Propylene: tight supply through 1975 Larger chemical use, less gain in output than expected to keep pressure on supplies Propylene will continue in tight supply through 1975, dashing hopes of some major users of propylene for relief in the early 1970's. The major reasons for no letup in the pressure on propylene supplies are greater growth rates for use in chemicals and less gain in output from ethylene manufacture than expected. Current forecasts have chemical demand for propylene reaching more than 13 billion pounds in 1975, more than double the amount consumed in making chemicals in 1968. Through 1970, the growth rate of chemical demand for propylene will be 11.5% per year, according to a new survey of the propylene supply-demand situation by Nelson E. Ockerbloom and Dr. Arthur M. Brownstein of Sun Oil. Between 1970 and 1975, though, the growth rate for propylene going into chemicals will slow to around 7.5% per year, Mr. Ockerbloom told the Southwest Chemical Association. Some of the propylene used in making chemicals will be consumed in refineries, Mr. Ockerbloom points out. For example, in 1968 300 million pounds of propylene was used in refinery units to make heptenes, nonenes, and dodecene. By 1975, these
Sun Oil's Ockerbloom Chemical demand will slow after 1970
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