US aromatics fall despite higher crude, gasoline

14 April 2008 23:16  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US aromatics spot prices moved lower on Monday despite record high settlements seen in the NYMEX crude and gasoline sectors.

Trade sources attributed the decline in aromatics prices to weak demand and weak blend values during the day. That is a sharp contrast to last week, when rising aromatics prices were said to be driven by energy values.

April benzene spot prices were assessed at $3.79-3.81/gal ($1,137-1,143/tonne or €728-732/tonne) FOB (free on board) HTC (Houston-Texas City) in the afternoon, traders said. The range was down from $3.84-3.86/gal FOB HTC on Friday,

April and May n-grade toluene spot prices were said to be at parity in the afternoon at $3.28-3.32/gal FOB HTC. April n-grade prices were higher at $3.30-3.35/gal FOB HTC on Friday.

For April mixed xylene (MX), spot players called prices at $3.30-3.35/gal FOB HTC during the day, down from $3.37-3.42/gal FOB HTC on Friday.

($1 = €0.64)

For more on aromatics visit ICIS Chemical Intelligence

By: Brian Balboa
+1 713 525 2653

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