Asia top stories: weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle east for the week ended 30 August 2013.

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Focus – Asia’s refined glycerine prices to stabilise in Q4 2013
Asia’s refined glycerine prices are expected to stabilise in the fourth quarter amid tight supply, higher feedstock prices and a possible seasonal pickup in demand, market sources said on Thursday.

Focus – Asia sellers raise EPS offers on styrene rebound, demand tepid
Expandable polystyrene (EPS) suppliers in Asia have increased offers this week after reducing it last week on a rebound in feedstock styrene monomer (SM) values though demand is likely to remain subdued, market players said on Thursday.

Focus – China spot methanol stability dilutes interest in futures
China’s spot methanol market has remained relatively stable for the most part of the year, thereby diluting interest in futures trades, which have seen slumping volume of transactions since February, industry sources said on Wednesday.

Focus – Lower ABS offers in Asia fail to spur demand
While suppliers of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resins in Asia reduced their offers by around $20/tonne (€15/tonne) in the week ended 23 August, the lower prices have not boosted buying interest, producers and traders said on Tuesday.

Interview – Turkey’s Evyap to start up oleochemicals plant in mid-’14
Turkey-based Evyap Sabun is expected to start up its new oleochemicals facility at Pasir Gudang in Johor, Malaysia, by the middle of next year, a senior company executive said on Monday.

Focus – Asia capro gains may be capped; downstream nylon still weak
Spot caprolactam prices in China may not be able to sustain recent gains, with the key downstream nylon sector weakening as overall consumption of textile goods declined amid a slowing Chinese economy, market sources said on Monday.