World Analysis – Butylenes

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

Butylenes are four-carbon mono-olefins that are principally sourced from olefins production by steam cracking or by catalytic cracking at petroleum refineries. These processes produce mixed four-carbon mono- and di-olefin streams that also contain saturated C4 hydrocarbons. These streams are processed to higher value products in the refinery and petrochemical complex. In addition, several other processes are available that can produce butylenes. This World Analysis provides the outlook for the global markets of contained isobutylene, contained normal butylenes, high purity isobutylene (HPIB), and butene-1.

Products made from contained isobutylene (also called raffinate-1 or refinery butylenes/butane streams) include MTBE, polyisobutylene, methyl methacrylate, isoprene, diisobutylene, isooctene and isooctane. Contained normal butylenes streams (little or no isobutylene) are sourced from process units that selectively remove isobutylene from the C4 streams. These streams contain high concentrations of normal butylenes and are utilized as feedstocks for a variety of products. Since the isobutylene has already been removed, physical separation of the normal butylene isomers is much easier. Normal butylenes are also produced by the dehydrogenation of butane; however, these normal butylenes are generally converted directly to butadiene. Contained isobutylene and contained normal butylenes can find their way into the gasoline pool as butylene alkylate. Butylene alkylate is formed when combined with isobutane.

High purity isobutylene (HPIB) refers to 99.0% minimum purity isobutylene. A large percentage of the HPIB produced in the world is used to make butyl rubber. Butyl rubber production accounts for nearly 60% of HPIB demand while the second largest end-use segment, highly reactive polyisobutylene, consumes nearly 25%. Much smaller amounts are typically consumed to produce other derivatives such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), isononyl alcohol, neopentanol, t-butyl phenol antioxidants, and other specialty chemicals. Butene-1 is either produced by the fractionation (extractive distillation) of a butene-1 rich normal butylenes stream (raffinate), the Ziegler oligomerization of ethylene (in alpha olefins plants), or by the dimerization of ethylene. Butene-1 is mostly used as a comonomer in all threeHigh-purityethylene types (LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE). Other applications for butene-1 include the production of polybutene-1, amyl alcohol and butylene oxide. In addition, several companies use butene-1 as a comonomer in the manufacture of specialty hot melt adhesives and amorphous polymeric modifiers for bitumen for use in the manufacture of single-ply roofing materials.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050

The World Analysis – Butylenes (data-only) provides a comprehensive analysis of critical market developments as they shape the future outlook for the global markets of contained isobutylene, contained normal butylenes, high-purity isobutylene, and butene-1.

The following reports, data files, analytical tools and visualization modules are available online and can be downloaded from our website:

• Direct Access to the Subject Matter Experts
• In-depth exploration of present market strategic insights, recognition of critical challenges, and presentation of our experts’ forecasts and analysis
• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodologies, unit and conversion factors, and World Analysis deliverables.
• Energy and Economy assumptions
• Price, cost, and margin base assumptions forecast and sensitivities analysis, including price assessment methodology and price definitions across all regions.
• Excel data files with standard supply/demand graphics and price forecasts extended to 2050, trade grids with country and regional trade flows Data appendix (Excel) with supply/demand, capacity and trade tables.
• An online dashboard visualization of capacity, supply/demand, trade grids, and price, cost and margin forecasts
• Supply/demand and capacity database access via data browser
• Data Appendix (Excel) with supply/demand and capacity tables
• Capacity by company/shareholder, capacity integration, top producer/consumer and surplus/deficit capacity ranking, and ownership/subsidiary information

In addition to the main products, contained isobutylene (CISB), contained normal butylenes (CNB), high purity isobutylene (HPIB), and butene-1 (BU1), capacity data are provided for the following products:

• Alkylation (ALK)
• 1,2-Butylene Oxide (BUTOX)
• Butadiene (BDE)
• Butyl Rubber (BUR)
• C4s Hydrogenation (C4H)
• Diisobutylene (DIB)
• Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE)
• Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC)
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Heptenes (HEP)

This World Analysis contains detailed information on capacities, production, demand, and trade for all significant producing and consuming countries and regions. Although data gathering is essential for understanding history and potential future trends, we believe that the interpretation and analysis of the data is the most valuable information to our clients.

Duration: Long-term outlook to 2050