Kraton lifts force majeure on tall oil lines

Houston, Texas – Kraton Corp. has lifted its force majeure declaration for North American Tall Oil Fatty Acid (FA-2) and Distilled Tall Oil product lines.

The change, effective 17 Dec 2018, came based on restoration of operations for Kraton's crude tall oil refinery at Panama City, Florida, according to a Kraton news release. The materials firm declared force majeure on 17 Oct as a direct result of the effects of Hurricane Michael on its Panama City facility.

The company's crude sulphate turpentine refinery was expected to be operating at 60% capacity at the end of December, and Kraton is planning for full operational capacity to be restored by the middle of the first quarter of 2019. At that point, the company expects the refinery to ramp up to pre-hurricane supply rates, Kraton said.

Kraton is a producer of styrenic block copolymers, speciality polymers and performance products derived from renewable resources. The products are used in a wide range of applications including adhesives, sealants and lubricants, medical and automotive. It sells to customers in more than 70 countries.