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 15 May 2015.

Focus – China BDO rebounds as producers cut output amid supply glut
Spot domestic prices of 1,4-butanediol (BDO) in China rebounded as producers have started cutting production, but gains may be capped because of weak demand, industry sources said on Friday.

Focus – India PVC demand muted on supply glut, weak pipe demand
Spot demand for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in India is expected to be muted in the weeks to come as a result of a flood of supply in April arrivals as well as weak pipe demand, market sources said.

Focus – China TiO2 market consolidation may prompt price recovery
Consolidation in the China’s titanium dioxide (TIO2) market should help curb oversupply in Asia and possibly prompt a price recovery of the material known as white pigment after a two-year slump, industry sources said on Wednesday.

Focus – Chinese acetone importers’ outlook weakens on rising supply
Chinese acetone importers’ outlook weakened as rising supply is expected to limit the upside to prices, market participants said on Tuesday.

Focus – Asia glycerine under pressure from Indonesia biodiesel policy
Spot glycerine prices in Asia may be under pressure given buyers’ expectations that supply will lengthen as a direct result of Indonesia’s new biodiesel policy, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Focus – Asia Group I BS150 base oils spot supply to tighten in Q2
Spot supply of Group I BS150 base oils in Asia is expected to tighten in the second quarter because of heavy maintenance schedule at major regional facilities, market sources said on Monday.

Mideast LAB stable-to-firm on good demand
Export prices of linear alkyl benzene (LAB) for Middle Eastern cargoes heading largely to South Asia were stable-to-firm on good demand and sellers’ push for price increases, market sources said on late Wednesday.

Middle East to grapple with China, US petrochemical overcapacity
Middle East producers will find itself in a more competitive environment and will need to contend with petrochemical overcapacity stemming from China’s coal-to-olefins (CTO) plants and US’ ethane crackers, an executive at French energy firm Total said on Monday.