Polyol prices weaken on soft demand, competition

06 May 2009 22:10  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US polyol prices fell slightly in May as producers jockeyed for market share and domestic demand remained weak, buyers and sellers said on Wednesday.

While there was no widespread campaign to lower prices, sources said that flexible polyol and polyester polyol values had declined in May.

 There has been "some softening, but no across-the-board decreases”, a producer said.

Some market participants said demand might pick up as some segments of the construction industry have improved over the last few weeks.

The March pace of non-residential construction spending - including both government and private sector building - was 1.7% ahead of the same month in 2008, the US Commerce Department said.

US flexible polyol bulk transaction prices were assessed at 90-98 cents/lb ($1,984-2,161/tonne or €1,488-1,621/tonne) FOB (free on board) US Gulf, according to data from global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

Major polyol producers include Dow Chemical, LyondellBasell, BASF, Bayer, Huntsman, and Shell.

($1 = €0.75)

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By: Leela Landress
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