Lyondellbasell Industries N V 's Suppliers Performance

Raw material cost is the largest component of the total cost for the production of ethylene and its co-products. The primary raw materials used are heavy liquids and domestically sourced and currently cost advantaged natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) mainly from regional producers via a mix of contractual and spot arrangements. Heavy liquids include crude oil-based naphtha and gas oil, as well as condensate, a very light crude oil resulting from natural gas production (collectively referred to as “heavy liquids”). NGLs include ethane, propane and butane. The use of heavy liquid raw materials results in the production of a significant amount of co-products such as propylene, butadiene and benzene, as well as gasoline blending components, while the use of NGLs results in the production of a smaller amount of co-products.

Historically, facilities using heavy liquids as feedstock have generated higher margins than those using ethane. However, in recent years ethane has had a cost advantage over heavy liquids due to the recent technological advances for extracting shale gas. A plant’s flexibility to consume a wide range of raw materials generally will provide an advantage over plants that are restricted in their processing capabilities. We can process significant quantities of either heavy liquids or NGLs. We estimate that in the U.S. we can process up to 85% NGLs. Changes in the raw material feedstock utilized in the production process will result in variances in production capacities among products. We believe our raw material flexibility in the U.S. is a key advantage in our production of ethylene and its co-products over time.

In North America, we also purchase large amounts of natural gas to be used primarily as an energy source in our business via market-based contractual arrangements from numerous suppliers.

Raw material cost is the largest component of the total cost for the production of ethylene and its co-products. The primary raw materials used in our European olefin facilities are heavy liquids and, for our Saudi joint venture facilities, locally sourced and cost advantaged NGLs, including ethane, propane and butane. The principal raw materials used by our polyolefin and Catalloy process resin businesses are propylene and ethylene. In Europe, we have the capacity to produce approximately 50% of the propylene requirements of our European PP business and approximately 90% of the ethylene requirements of our European PE business. Propylene and ethylene requirements that are not produced internally generally are acquired via spot purchases or pursuant to long-term contracts with third-party suppliers.
Our PP compounding facilities generally receive their PP and other polymers from one of our wholly owned or joint venture facilities. PB-1 raw materials are sourced solely from external supply. Some of our joint ventures receive propylene and ethylene from their local shareholders under long-term contracts.

The primary raw materials used for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives are propylene, isobutane, mixed butane, ethylene and benzene. The market prices of these raw materials historically have been related to the price of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, as well as supply and demand for the raw materials.
In the U.S., we obtain a large portion of our propylene, benzene and ethylene raw materials needed for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives internally from our O&P–Americas segment. Raw materials for the non-U.S. production of PO and its co-products and derivatives are obtained internally and also from third parties. We consume a significant portion of our internally-produced PO in the production of PO derivatives.

The cost of raw materials generally is the largest component of total production cost for PO and its co-products and derivatives. The raw material requirements for these businesses are purchased at market-based prices from numerous suppliers in the U.S. and Europe with which we have established contractual relationships, as well as in the spot market.
We purchase our ethanol requirements for the production of ETBE from third parties; the methanol for our MTBE production comes from internal production and third parties. The primary raw materials required for the production of acetic acid are carbon monoxide and methanol. We purchase carbon monoxide pursuant to a long-term contract under which pricing is based primarily on the cost of production. All methanol required for acetyls production is internally sourced. Natural gas is the primary raw material required for the production of methanol.

In addition to ethylene, acetic acid is a primary raw material for the production of VAM. For the production of VAM, we obtain our entire requirements for acetic acid and ethylene from our internal production. Historically we have used a large percentage of our acetic acid production to produce VAM.

We purchase the crude oil used as a raw material for the Houston refinery on the open market on a spot basis and under a number of supply agreements with regional producers.

Raw material cost is the largest component of the total cost for the production of ethylene and its co-products. The primary raw materials used are heavy liquids and domestically sourced and currently cost advantaged natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) mainly from regional producers via a mix of contractual and spot arrangements. Heavy liquids include crude oil-based naphtha and gas oil, as well as condensate, a very light crude oil resulting from natural gas production (collectively referred to as “heavy liquids”). NGLs include ethane, propane and butane. The use of heavy liquid raw materials results in the production of a significant amount of co-products such as propylene, butadiene and benzene, as well as gasoline blending components, while the use of NGLs results in the production of a smaller amount of co-products.

Historically, facilities using heavy liquids as feedstock have generated higher margins than those using ethane. However, in recent years ethane has had a cost advantage over heavy liquids due to the recent technological advances for extracting shale gas. A plant’s flexibility to consume a wide range of raw materials generally will provide an advantage over plants that are restricted in their processing capabilities. We can process significant quantities of either heavy liquids or NGLs. We estimate that in the U.S. we can process up to 85% NGLs. Changes in the raw material feedstock utilized in the production process will result in variances in production capacities among products. We believe our raw material flexibility in the U.S. is a key advantage in our production of ethylene and its co-products over time.

In North America, we also purchase large amounts of natural gas to be used primarily as an energy source in our business via market-based contractual arrangements from numerous suppliers.

Raw material cost is the largest component of the total cost for the production of ethylene and its co-products. The primary raw materials used in our European olefin facilities are heavy liquids and, for our Saudi joint venture facilities, locally sourced and cost advantaged NGLs, including ethane, propane and butane. The principal raw materials used by our polyolefin and Catalloy process resin businesses are propylene and ethylene. In Europe, we have the capacity to produce approximately 50% of the propylene requirements of our European PP business and approximately 90% of the ethylene requirements of our European PE business. Propylene and ethylene requirements that are not produced internally generally are acquired via spot purchases or pursuant to long-term contracts with third-party suppliers.
Our PP compounding facilities generally receive their PP and other polymers from one of our wholly owned or joint venture facilities. PB-1 raw materials are sourced solely from external supply. Some of our joint ventures receive propylene and ethylene from their local shareholders under long-term contracts.

The primary raw materials used for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives are propylene, isobutane, mixed butane, ethylene and benzene. The market prices of these raw materials historically have been related to the price of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, as well as supply and demand for the raw materials.
In the U.S., we obtain a large portion of our propylene, benzene and ethylene raw materials needed for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives internally from our O&P–Americas segment. Raw materials for the non-U.S. production of PO and its co-products and derivatives are obtained internally and also from third parties. We consume a significant portion of our internally-produced PO in the production of PO derivatives.

The cost of raw materials generally is the largest component of total production cost for PO and its co-products and derivatives. The raw material requirements for these businesses are purchased at market-based prices from numerous suppliers in the U.S. and Europe with which we have established contractual relationships, as well as in the spot market.
We purchase our ethanol requirements for the production of ETBE from third parties; the methanol for our MTBE production comes from internal production and third parties. The primary raw materials required for the production of acetic acid are carbon monoxide and methanol. We purchase carbon monoxide pursuant to a long-term contract under which pricing is based primarily on the cost of production. All methanol required for acetyls production is internally sourced. Natural gas is the primary raw material required for the production of methanol.

In addition to ethylene, acetic acid is a primary raw material for the production of VAM. For the production of VAM, we obtain our entire requirements for acetic acid and ethylene from our internal production. Historically we have used a large percentage of our acetic acid production to produce VAM.

We purchase the crude oil used as a raw material for the Houston refinery on the open market on a spot basis and under a number of supply agreements with regional producers.