Acrylonitrile Methodology

Acrylonitrile (ACN) is used to make acrylic fibres, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylamide, and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), among other materials. Acrylic fibres (AF), used in carpets and clothing, account for over half of total demand. ABS and SAN resins used in pipes and fittings, automobiles, furniture and packaging, consume about 30% of output. Smaller applications include nitrile rubber copolymers, adiponitrile and acrylamide and hydrogen cyanide.

ICIS pricing quotes acrylonitrile in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US Gulf.

Frequency:

All reports are published weekly on Friday.  

Acrylonitrile (ASIA-PACIFIC)

Acrylonitrile Spot Prices

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

Acrylonitrile (EUROPE)

Weekly Price Assessments:

Acrylonitrile Contract Prices

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

Acrylonitrile Spot Prices

• CIF W Europe (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)

Acrylonitrile Feedstock Prices

• PROPYLENE FD NWE Quarterly (EUR/MT)

Acrylonitrile (US GULF)

Acrylonitrile Contract Prices

• DOMESTIC (DEL) Monthly formula contract price (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)

• EXPORT (FOB) (US CTS/LB & conversion to USD/MT)

Acrylonitrile Spot Prices

• FOB EXPORT (USD/MT & conversion to US CTS/LB)

Acrylonitrile Feedstocks

• AMMONIA FOB NOLA (USD/ST)
• PROPYLENE C GRADE Monthly Contract (US CTS/LB)

General Information:

Assessment window: Assessments are based on information supplied by market participants through the week up to the close of business on Friday at 1700 hours in Singapore, London and Houston.

Specification: ICIS pricing acrylonitrile quotes are based on product with a minimum purity of 99.85%.

Timing: Parcels loading within two-four weeks forward from the date of publication. In Asia spot parcels loading usually within two to four weeks from date of settlement.

Terms: 60-90 days after bill of lading date. Spot prices into India usually assume buyers holding a letter of credit with credit terms between 30-90 days.

Standard Cargo Size: Standard cargo sizes are 1,000 tonnes in Europe and 1,000-2,000 tonnes in Asia. In the United States, ICIS pricing assesses cargoes of 500 tonnes and above.

Assessment basis: Pricing assessments are based on information gathered through the week from producers, buyers, distributors; supply and demand information; production information, when applicable, and takes into account upstream and downstream pricing/supply information. The assessments take into consideration buy/sell indications, firm bids and offers, notional price discussions and rumoured, reported and confirmed deals. In the event of lack of trades, the published price range represents the highest bids received and the lowest sell indications of the week.

In Europe, contract prices are pre-discounted and typically define key acrylonitrile accounts settled on a monthly basis. The general consensus is that the European contract range is representative of the resins industry. This is used as a benchmark for fibre contracts which are held at lower numbers. CFR WE spot prices represent transactions to western Europe, including transactions from producers to consumers outside the contract deals.

CFR N.E. ASIA spot prices represent spot transactions into China and Japan. CFR INDIA spot prices represent spot transactions into India . Contract prices for southeast Asia are discussed in the text. Factors such as arbitrage cargo movements, supply/demand balance, plant operating rates, feedstock and derivative markets, and general market sentiment, are also be taken into account.

In the US, contract prices are formula-based on propylene and ammonia price changes. A majority of the US export business is conducted with Asia.

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 upstream and downstream market developments and general market intelligence.

8 January 2013