Ethylene begins vigorous recovery: Producers see output gains continuing through rest of year, are predicting production will put strain on capacity by 1976

Optimism returns to the ethylene producers' camp. Production of ethylene went up almost 9% in June over what must have been the low point in May. Several officials of companies concerned with ethylene production and with derivatives manufacture say that gains are expected to continue through the rest of 1975. By December, they add, monthly production again could top 2 billion lb, a record set in 1974. Few ethylene producers seem willing to contest a common production estimate of nearly 20 billion lb for 1975. Admittedly this figure calls for a 15% drop for 1975 production from 1974. It is, however, a much better showing than was expected in the spring, when talk ran of a 17 billion to 18 billion lb figure for the year. Few producers also contest a continuing gain in 1976. Production in 1976 probably will top 25 billion lb to put a strain on capacity again. One producer points out ...