In November 2021, the premium for overseas PP injection grade prices over prices in China reached a historic peak of $408/tonne. But in 1-18 November 2022, the premium was $113/tonne. Premiums have fallen in every month since April this year, resulting in a decline in China exports.
Asian Chemical Connections
Why European chemicals can emerge from this crisis as a winner
IT REALLY ISN’T doom and gloom if you take the longer-term view. Instead, for the chemical companies with the right strategies, the opportunities to build new sustainable business models are huge. The winners will make an awful lot of money while also doing the right things for humanity and our natural environment.
China’s real estate rescue and zero-COVID tinkering will make little difference
China’s real estate rescue only involves shoring-up lenders. The property bubble will not and cannot be reflated. Most of the zero-COVID rules remain in place, and will likely stay in place well into 2023
China PP demand and net import outlook for 2023
China[s PP demand growth in 2023 could be as low as minus 3% as it swings into a 2.6m tonnes net export position from this year’s likely net imports of around 3.4m tonnes.
Naphtha markets underline why “Micawberism” is not the answer
The January-September 2022 multiple of BFOE crude prices per barrel over CFR Japan naphtha prices per tonne averaged just 7.9. The lowest multiple so far this year was 6.9 in August. The January-September 2022 average was the lowest annual average since our naphtha price assessments began in March 1990.
Success in the new HDPE world: Tactics must be accompanied by a whole new strategy
By John Richardson TACTICALLY, as the first chart below tells us, using just high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as an example (the same applies to other grades of PE and polypropylene), it is obvious what the major exporters in the Middle East and elsewhere must do as China’s self-sufficiency increases. The exporters need to focus on import […]
China PP spreads data continue to show no recovery, weakest market since at least 2003
UNTIL WE SEE a recovery in China PP-naphtha spreads during around a 12-month period to close to long-term annual averages, there will have been no complete rebound in the market. The spread so far this year at just $264/tonne is 41% lower than the previous lowest year of $447/tonne in 2012.
Global PE and PP indexes Week Two: Asian prices recover as Europe declines continue
THESE ARE STILL extraordinary times in global polyolefins markets. Although the great equalisation has begun as pricing in most of the rest of the world falls towards Chinese levels, price premiums over China remain historically very high. There are thus still strong opportunities for exporters to make good netbacks in markets other than China.
European PE and PP: Energy cost and demand crisis gathers momentum as pricing falls closer to China levels
The chart shows European
dependence on Russian gas compared with country-by-country percentages of the region’s total PE capacity, Germany is the standout risk country as it has a nearly 50% reliance on Russia for its gas supplies with a total of more than 70% of Europe’s PE capacities across the three grades. In the case of the Netherlands, it is the location for just under 40% of capacities with its dependence on Russian gas at around 20%.
China LDPE demand in 2022 could fall by 8%, which would be worst year since 1990
Annualised January-June China LDPE data only indicated a 4% decline in full-year demand. What a difference a month has made. The January-July numbers point to an 8% fall in demand this year. This would be the worst annual fall in growth since 1990.
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