Second quarter petrochemical production and inventory surveys showed significant increases in production in 2007, according to information from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA).
The petrochemicals surveyed include ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene and mixed xylenes, the basic building block chemicals, and the largest volume first and in some cases, second derivatives of these petrochemicals.
In the second quarter of 2007, total production of the 15 petrochemicals surveyed and reportable was 49.9 billion pounds.
The total production represents an increase of four percent compared with same quarter 2006 production of 47.8 billion pounds of these petrochemicals. It is an increase of two percent compared with first quarter 2007 production of 48.7 billion pounds of the same petrochemicals.