據化工網4月9日消息：美國國際貿易委員會(US International Trade Commission)的數據顯示，今年2月美國甲醇進口環比下降18.5%，此前該月下旬的嚴重凍結導致美國墨西哥灣沿岸幾個地區港口臨時關閉。

除了2月底的港口關閉之外，美國天然氣市場還出現了醋酸和甲基叔丁基醚等衍生產品生產設施的關閉，導致甲醇需求大幅下降。嚴重冰凍造成的大面積破壞導致一些設施在3月份仍處于離線狀態，導致該期間需求下降。根據ITC數據，美國2月份進口了8085萬加侖甲醇，而1月份為9925萬加侖。

特立尼達和多巴哥2月份向美國輸送的甲醇量最高，為5149萬加侖，環比減少105萬加侖。赤道幾內亞2月份向美國輸送的甲醇量位居第二，為932萬加侖，同比下降504萬加侖。

其他顯著下降的還有來自荷蘭的進口，荷蘭2月份沒有向美國輸送任何數量，而1月為644萬加侖；俄羅斯2月份的進口量從1月份的565萬加侖降至零；而沙特阿拉伯2月份進口量也從1月的477萬加侖降至零。

與此同時，國內甲醇生產基地與凍結相關的設施中斷和港口關閉導致美國出口環比下降。根據美國ITC數據，2月份美國出口了5104萬加侖甲醇，而1月份為8172萬。

出口降幅最大的是亞洲，2月份美國出口總量下降2585萬加侖，至2642萬加侖。美國對西北歐的出口也大幅下降，2月份下降746萬加侖，至1959萬加侖。

馮娟 摘譯自 化工網

原文如下：

US February methanol imports fall 18.5% as severe freeze crimps demand

Methanol imports into the US decreased 18.5% month on month in February 2021, data from the US International Trade Commission showed, following a deep freeze late in the month that led to the temporary closure of several regional ports on the US Gulf Coast.

In addition to port closures in late February, the USG market also saw several production facility closures of derivative products like acetic acid and MTBE that sent demand for methanol plummeting. Widespread damage from the severe freeze caused some facilities to remain offline well into March, contributing to lower demand during that time frame.The US imported 80.85 million gallons of methanol in February, compared with 99.25 million gallons in January, according to ITC data.

Trinidad and Tobago send the highest volume of methanol to the US in February, with the US taking in 51.49 million gallons, representing a decrease of 1.05 million gallons on the month. Equatorial Guinea sent the second-highest volume of methanol to the US in February, with 9.32 million gallons, also representing a decline month on month of 5.04 million gallons.

Other notable declines were seen from imports originating in the Netherlands, which did not send any volume to the US in February from a level of 6.44 million gallons in January; Russia, with imports also dropping to zero in February from 5.65 million gallons in January; and Saudi Arabia, with imports falling to zero in February from 4.77 million gallons in January.

At the same time, freeze-related facility outages at domestic methanol production sites and port closures contributed to lower month-on-month exports from the US. In February, the US exported 51.04 million gallons of methanol, versus 81.72 million gallons in January, according to US ITC data.

The largest drop in exports was to Asia, with total volumes sent from the US declining by 25.85 million gallons on the month to 26.42 million gallons in February. Exports to Northwest Europe from the US also declined by a significant amount on the month, falling by 7.46 million gallons to 19.59 million gallons in February.