Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

An important outlet for ABS is the automobile industry, accounting for 25-30 percent of demand, followed by the electronics industry for use in business machines, computers, radios, televisions and telephone handsets. Special fire retardant grades are used in televisions housings. Other applications include domestic appliances such as refrigerators and sewing machines; pipes, fittings and other products used in the construction industry; and recreational goods such as boats and mobile homes. One particular demanding application has been the moulding of Lego bricks to a tolerance of five thousandths of a millimetre.

ICIS pricing quotes ABS in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the USA.

Frequency:

Published weekly on Fridays.

ABS (EUROPE)

Weekly price assessment:

ABS Compounding Grade

• FD NWE NATURAL (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)

ABS Injection Moulding

• FD NWE NATURAL (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
• FD NWE BLACK (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
• FD NWE COLOUR (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)

ABS Extrusion Grade

• FD NWE NATURAL (EUR/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)

ABS Feedstock Prices

• ACRYLONITRILE FD NWE Quarterly (EUR/MT)
• BUTADIENE FD NWE Quarterly (EUR/MT)
• STYRENE FD BARGE NWE Monthly (EUR/MT)

ABS (ASIA-PACIFIC)

ABS Spot Prices

• CFR N.E.ASIA (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
• CFR S.E.ASIA (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)
• CFR INDIA MAIN PORT (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)

ABS Feedstock Prices

• ACRYLONITRILE CFR N.E.ASIA Quarterly (USD/MT)
• BUTADIENE CFR N.E.ASIA (USD/MT)
• STYRENE CFR N.E.ASIA Monthly (USD/MT)

 

ABS (CHINA)

Frequency:

Published weekly on Mondays.

 

ABS (Import Market)

ABS Spot Prices

• CFR HK (USD/MT)
• CFR CMP (USD/MT)

Assessment window: 1700 hours Beijing time.

Specification: General purpose grade material.

Ports: HK, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou, Shanghai and Ningbo.

Terms: Letter of Credit at sight to 30 days.

Timing: Parcels are delivered 15-30 days from date of publication.

Standard cargo size: 100-200 tonnes.

Origin: Korea, Taiwan etc.

 

ABS (Domestic Market)

ABS Spot Prices

• East China (RMB/MT)
• South China (RMB/MT)

Assessment window: 1700 hours Beijing time.

Specification: General purpose grade material.

Site: East China includes Yuyao, Ningbo, Changzhou and Suzhou etc.

South China includes Shunde, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Shantou and Xiamen etc.

Terms: At sight.

Timing: At sight.

Standard cargo size: 10-20 tonnes.

Grade: Categorized according to domestic producers’ different grades.

 

ABS (USA)

ABS Domestic Contract Prices

• EXT MEDIUM BULK (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• EXT MEDIUM PACKAGE (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• EXT HIGH BULK (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• EXT HIGH PACKAGE (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• INJ MEDIUM BULK (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• INJ MEDIUM PACKAGE (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• INJ HIGH BULK (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)
• INJ HIGH PACKAGE (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)

ABS Feedstock Prices

• ACRYLONITRILE DOMESTIC DEL Monthly (US CTS/LB)
• BUTADIENE FOB USG Monthly (US CTS/LB)
• STYRENE FOB Monthly (US CTS/LB)

 

Specification: Extrusion and injection moulding grades. Medium impact strength is considered between four and six izods, and high impact strength grades between six and nine izods.

 

General Information:

Assessment window: Assessments are based on information supplied by market participants up to the close of business at 1800 hours London, Singapore or Houston time.

Specification: The report assesses average colour and black material. Injection grade material has a melt flow index between 10-40.

Terms: 30-60 days after bill of lading date. For exports in Asia, Letter of Credit at sight to 30 days.

Timing: Parcels are delivered 15-30 days from date of publication

Standard cargo size: In Europe, the minimum volume for batches for domestic business is 20 tonnes. Cargo sizes and specs vary according to different customers and grades. ICIS reports on contract deals ranging from 1,000 tonnes/year to 200,000 tonnes/year. The US report focuses on large producers and buyers purchasing between 1,000 and 200,000 tonnes/year. In the Asia-Pacific, the standard parcel is between 100-500 tonnes.  

Assessment basis: Prices in the US and Europe are assessed for the week. The Europe FD NWE contract price assessment refers to business done in the current calendar month.

Due to the volatile nature of the spot ABS market in Asia, the ICIS pricing Asia-Pacific ABS price assessment is weighted towards the week’s close. Price assessments for Europe and the US are based on information gathered throughout the week. The published range represents a combination of the following price indications: the last deals concluded, bids and offers, buy and sell indications and notional discussions heard by the close of business on Friday. Notional adjustments will be made to accurately reflect the levels at which business would probably take place by the close of business on Friday. Factors affecting price movements, including supply and demand situation, plant operating rates, feedstock and derivative markets, and general sentiment, will also be taken into account.

All regional reports offer market commentary that includes details of traced transactions, news on the supply/demand balance, export/import information, contract price negotiations and general sentiment for price direction. Where applicable there is product information, comments on up and downstream market developments and general market intelligence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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