US AROMATICS: After mixed xylene prices shed roughly 34 cents last week to close Friday at 256 cents/gal FOB USG, players are bracing for further declines tied to steady derivative demand being met with greater supply this month, sources said. Blend values are likely to set the floor, however, and the MX blend value finished Friday near 228 cents/gal. The MX-reformate spread narrowed week on week and finished Friday near 36 cents/gal. Spot toluene also moved fell last week, although to a lesser extent. Prompt spot toluene fell 11 cents week on week and closed Friday at 273 cents/gal FOB USG. Demand was muted as disproportionation economics were poor, but spot benzene prices are expected to remain firm as derivative styrene units restart and this was expected to bolster margins. MSTDP margins finished the week positive near $20/mt, but TDP margins fell sharply on pressure from the MX price weakness and closed Friday near minus $42/mt. Toluene’s blend value held only a 4.5-cent premium to reformate, while the spot price held a near 53-cent premium to the spot reformate price.