February ABS exports down 30% yr-on-yr

10 April 2008 19:42  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Exports of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) in February were 8,887 tonnes, or 30% lower than the same month a year before, according to the US International Trade Commission (USITC) on Thursday.

Exports in the month were 10% less than the 9,870 tonnes exported in January. Year-to-date exports are down 19% from the 23,055 tonnes shipped during the same period of 2007.

Imports for February were 8,101 tonnes, 15% lower than the 9,574 tonnes received the same month a year before and 19% lower than the 9,980 tonnes imported in January. About 60% of imports came from Mexico and Taiwan.

Demand for ABS has remained essentially flat as slumps in its key automotive, housing and home appliance markets continue. Suppliers said they are confident the 5 cent/lb increase they nominated in March will be fully implemented, however, as supply has dropped since Dow Chemical left the non-automotive ABS market earlier this year.

Prices for medium-grade extrusion ABS were assessed at 120-128 cents/lb bulk on Friday, unchanged since the end of February, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

Major ABS suppliers include INEOS, SABIC, BASF and Dow Chemical.

For more on ABS visit ICIS chemical intelligence

For more about INEOS, SABIC, BASF and Dow Chemical visit ICIS company intelligence

By: Ben Lefebvre
+1 713 525 2653

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