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Chlorobenzenes
*Millions
of pounds per year. US commercial production is by direct chlorination of
benzene, primarily to manufacture monochlorobenzene, with ortho- and para-
dichlorobenzenes as coproducts. Metadichlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene are
also produced, but are not commercially important chlorobenzenes. In
1998 Charter Oak Capital Partners acquired Standard Chlorine Chemical with its
chlorobenzene facility in New Castle, Del. The business was renamed Metachem
Products, but after loosing a key customer (Memphis, Tenn.-based Cedar Chemical
Corp. who ceased operations earlier that same year), the facility was closed in
May 2002. The closure eliminated 150 million pounds of monochlorobenzene, 50
million pounds of orthodichlorobenzene and 75 million pounds of
paradichlorobenzene annual capacities. Profile
last published: monochlorobenzene, 5/17/99; orthodichlorobenzene, 9/9/96;
paradichlorobenzene, 6/7/99; this revision, 4/5/04. DEMAND Monochlorobenzene
- 2002: 116 million pounds; 2003: 119 million pounds; 2007: 130 million pounds,
projected. Demand equals production plus imports (2002: neg.; 2003: neg.) less
exports (2002: 3.5 million pounds; 2003: 1.5 million pounds). Orthodichlorobenzene
- 2002: 4 million pounds; 2003: 3 million pounds; 2007: 3 million pounds,
projected. Demand equals production plus imports (2002: 0.7 million pounds;
2003: 0.9 million pounds) less exports (2002: 19 million pounds; 2003: 18
million pounds). Paradichlorobenzene
- 2002: 66 million pounds; 2003: 68 million pounds; 2007: 82 million pounds,
projected. Demand equals production plus imports (2002: 10 million pounds; 2003:
20 million pounds) less exports (2002: 12 million pounds; 2003: 11 million
pounds). GROWTH Monochlorobenzene
- Historical (1998 - 2003): -3.3 (negative) percent per year; future: 2.5
percent per year through 2007. Orthodichlorobenzene
- Historical (1998 - 2003): -30 (negative) percent per year; future: 0 percent
per year through 2007. Paradichlorobenzene
- Historical (1998 - 2003): -1.7 (negative) percent per year; future: 5 percent
per year through 2007. PRICE Monochlorobenzene
- Historical (1998 - 2003): High, 63 ˘ per pound, tanks, f.o.b.; low, 55 ˘ per
pound, same basis. Current: 63 ˘ per pound, same basis. Orthodichlorobenzene
- Historical (1998 - 2003): High, 68 ˘ per pound, tanks, f.o.b.; low, 67 ˘ per
pound, same basis. Current: 68 ˘ per pound, same basis. Paradichlorobenzene
- Historical (1998 - 2003): High, 69 ˘ per pound, tanks, f.o.b.; low, 61 ˘ per
pound, same basis. Current: 69 ˘ per pound, same basis. USES Monochlorobenzene:
Nitrochlorobenzenes, 48 percent; polysulfone polymers, 26 percent; solvents in
various formulations and for processing isocyanates, 6 percent; miscellaneous,
20 percent. Orthodichlorobenzene:
Miscellaneous solvent uses (paint removers, engine cleaners and deinking
solvents), 67 percent; toluene diisocyanate process solvent, 33 percent. Paradichlorobenzene:
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin, 52 percent: room deodorants, 22 percent; moth
control, 15 percent: miscellaneous, including dye and pesticide intermediate
uses, 11 percent. STRENGTH Monochlorobenzene
is a starting material for the manufacture of sulfone polymers. Three members of
the sulfone polymer family are commercially available; they are commonly termed
polysulfone (PSO), polyethersulfone (PES) and polyphenylsulfone (PPSO).
Approximately 28 million pounds of monochlorobenzene were consumed for sulfone
polymers in 2003. Sulfone polymers are resistant to degradation by moisture and
exhibit excellent dimensional stability and dielectric properties. Major
applications are in electrical/electronic components, transportation, medical
equipment, food processing and handling equipment and industrial parts. U.S.
consumption is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 6 percent from
2003 through 2007. The
largest market segment and growth opportunity for paradichlorobenzene is the
production of polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), an engineering plastic.
Domestic consumption of paradichlorobenzene for PPS was estimated at 34 million
pounds in 2003. PPS is consumed primarily in electrical and electronics
applications for its useful insulating and dielectric properties. It also
exhibits excellent chemical and heat resistance. PPS also has applications for
mechanical/industrial and automotive parts by replacing fabricated metal parts.
Growth is projected at 8 percent per year through 2007. WEAKNESS The
largest use for monochlorobenzene, accounting for about half of its consumption,
is for the production of nitrochlorobenzenes. Nitrochlorobenzenes are versatile
intermediates for a wide range of chemical products. Unfortunately these
derivatives are all mature. The segment has declined significantly since the
early 1990s, but now seems stable, but with essentially a zero growth prospect. Orthodichlorobenzene
demand has been declining in recent years. The major use of orthodichlorobenzene
was the synthesis of 3,4-dichloroaniline, from which a variety of herbicides
were derived. Essentially no orthodichlorobenzene was consumed in the production
of 3,4-dichloroaniline in 2003, down from 16 million pounds in 1998. Cedar
Chemical was the only domestic producer after DuPont ceased production of
3,4-dichloroaniline in 1994. Since 2002 when Cedar Chemical ceased operations,
the US market has been served by imported 3,4-dichloroaniline derived
herbicides. Much of this imported material is produced with US exported
orthodichlorobenzene. Exports of orthodichlorobenzene last year were 18 million
pounds. OUTLOOK With
Metachem Products’ exit of the chlorobenzene business in 2002, eliminating 75
million pounds or nearly 50 percent of the industry’s capacity for
paradichlorobenzene, this substance will probably be in tight supply before the
end of 2007. Supply of monochloro- and orthodichlorobenzene will be more than
adequate to meet future demand growth. Demand growth for monochloro- and
paradichlorobenzene will be driven principally by sulfone and sulfide polymers,
respectively. Aggregate annual demand growth for the forecast period is
estimated to be 2.5 percent, monochlorobenzene; 0 percent, orthodichlorobenzene;
and 5 percent, paradichlorobenzene. HISTORICAL DATA
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