German firm BASF has declared force majeure on US purified ethylene oxide ( PEO ) because of the shutdown of its ethylene oxide plant in Germany . The problems were caused by equipment failure and have led companies to place products that contain PEO , such as nonionic surfectants used in detergents , on sales allocation . The Geismar plant has an EO capacity of 220,000 tonnes/year. The Geismar plant has an ethylene oxide capacity of 220,000 tonnes a year . It is not known how long the shutdown will last .
German firm BASF has declared force majeure on US purified ethylene oxide ( PEO ) because of the shutdown of its ethylene oxide plant in Germany . The problems were caused by equipment failure and have led companies to place products that contain PEO , such as nonionic surfectants used in detergents , on sales allocation . The Geismar plant has an ethylene oxide capacity of 220,000 tonnes a year . It is not known how long the shutdown will last .