http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/10/diaper-shortag...

A fire in Japan is likely to squeeze acrylic acid and super slurper containing products like diapers for the next months.

Acrylic acid is a natural gas derivative, probably made from propylene. Given the price of natural gas in Japan ($17/mbut vs $2.50-3 in the US), you would think product made in Japan would supply only Asia, and substantial amounts probably already come from the US or North America.

Most industrial customers buy under contract. Hence, this incident will probably firm up the spot market as users arrange alternative sources of supply. That could mean good prices and extra profits for producers. (But most are large integrated companies with many other operations. No pure plays.)

BASF and Celanese come to mind as likely beneficiaries.