FocusChina domestic LLDPE spikes on flurry of arbitrage trades

30 July 2010 11:03  [Source: ICIS news]

By Rainy Ma

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot prices of linear low polyethylene (LLDPE) in China’s domestic market jumped by as much as CNY1,000/tonne ($147.5/tonne) or 8% in two weeks, snapping three months of declines as importers took advantage of an open arbitrage window, traders said on Friday.

The price spike, however, maybe short-lived since China remained saddled with oversupply, while demand had remained lacklustre, they said.

Current import prices of LLDPE into China were below domestic prices, with traders accumulating cargoes that they intend to re-sell in the futures market for good profits, market sources said.

Producers in Asia and the Middle East usually jump on the chance to sell the material into China whenever the arbitrage window is open, they said.

In east China, imported cargoes changed hands this week in the $1,020-1,120/tonne (€775.2-851.2/tonne) CFR (cost and freight) CMP (China Main Port) range, which works out to Y8,609-9,642/tonne after taking into account tariffs and the applicable exchange rates, market players said.

Chinese domestic spot LLDPE prices, meanwhile, were at CNY9,300-9,800/tonne ex-warehouse (EXWH) on Thursday, according to market players, as major producers Sinopec and PetroChina raised their spot LLDPE ex-works prices from CNY8,800/tonne to 9,600/tonne in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, LLDPE futures contracts traded on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) had been rising since July, in line with strong crude prices. September LLDPE contracts were trading at CNY9,800/tonne on Thursday, while October contracts were pegged at CNY10,300/tonne.

But the general uptrend in spot prices may not last long given strong supply from the 600,000 tonne/year plant of Sinopec Zhenhai Refinery Tianjin Petrochemical and the 450,000 tonne/year facility of Sinopec Tianjin Petrochemical Co, market sources said.

Some downstream buyers, concerned that a continued price uptrend may ensue, had started procuring cargoes and may have built enough inventories in the past two weeks, they said.

“Offers are higher this week, but not many buyers were willing to buy at those prices as some still perceive the demand as slow," said a key importer in China.

“It’s hard for the price hike to continue, since the supply surplus needs to be digested. The ample supply would stress the market throughout the second half of the year,” a Shanghai-based trader said in Mandarin.

“The rapid increase in prices halted on Thursday, indicating weak demand support,” he added.

Source: ICIS

With additional reporting by Ong Sheau Ling

($1 = €0.76 / $1 = CNY6.78)

For more on polyethylene, visit ICIS chemical intelligence
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry, go to ICIS connect
Read John Richardson and Malini Hariharan’s Asian Chemical Connections blog

By: Rainy Ma
+65 6780 4359

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly