Chemicals, Olefins
May 18, 2026
Europe's olefins supply to rise in near term as steam crackers restart early
Editor:
HIGHLIGHTS
European steam crackers restart earlier than planned
Propylene supply tightness eases through summer
Butadiene prices fall as availability improves
European light olefins supply is expected to increase from May to June as multiple facilities across key locations restart.
Some facilities are returning to operation earlier than originally expected. Spanish energy and petrochemicals company Repsol is likely to resume operations at its Sines steam cracker and downstream butadiene extraction unit in Portugal, five sources told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, May 14. The unit has been offline since 2023.
Recent olefins production updates:
| Producer | Location | Nature of restart | Restart date | Facility | Capacity (mt/year) |
| Repsol | Sines, Portugal | Restart of idled steam cracker | May-June 2026 | Steam cracker, butadiene unit | C2 400,000; C3 215,000; BD 50,000 |
| Sabic | Geleen, Netherlands | Restart from turnaround | May 15 (steam cracker); May 15-18 (butadiene unit) | Steam cracker, butadiene unit | C2 675,000; C3 485,000; BD 130,000 |
| Shell | Moerdijk, Netherlands | Restart from turnaround | end-May 2026 | Steam cracker, butadiene unit | C2 910,000; C3 510,000; BD 115,000 |
| BASF | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Restart from turnaround | mid-June 2026 | Steam cracker, butadiene unit | C2 620,000; C3 340,000; BD 105,000 |
Source: Platts, part of S&P Global Energy
Shell is expected to resume operations at its steam cracker in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, by the end of May following a turnaround, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Platts May 14. The potential return of Shell's facility by the end of May surprised some market participants, as the turnaround, which began in March, was initially expected to last until mid-June as part of a 12-week cycle.
SABIC's steam cracker should have restarted May 15 and its butadiene extraction unit between May 15 and May 18 in Geleen, the Netherlands, following the expected completion of a turnaround that lasted about nine weeks, a source familiar with the matter told Platts May 8.
BASF's steam cracker and butadiene extraction unit in Ludwigshafen, Germany, are also expected to return from turnaround in mid-June, along with butadiene consumer Butachimie.
Ethylene availability is also supported by incoming imports. Market participants observed an easing of market tightness as the arrival of US import cargoes increased domestic supply for June.
Although the propylene market has seen tighter supply than ethylene, participants anticipate that the return of cracking capacity will ease tightness in propylene over the summer. However, a limiting factor would be the extent to which domestic downstream polypropylene producers seek to ramp up capacity to offset reduced PP import volumes from the Middle East and Asia.
"The market is softening," said a propylene consumer. "We see June nominations coming up and they are decreasing compared to last month."
Platts assessed the polymer-grade propylene FD Northwest Europe spot price at Eur1,641.50/metric ton May 15, down Eur106/mt week over week
In C4 olefins, participants also expected improving availability for June ahead of monthly contract price discussions this week. Platts assessed FD NW Europe spot butadiene at Eur1,365/mt May 15, down Eur10/mt week over week and at a 0.7% discount to the May CP of Eur1,375/mt.
