Asia top stories - weekly summary

11 March 2013 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 8 March 2013.

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Asia EPS declines, downtrend seen amid weak demand
Asia expandable polystyrene (EPS) prices declined this week on the back of a fall in feedstock styrene monomer (SM) prices and the downtrend is expected to last amid weak demand, producers and traders said on Friday.

Focus - Taiwan unlikely to import new China capro output in next 2 yrs
Taiwan is unlikely to import caprolactam (capro) from neighbouring China, which is expected to struggle with an oversupply of the material, market players said on Thursday.

Focus - Asia PVC to soften after 9% feedstock VCM-led price spike
Spot polyvinyl chloride (PVC) values in Asia are expected to fall in the near term as buyers deem the feedstock cost-driven 9% price spike since the start of the year as overdone, industry sources said on Thursday.

Focus - Asia’s end-users roll over naphtha deliveries to April
A handful of Asian petrochemical producers have rolled over their naphtha deliveries to April from March, signalling a downtrend in the naphtha market, traders said on Thursday.

Focus - India port plans dogged by uncertainties; infra upgrade a must
India is unlikely to see two new ports built at its eastern shores any time soon as a problem as basic

Focus - Asia MIBK may extend declines on rising supply
Spot methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) prices in Asia may continue to fall because of rising supply and soft downstream demand, market sources said on Wednesday.

Focus - Asia’s polysilicon prices to rise ahead of China’s ADD decision
Asia’s polysilicon prices are expected to nudge higher, as Chinese downstream solar makers are rushing to buy the feedstock ahead of potential

Focus - Weak demand weighs on Asia ACN; tight supply supports market
Asia’s acrylonitrile (ACN) prices are under pressure to weaken because of poor downstream demand and soft feedstock values, but the market is currently being buoyed by tight supply, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Focus - Strong buyer resistance to temper Asia BR gains
Asia’s butadiene rubber (BR) producers may find difficulty in hiking prices for March shipments because of subdued demand and amid falling values of substitute product natural rubber (NR), industry sources said on Monday.

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