US aromatics see thin reaction to China’s quake

13 May 2008 19:19  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US aromatics markets had little to no reaction to the earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province, trade participants said on Tuesday.

May benzene spot levels were at $4.10-4.13/gal ($1,230-1,239/tonne) FOB (free on board) HTC (Houston-Texas City) early Tuesday, traders said. The range was tighter compared with $4.10-4.14/gal FOB HTC on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, May n-grade toluene spot levels held at Monday’s range of $3.69-3.73/gal FOB HTC.

For mixed xylene (MX), spot levels were said to be at $3.68-3.75/gal FOB HTC early Tuesday, a wider range from $3.69-3.73/gal FOB HTC on Monday.

“The only impact [to aromatics] I see is coming from crude and gasoline,” said a Houston-based benzene trader.

The earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province has severely disrupted chemicals production and transport links in the region, producers and traders in Asia said on Tuesday.

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By: Brian Balboa
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