The Aromatics Business - Markets and Economics

Course Summary
This course is designed to cover the technology, economics and markets for aromatics used in the chemical industry. It will explain the relationship of aromatics to the gasoline pool both in terms of availability and value, and discuss the approach to forecasting the prices of aromatics. New developments in the aromatics business will be discussed including the US Clean Air Act, and new routes to aromatic such as Cyclar and Aromax.
Please note: a laptop and up-to-date version of Office would be an advantage in order to engage in market data; however it is not essential.

What You Will Learn

The sources of aromatics

The principle outlets and growth trends for aromatics

The factors affecting aromatics supply and demand

The relationship between aromatics and the gasoline pool

How to value aromatics in relation to gasoline

Price determining mechanisms for aromatics

The trends in current and developing technology

Suitability:
Delegates encouraged to attend include managers, planners, business development, and commercial and marketing supply personnel from both established petrochemical producers and new entrants in the aromatics business. In addition, marketing and trading staff from the refining and gasoline industry will benefit, as well as logistics or support staffs are urged to attend. The course will also be of practical use to downstream consumers and derivative manufacturers.
Crude Oil

• Refining and petrochemical feedstock
  

Petrochemical Economics

• Determining the cost of production
  
• Cash and variable costs
  
• Pricing and price-setting mechanisms
  

Industry Structure and Feedstock Linkages

• What are aromatics?
  
• Benzene, toluene, xylenes, ortho-and para exylene, ethyl benzene and cyclohexane
  
• The relationship with the gasoline pool
  
• Sources: reforming, naphtha cracking, coal tar distillates, dealkylation
  

Aromatics Markets

• Benzene for styrene, phenol, cyclohexane, aniline
  
• Toluene for TDI, caprolactam and dealkylation
  
• Xylenes for para- and ortho-xylene
  
• Para-xylene for PTA and DMT
  
• Ortho-xylene for phthalic anhydride
  
• Cyclohexane for adipic acid and caprolactam
  

The Technology of Aromatics

• Process descriptions and flo- schemes; pyrolysis gasoline extraction, reforming and reformate extraction, hydrodealkylation and toluene disproportionation
  
• Benzene from coal
  
• Isomerization and separation of para- and ortho-xylene
  
• Ethylbenzene by distillation from xylenes
  
• Cyclohexane by hydrogenation of benzene
  

The Valuation of Aromatics and Feedstocks

• Interaction of aromatics streams with refining
  
• The petrochemical and refinery models for aromatics valuation
  
• Octane value
  
• The relationship of aromatics to gasoline pool values
  
• Cost and market-based octane values
  

Ne- Development in Aromatics

• The US Clean Air Act and the impact on aromatics values
  
• Aromax and other routes by light naphtha reforming
  

Aromatics Strategy and Economics

• Driving forces for aromatics producers
  

Test Case

• There will be a case study on aromatics valuation and marketing