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It is reported that a massive fire ripped through a warehouse in Durban City, South Africa on 25 March 2017, where most of Sasol Petrochemical inventories are stored. It took the local fire department up to two days to cast out the fire, and as a result Sasol has lost all of its export stocks of PP, LDPE and LLDPE.

In a letter to its customers, the company informed that all deliveries for March and April are affected, including those to Europe. The delay of PP shipments might be at least 8 to 12 weeks while the company is still examine the effect on export PE cargoes.

Several traders in Asia have reported healthy PP sales to Africa and Europe this week as supply in these market is tightening and the condition might persist in the near term. The implication on Asia market is that international suppliers might prefer to direct their cargoes to the West where profit margins are healthier.