European styrene butadiene rubber prices have continued to increase with rising feedstock costs and strong demand, according to market sources. The E-SBR 1502 and 1502 spot prices were assessed at Eur1,450/mt (about $1,792/mt), up Eur20/mt on the week, and up from Eur1,335/mt on February 23. Bullish butadiene prices have supported the price rise. The April [...]
US Gulf Coast LPG prices climbed Tuesday as the Mariner East 1 pipeline halted LPG flow to the water and Chevron Phillips Chemical started its new Baytown, Texas, ethane cracker. March non-LST ethane rose 75 points to 25.25 cents/gal, a high since February 1. Ethane prices had averaged 24.1 cents/gal in the last month. Propane [...]
The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum is unpopular with many industries,including the chemical sector. The U.S. industry’s leading trade group, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), is condemning the measure, saying it will hurt industry competitiveness. The ACC has asked Trump to reconsider the tariffs because they will drive up [...]
US disproportionation economics improved slightly on the week as MSTDP margins rose near $8 to near $35.80/mt Monday morning, according to S&P Global Platts estimates. MSTDP margins were at their highest point since February 8 as spot benzene prices posted gains with prompt pricing last assessed at 307 cents/gal DDP USG. Meanwhile, spot toluene prices [...]
China's independent refiner Hengli Petrochemical is in talks to secure crude shipments from Saudi Arabia for its trial run in October as it has applied for 20 million mt/year of quota for cracking imported crude oil, a company source said Thursday. "We plan to take Arab Medium crude and Arab Heavy crude for a trial [...]
Braskem America will seek a 3 cents/lb ($66/mt) increase in its polypropylene prices effective April 1, on top of any change in the monomer contract price for the month, the company said. "This increase will be on shipments made on or after April 1, 2018 and is in addition to any change in polymer grade [...]
LATIN POLYMERS: Buyers in Brazil enter March faced with stable domestic PE pricing for seemingly the first time this year following sharp increases in January and February, sources said, adding that PP pricing will increase Real 150/mt ($46/mt) this week for converters in Sao Paulo. Demand in Brazil is expected to be stable to stronger [...]
US PVC: Negotiations for March polyvinyl chloride export pricing wrapped up last week with offers falling $30/mt compared with initial nominations that met market pushback. Offers that ranged between $920 and $935/mt FAS Houston settled between $890 and $905/mt FAS Houston, with market participants terming deals above $900/mt FAS Houston as unworkable, although settlement at [...]
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 [...]
US OLEFINS: Spot ethylene pricing continues to fall, shedding 1.125 cents/lb last week. Sources say the decline is due to a combination of weak demand and healthy run rates at steam crackers. February US ethylene contract prices settled 2.75 cents/lb lower month on month at 30 cents/lb ($661/mt), sources said Friday. The settlement fell within [...]