FocusAsia MEG stays below $1,000/tonne as inventory remains high

20 March 2012 07:50  [Source: ICIS news]

By Judith Wang and Becky Zhang

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot monoethylene glycol (MEG) prices in Asia have stayed below $1,000/tonne (€760/tonne) this week after panic-selling triggered a 5% decline in values over five consecutive trading sessions, market sources said on Tuesday.

MEG prices in Asia closed at $990-995/tonne CFR (cost and freight) CMP (China Main Port) on 19 March.

The price slump surprised market players, who were mostly expecting spot MEG values to remain firm throughout the year because of tight supply.

“The market is so confusing this year. Last year, everyone said MEG supply will be tight and prices will be firm this year, but the truth is [the] opposite,” a trader said.

“It is very difficult to predict where the market will go - continue to fall or bottom out? No one knows!”

China currently has a high inventory of imported MEG stored at its main ports, leaving no space for volumes that continue to flow into the country, which the biggest MEG market in Asia.

MEG inventory at Chinese ports was at record level - nearing 800,000 tonnes late last week.

Most market players – from traders to end-users – have been stocking up on inventory anticipating availability of spot material to be constrained this year, with no new capacity coming on stream.

Actual demand has been weak as downstream polyester makers have cut production on poor margins, keeping MEG inventory at ports high.

Spot MEG prices had been stagnant for three months until 13 March, when a small group of traders started offloading volumes to make storage space available for incoming shipments in China.

The consequent fall in prices triggered panic-selling, which was aggravated by the sharp decline in Chinese equities markets on 14 March, that continued through 19 March.

MEG demand from downstream polyester sector has remained weak, given slowing consumption from textile converters, market source said.

Chinese polyester yarn producers currently have more a month’s worth of inventory, prompting some players to cut run rates at facilities to 60-70% this month. Average operating rates at polyester yarn plants in China are currently at 76%, industry sources said.

“The [MEG price] outlook is very mixed," said an end-user, adding that the price trend in the MEG market deviates from that of feedstock ethylene.

“[MEG feedstock] ethylene is still high, but MEG prices are so soft,” he said.

At midday on Tuesday, spot ethylene prices in Asia were at $1,310-1,330/tonne CFR NE (northeast) Asia, according to ICIS.

A number of Chinese polyester makers said that the peak manufacturing season for textiles may not kick in as usual in March, given soft external demand amid a general weakness in the global economy.

($1 = €0.76)

Read John Richardson and Malini Hariharan’s blog – Asian Chemical Connections

By: Judith Wang
+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