Asia top stories - weekly summary

19 November 2012 01:00 [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle east for the week ended 16 November 2012.

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Focus Asia’s naphtha prices to gain on rising PE, stockpiling prospects
Asia’s naphtha prices may receive a boost from rising downstream polyethylene (PE) prices, because of the prospects of inventory stock-up ahead of the festive season in early 2013 in China, market participants said on Monday.

Japan petrochemical shares tumble as Q3 economy contracts
Shares of Japanese petrochemical firms were trading lower on Monday on demand concerns, as preliminary data showed the world’s third biggest economy shrank in the September quarter because of falling exports amid the global economic slowdown.

China issues temporary antidumping measure on TDI imports from EU
China has imposed temporary antidumping measures on imports of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) originating in the EU, the country's Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday.

Focus Asia ex-China PTA makers push for PX-linked contract formula
Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) producers in Asia outside of China, worrying over eroding margins, have proposed a contract formula with customers across the region that is linked with prices of feedstock paraxylene (PX), market sources said on Wednesday.

Focus Asia BDO may soften further on weak demand, high inventory
Spot butanediol (BDO) prices in Asia will likely fall further in the coming weeks on softening demand as the peak manufacturing season in the key China market draws to a close, while sellers and buyers are saddled with high inventory of the material, market sources said on Thursday.

Interview Ecogreen Oleochems builds new Indonesia fatty alcohols unit
Ecogreen Oleochemicals is building a new 180,000 tonne/year fatty alcohol plant in Batam, Indonesia, that is set to double the company’s overall production capacity in the country, the top executive of the Singapore-based company said on Thursday.

Focus Asia SBR dips 6% from mid-Oct; may extend falls on poor demand
Asia’s spot styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) prices may continue falling in the weeks ahead on lacklustre demand amid ample supply, and with slumping values of feedstock butadiene (BD) providing a further drag, industry sources said on Friday.

Saudi Polymers shuts Al-Jubail complex on technical issues
Saudi Polymers has suspended operations at its facilities in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia over the weekend, with the shutdown expected to last around four weeks, its parent firm – The National Petrochemical Co (Petrochem) said on

By: Staff Reporter
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