US toluene disproportionation margins have moved into negative territory after toluene spot prices moved higher against declining benzene and mixed xylene spot pricing.
Mobil selective toluene disproportionation margins were also pressured as spot paraxylene prices fell and spot toluene gained.
US TDP margins were last estimated at minus $50.35/mt Friday, while US MSTDP margins were last estimated at $24.78/mt, based on Platts data that does not include unit operating costs.
Margins are typically pressured when the price spread between spot toluene against spot benzene, mixed xylene and paraxylene narrows.
Week over week, the price of US spot toluene firmed $9.12/mt, last assessed at $1,285.92/mt FOB US Gulf Coast Friday, while US spot benzene lowered $23.94/mt to $1,342.51/mt FOB USG and US spot mixed xylene spiraled $72.72/mt to $1,263.51/mt FOB USG. US spot paraxylene fell $5/mt, last assessed at $1,440/mt Friday.
TDP margins provide an indication of whether or not it is profitable to produce benzene and mixed xylene from using toluene as a feedstock, while MSTDP margins give an indication of profitability in using toluene as a feedstock to produce benzene, mixed xylene and paraxylene.
