Understanding the petrochemical cycle: Part 1

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States)

OSTI ID:7271241

Sedriks, W ^[1]

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1. SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Fitness in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) arena involves understanding and coping with business cycles: supply and demand. This becomes increasingly more important as the industry globalizes and matures. Competitive-edge thinking needs to look hard at the forces that influence business cycles. Recognition of potential pitfalls is very important when considering: future capacity expansion, mergers and acquisitions, market departure, plant closure, potential product substitution, etc. Understanding pricing mechanisms and the workings of hockey-stick profitability profiles help HPI operators endure cycle downturns and prepare plants to maximize profits for the next upswing. The paper discusses characteristic trends, cycles in the hydrocarbon processing industry, current conditions, and mitigating cycle effects.

• OSTI ID: 7271241
• Journal Information: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States), Vol. 73:3; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
PETROCHEMICALS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
ECONOMICS
CAPACITY
ETHYLENE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
PETROLEUM
PLANNING
PRICES
ALKENES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
020700* - Petroleum- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
020500 - Petroleum- Products & By-Products