London -- Shell Chemicals Europe has declared force majeure at its Moerdijk site in The Netherlands for four cracker products: ethylene, propylene, acetylene and isoprene feed.
A Shell spokesperson said no force majeure has been issued for any of the derivatives such as propylene oxide - used to make polyols for the polyurethanes industry.
The Moerdijk site has two SM/PO (styrene monomer/PO plants: a wholly owned Shell one has SM:PO capacity of 450: 210 ktpa, while the Ellba BV 50;50 joint venture with BASF has SM:PO capacity of 550: 250 ktpa
The Shell spokesman emphasised that the Moerdijk cracker is still running, albeit at reduced rates -- which Shell has not disclosed.
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