Petrochemicals: MEG, PTA, BTX, Styrene, Acetic Acid, MTBE & Acetone

Petrochemical intermediates are bought against a standard and a certificate: fibre-grade MEG and ASTM E1119, PTA on 4-CBA and b-colour, refined benzene to ASTM D2359, nitration-grade toluene to ASTM D841, xylenes to ASTM D5211, styrene monomer to ASTM D2827 with TBC inhibitor, and glacial acetic acid to ASTM D3620. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers MEG (HS 2905.31), PTA (HS 2917.36), BTX (HS 2902.20, 2902.30, 2902.41-44), styrene monomer (HS 2902.50), glacial acetic acid and VAM (HS 2915.21 and 2915.32) and MTBE and acetone (HS 2909.19 and 2914.11) from producers' offtake and trader parcels against the producer's certificate of analysis, SGS or Intertek inspection at load, safety data sheets, certificates of origin and REACH registration confirmation for EU imports. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations put HS 2902.43 paraxylene at about USD 13.06 billion, led by Korea at USD 4.67 billion; HS 2917.36 PTA at about USD 8.19 billion, led by China at USD 3.18 billion; HS 2902.50 styrene at about USD 7.89 billion, led by the USA at USD 1.70 billion; and HS 2905.31 MEG at about USD 7.43 billion, led by Saudi Arabia at USD 2.78 billion.

Liquids move in chemical-tanker parcels under the IBC Code, in 20-24 MT ISO tanks and in drums; PTA moves as powder in jumbo bags in containers. Most products are UN Class 3 flammable liquids and glacial acetic acid is Class 8, so ISO tank and drum lots carry dangerous goods documentation, and toluene and acetone carry precursor import documents where the destination requires them. Pricing is per MT on contract or spot basis against ICIS, Platts and Argus assessments and producers' monthly contract prices. Send the product, grade, volume, delivery form and discharge port.