthalic acid (PTA) for polyester production, acetate esters, cellulose acetate, acetic anhydride and monochloroacetic acid (MCA). Acetic acid is now mainly produced via methanol carbonylation, but ethane, ethylene or acetaldehyde oxidation processes are also commercially employed.

Acetone is a commodity solvent commonly produced as a co-product during cumene oxidation for phenol, which consumes benzene and propylene, and for this reason on-purpose acetone production has declined. On purpose production consumes either propylene or isopropanol. Acetone is used in the production of bisphenol A and methyl methacrylate, intermediates to PMMA and Polycarbonate engineering resins, respectively, along with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and others. It also has major use (17% of consumption) as a solvent in industrial and household applications, eg, paints and ink. Acetone is produced in all regions.

The Acetyls family are those chemicals derived from Acetic Acid, the simplest carboxylic acid.

Acrylic Acid is used in the production of acrylate esters, superabsorbent polymers, detergents and flocculants. Acrylate esters are mostly used in coatings, adhesives, and elastomers applications, while superabsorbents are used in diapers etc, and most other derivatives are performance chemicals for cleaning or water treatment, also firefighting. Acrylic Acid is a propylene derivative which is produced by propylene vapor-phase oxidation. Acetylene based production of acrylic acid has now ceased, and new processes based on propane are being developed. Acrylic acid tends to be produced close to major consumers as melting of transportable solid can be hazardous, and production is therefore focussed in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Alternative names for acrylic acid include: acroleic acid, ethylene carboxylic acid, propenoic acid.

Acrylonitrile is used as an intermediate in the production of acrylic fibers as well as ABS and SAN resins, and as monomer for polyacrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile is a propylene derivative which is produced by the reaction of propylene and ammonia. Acrylonitrile is produced in all regions, although most new projects are either located in Asia where demand growth is strongest, or in the Middle East where there is increasing feedstock availability.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a copolymer made from polymerizing styrene and acylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. ABS is stronger than polystyrene, and is used to make light, rigid products such as pipes and toys. It is a high volume engineering polymer that exhibits good strength and high gloss properties and is used widely in the production of electronics and automotive applications.

Africa is defined as containing the following countries: Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Our methodology presents a supply demand balance based on analysis of 38 distinct regions. Each of these regions can contain assets that supply and consume petrochemicals and has additional consumption of petrochemicals into the general economy as End-Use demand. The website is able to present supply/demand analysis for all 38 regions as well as common groupings, then highest level of which is Global or "All Regions".

Allocated Fixed Costs are the fixed costs incurred by the business unit that may run a number of plant operations in different locations. It also includes any local tax and insurance charges that are incurred.

Alpha olefins are straight chained olefins with a double bond between the end two carbons in a chain (the "alpha" position). These olefins are very reactive and as such have a number of uses. Light alpha olefins (butene-1, hexene-1 and octene-1) are consumed mainly in the production of polyethylene, including LLDPE. Decene-1 is principally used to manufacture polyalpha olefins for the production of high performance lubricants. High alpha olefins are consumed in the manufacture of detergent alcohols. There are two main ways to produce linear alpha olefins
- via ethylene oligomerization and via Fischer-Tropsch process via syngas (applicable only to SASOL). In regions of low cost ethylene (eg Middle East) ethylene dimerisation is also used to produce butene-1 and recently ethylene trimerisation has been used to produce hexene-1 Producers either manufacture a specific linear alpha olefin (on-purpose) or a range.

Americas is defined as containing the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Trinidad, United States, Venezuela

Ammonia is an inorganic compound comprising nitrogen and hydrogen in the ratio 1:3. Ammonia is produced from hydrocarbons, mainly natural gas, and nitrogen extracted from air. Ammonia occurs both in solution and as anhydrous ammonia, the latter finding its main application in fertilizers. Ammonia is also consumed in various other chemical and industrial applications such as the production of nitrate-based explosives, and in aqueous solution as a solvent.

Aniline is an aromatic derivative produced by hydrogenation of nitrobenzene and is used primarily for the production of MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate).

The Aromatics are a group of unsaturated hydrocarbons all sharing a common unsaturated six carbon ring. Benzene is the simplest aromatic compound and consists solely of this ring structure, with the other members having hydrocarbon side groups connected to the main ring. Aromatics are named Aromatic after the sharp smell associated with the family and are produced in processes involving the pyrolysis of hydrocarbon streams such as steam crackers and refinery reformer units.

Asia Pacific is defined as containing the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China (including Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

A primary petrochemical building block used in the production of stryene, phenol and caprolactam. Benzene is an aromatic compound consisting of six carbon unsaturated ring structure. Benzene is produced predominantly as a by-product from naphtha or heavy liquid cracking.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an intermediate for polycarbonate resins and epoxy resins, and is used in various minor applications of coatings. It is manufactured by from phenol and acetone in the presence of an acid catalyst, and typically in solid form. BPA is produced in all regions. Alternative names for BPA include: 4,4'-(1-methylethylidene)bis-phenol, 4,4'-isopropylidenedi-phenol

Brent Crude Oil is a blend of crude oil streams produced from the Brent and Ninian Fields in the North Sea. This crude blend is noted as a benchmark crude as it is traded under contract with prices determined by open market activity on the International Petroleum Exchange in London. Brent crude is a light, sweet crude and usually trades at a premium to heavier Middle Eastern grades, and is most suited for the production of gasoline and middle distillates.

Butadiene is the first member for the olefin chemical family with two double bonds, consisting of four carbons joined by alternate single and double bonds (1,2 propadiene which has three carbon atoms separated by two double bonds only is not a useful chemical owing to its high self reactivity) The largest use for butadiene is in the production of synthetic rubbers, with the majority produced as a by-product from steam crackers.

Butane is a gas in the LPG family of petroleum gases that can be separated from the gas stream that is often associated with crude oil as it leaves an oil well. Butane is a four carbon hydrocarbon that can either be arranged as a straight chain (n-butane) or branched (iso-butane). Butane extracted from associated gas is most usually a mixture of these two isomers. N-Butane is more highly valued as a petrochemical feedstock as it yields more ethylene in a steam cracker, while iso-butane has a higher value in gasoline production.

Butyl Acetate is most commonly prepared by esterification, the reaction of acetic acid with n-butyl alcohol. The major End-Use for butyl acetate is as a medium-boiling solvent for lacquers and enamels. It is also used as an active solvent for cellulosic resins, chlorinated rubber, polystyrene and methacrylate resins.

By Product Credits list all the economically viable streams that are produced by the process alongside the main commercial product. Each stream is quoted per ton of production of the main product. Occasionally these by-product stream are a mixture of hydrocarbons that have little value other than as a fuel-in this instance the mass flow and price will be based on the heating value of the stream