US Apr year-to-date ABS imports dn 10% vs 2007

10 June 2008 19:20  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Imports of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) in the first four months of 2008 were 37,149 tonnes, or 10% lower than the same period a year before, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) said on Tuesday.

Imports in April were 8,148 tonnes, or 35% less than the 12,441 imported in the same month a year before and 25% less than the 10,921 tonnes imported in March 2008, the ITC said.

US ABS exports year to date through April 2008 were 34,525 tonnes, or 20% less than the 43,289 tonnes exported in the same period a year before.

ABS demand has been flat as the slump in the automobile and housing markets continued, market sources said. At the same time, producers raised prices twice during the quarter to counter higher production costs brought on by higher crude oil prices, industry sources said.

Prices for medium extrusion-grade ABS were assessed at $2,866-3,042/tonne (€1,834-1,947) bulk for the week ended 6 June, 4% higher than the $2,756-2,932/tonne at the end of April. according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

($1=€0.64)

For more information on ABS, visit ICIS chemical intelligence

 

By: Ben Lefebvre
+1 713 525 2653

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