Petrochemical Industry Market Highlights

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Phthalates • Oxo Alcohols
(View a sample of the Phthalates • Oxo alcohols Chemical Business Focus)  
27 January 2012 Issue Number 361

• January phthalates pricing remains at roll-over in US
• European DOP prices improve with further February phthalates increases targeted
• Significant January price rises noted for DOP in China
• Both domestic and export 2-EH markets look up in US
• Similarly some January recovery in 2-eh demand noted in Europe
• Chinese pre-holiday 2-EH import prices increase to higher $1500’s/ton cfr

VCM & PVC
(View a sample of the VCM & PVC Chemical Business Focus)
26 January 2012 Issue Number 377

• Feedstocks
  The December contract ethylene price in the US settled at 54.75 c/lb, down by just 0.25 c/lb from the previous month.
• EDC
  There has been a surge in spot EDC export activity from the US in January, despite the continued rise in spot ethylene prices, with around 50,000 tons being booked during the month.
• VCM
  In the US, the revised VCM formula price assessment for November is 53.75 c/lb, and December’s assessment is a rollover.
• PVC
  There has been some encouragement in the November US housing stats. US suppliers are pressing for a succession of PVC price increases, with 3 c/lb nominated for January and 2 c/lb for February.
• Other News
  Tecnon OrbiChem would like to formally welcome a new member to our chlor-alkali and vinyls team.

PET Packaging Resin
(View a sample of the PET Packaging Resin Chemical Business Focus)
23 January 2012 Issue Number 183

• Strong start to 2012 for paraxylene producers in Asia and prices continue to rise
• Samsung Total to add 1 million ktpa PX capacity in South Korea by Q3 2014
• Asian PTA prices up on strong demand from downstream; margins turn positive
• MEGg prices retreat in January, but producers are seeking February increases
• Restocking boosts US PET sales volumes despite seasonal demand weakness
• European PET producers raise rates as weak currency deters Asian imports

Polyamide & Intermediates
(View a sample of the Polyamide & Intermediates Chemical Business Focus) 
23 January 2012 Issue Number 381

• US job creation continues to improve
• Tampa ammonia settled at $555/ton cfr, down $95/ton
• European benzene sees split settlement with huge increase on December
• Asian caprolactam prices rally in January after bottoming at end 2011
• Polyamide 6 filament volumes improve in asia
• US polyamide filament shipments suffer from destocking

Phenol • Acetone • Cumene
(View a sample of the Phenol • Acetone • Cumene Chemical Business Focus)
23 January 2012 Issue Number 205

• Phenol demand in USA, Europe and China picked up even with higher benzene costs
• Production in USA and Europe returned to almost full operating rates
• Phenol and acetone prices raised by over 20% globally on raw materials cost push
• Asian producers are still making losses and plants remained down or cut back
• Acetone demand in China was higher than expected and stocks fell
• BPA prices rebounded from December lows but still under-recover feedstock costs

Polyester & Intermediates
(View a sample of the Polyester & Intermediates Chemical Business Focus)
20 January 2012  Issue Number 381

• Paraxylene
  A much stronger paraxylene market has emerged in January, with sharp price increases in Asia.
• DMT/PTA
  Asian PtA producers have been able to recover some margin in January with rising prices and higher operating rates, but there is much uncertainty about the sustainability of this recovery.
• Monoethylene Glycol
  us benchmark prices for meg in January show a decrease of 3 c/lb ($66/ton), resulting in 58.0-59.0 c/lb fob ($1279-1301/ton).
• Polyester Fibre
  chinese polyester fibre markets remained good through mid-december, although the staple business began to cool as 2012 began.
• PET Packaging Resin
  Increasing prices have facilitated Pet resin restocking in much of the world leading to improved
  volumes and stronger utilisation rates.

Engineering Thermoplastics
(View a sample of the Engineering Thermoplastics Chemical Business Focus)
20 January 2012 Issue Number 042

• POLYAMIDE 6 & 66
  US polyamide polymer prices were under strong downward pressure again and shed another 2-3
  c/lb in December.
• POLYCARBONATE
  All three major polycarbonate resin suppliers in the US market are raising their prices, by up to 12 c/lb for Styron.
• POLYACETAL
  US polyacetal resin market demand was steady in December although most business sectors
  experienced some slower activity in the run-up to the end-year holiday period.
• PBT
  North American shipments of PBT and its compounds were seasonally slow in December, but in
  line with expectations.
• ABS & SAN
  AbS demand in the uS remained very weak throughout december as the desire to meet tight
  year-end stock targets kept buyers out of the market.

