China’s benzene imports surge in December on lower prices

31 January 2012 08:27  [Source: ICIS news]

SHANGHAI (ICIS)--China’s petrochemical imports in December showed a balanced picture with import volumes rising for some products and decreasing for others with benzene surging threefold, according to data from China Customs on Tuesday.

Benzene import volume rose more than three times in December year on year to 50,955 tonnes, according to the data.

“A lot of benzene traders ordered import contracts earlier in November on lower Asian prices. Now the cargoes have mostly arrived,” an industry source in the benzene market said.

Ethylene imports were at 105,536 tonnes in December, up by 19% year on year but down by 13% month on month, the data showed.

Phthalic anhydride (PA) import volume was 17,921 tonnes in December, increased 206% year on year and 56% month on month, the data showed.

Naphtha imports were at 222,873 tonnes in December, down by 23% month on month and 45% year on year.

Other petrochemical products that showed a year-on-year decline in imports in December included methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and toluene.

2011-Dec	Import			Export
Product	Import (tonnes)	YoY growth (%)	MoM growth (%)	Export (tonnes)	YoY growth (%)	MoM growth (%)
Naphtha	222,873	-45%	-23%	29,650	-	4%
Ethylene	105,536	19%	-13%	71	-99%	1675%
Propylene	207,239	8%	4%	1	-	-
Butadiene	39,516	2%	40%	4,437	-51%	49%
HDPE	368,763	22%	4%	10,369	57%	51%
LDPE	128,504	23%	-8%	4,392	-36%	-10%
LLDPE	208,237	-16%	-5%	2,758	16%	-33%
PP	376,245	-5%	4%	11,087	63%	17%
PVC	132,001	-21%	12%	18,042	124%	41%
EPS	5,669	-18%	-12%	30,457	12%	29%
Benzene	50,955	316%	-2%	6,821	-43%	682000%
Toluene	62,187	-12%	-9%	185	-19%	65%
MX	19	533%	-10%	112	149%	93%
PX	406,941	33%	-19%	15,062	-48%	-57%
SM	381,845	10%	24%	-	-	-
PTA	483,144	9%	-3%	0	-100%	-100%
MEG	742,106	30%	9%	494	-73%	48%
ACN	47,112	10%	41%	-	-	-
Caprolactam	69,122	19%	24%	4	-75%	-60%
Phenol	66,278	12%	9%	346	-84%	249%
Methanol	488,723	0%	-5%	330	-39%	-39%
Acetone	91,133	10%	27%	170	-37%	209%
BPA	58,907	27%	13%	100	-90%	-92%
IPA	8,265	10%	-19%	17	-84%	-45%
MEK	258	-92%	-82%	4,626	29%	-66%
Base oil	136,000	-6%	-10%	8,631	-42%	-61%
MMA	17,383	66%	17%	3,611	-29%	4%
PMMA	19,043	-14%	3%	1,265	36%	54%
GAA	2,420	-38%	-25%	3,093	56%	12%
BA	6,124	37%	31%	570	-70%	383%
2EHA	1,719	-5%	6%	75	-78%	-58%
2-EH	42,078	30%	-10%	307	-87%	88%
NBA	51,082	9%	6%	115	42%	-4%
PA	17,921	206%	56%	62	107%	-78%
DOP	5,852	14%	52%	365	-69%	-44%
Polysilicon	6,070	8%	12%	53	-77%	-21%
Source: China Customs

 

By: Dolly Wu
+65 6780 4359

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