Unsaturated Polyester Resin
(View a sample of the Unsaturated Polyester Resin Chemical Business Focus)
20 January 2012 Issue Number 44

• Soaring UPR feedstock costs in the US prompt price increases
• European UPR demand remains weak; margins under pressure
• chinese UPR demand down, and operating rates cut further in January
• US maleic anhydride prices increase 4c/lb on higher n-butanes prices
• Drop in OX pricing brings relief for European phthalic anhydride buyers
• Asian styrene rises $100/ton from December to January on firmer benzene

Orthoxylene • Phthalic Anhydride
(View a sample of the OX•PA Chemical Business Focus)
18 January 2012 Issue Number 397

• US MX pricing continues to rise through December to January
• US January OX contract price settled at 62 c/lb, up 6 c/lb
• European January OX contract price settled at Euro960/ton
• US phthalic pricing takes a 4 c/lb orthoxylene-related drop
• Slight recovery in demand reported for phthalic anhydride in Europe
• Phthalic prices in China move up on tight availability

Ethylene Glycol
(View a sample of the Ethylene Glycol Chemical Business Focus)
17 January 2012 Issue Number 284

• Good EO demand in US and European markets on rising ethylene values
• EO plant problems encountered at BASf in USA and ineos in France
• EOa prices rolled over in uSa and started to ease up in Europe and China
• MEG demand slow in USA, very good in Europe and prices moving up
• Early MEG demand in China was good but dropped as the holidays approached
• The February ACP was announced up $30/ton to $1240/ton cfr

Maleic Anhydride • Acrylic Acid
(View a sample of the Maleic Anhydride • Acrylic Acid Chemical Business Focus)
17 January 2012 Issue Number 249

• US propylene contract prices drop 2c/lb for December and rollover for January 2012
• N-butanes prices in Europe rise over $100/ton in early January, after December fall
• January European increases Euro189/ton and Euro194/ton in rare split settlement
• US maleic anhydride prices increase 4c/lb on higher n-butanes prices
• Chinese maleic anhydride prices stagnant in pre-holiday demand lull
• European MMA prices touch bottom and stabilise in January

Soda • Chlorine
(View a sample of the Soda Chlorine Chemical Business Focus) 
16 January 2012  Issue Number 371

• Chlorine
  Chlorine demand remains weak, and the trend is expected to continue at least through the first
  quarter of 2012 and this will impact operating rates.
• Caustic Soda
  US sellers are continuing to make the case for higher pricing but buyers continue to want to at least maintain the status quo.
• Soda Ash
  US producers have been attempting to implement price increases in the market, and to some extent they have been successful.
• Chlorine Derivatives
  PVC markets around the world continue to show little improvement as we enter 2012.
• Other News
  Tecnon orbiChem would like to formally welcome a new member to our chlor-alkali and vinyls team.

Polyurethanes & Intermediates
(View a sample of the Polyurethanes & Intermediates Chemical Business Focus)
13 January 2012 Issue Number 194

• MDI
  North American demand for MDI was slow to start, as the construction industry is in its slow season.
• TDI
  TDI demand in the US was lacklustre in early January, although there was some restocking in
  evidence.
• Propylene Oxide
  Propylene oxide demand in the US was steady in January, although the market was quiet overall.
• 1,4 Butanediol
  Contractual discussions in the North American and European markets were in the early stages,
  but the consensus was that pricing was likely to drop in the first quarter.
• Adipic Acid
  US adipic acid prices were softer in December, losing around 4c/lb, and poor demand led producers to turn down operating rates in line with market conditions. The
• Polyols
  Polyether polyol pricing in the US was reasonably stable in January, although polyester polyols
  came under downward pressure from falling feedstock prices in late 2011.

Acrylonitrile • Acrylic Fibre
(View a sample of the Acrylonitrile • Acrylic Fibre Chemical Business Focus)
13 January 2012 Issue Number 381

• US job creation continues to improve
• US contract propylene rolls over into January; European increases slightly
• Tampa ammonia settled at $555/ton cfr, down $95/ton from December
• Acrylonitrile supply tightens globally as downstream markets show strong growth
• Ooverall 2011 rated as good by ABS producers in terms of profitability
• Spinners’ acrylic fibre inventory replenishment continues in China

Synthetic Fibres
(View a sample of the Synthetic Fibres Chemical Business Focus)
13 January 2012 Issue Number 329

• US job creation improves
• Spinners’ acrylic fibre inventory replenishment continues in China
• Polyamide 6 filament volumes improve in Asia
• US polyamide filament shipments suffer from destocking
• European polyester volumes seasonally weak
• Asian polypropylene fibre shipments and prices fall

Methanol
(View a sample of the Methanol Chemical Business Focus)
13 January 2012 Issue Number 369

• January US monthly contract prices ease lower to 134-135 c/gal
• Europe methanol contract settled at Eeuro320/ton for Q1 2012
• January APC set at $440/ton, down $30/ton from December 2011
• China spot prices show moderate increase during early January
• China methanol imports on pace to exceed 5.5 million tons in 2011
• EC terminates VAaM anti-dumping proceedings against producers

Acetic Acid • Vinyl Acetate
(View a sample of the Acetic Acid • VAM Chemical Business Focus)
11 January 2012 Issue Number 292

• Europe Q4 2011 acetic acid contract price decreases Euro70/ton
• China acetic acid producers cut rates in december on weak demand
• US VAM export prices down $50/ton for January 2012 shipments
• Europe Q1 2012 methanol contract price settled at Euro320/ton
• US, Asia methanol contract prices edge lower in January 2012
• Higher ethylene prices squeeze VAM margins in Q1 2012