AGAIN, PLEASE DON’T SAY I didn’t warn you. The chart below is an example of how PE prices have started to re-globalise. as I said they would when they began to de-globalise from March 2021 onwards.
What applies to the declining polyethylene (PE) price differentials between Europe and China applies to all the other countries and regions versus China. The pattern has been the same in polypropylene (PP) over recent months.
Asian Chemical Connections
China LLDPE: New demand and net import outlook for 2023
China’s LLDPE demand in 2023 could either grow by 3% or contract by as much as 6%, depending on whether or not China successfully exits zero-COVID
China economy, PP demand, may see no benefit from zero-COVID exit until 2024
A SELECTIVE READING of the news is giving polyolefins market participants confidence. They see the relaxation of zero-COVID restrictions in some Chinese cities as a sign that the worst is over. But a recovery in PP and PE demand seems unlikely until 2024.
China PP exports decline but the reason is hardly cause for cheer
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.
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 HDPE: 2023 demand and net import outlook
China’s HDPE in demand in 2023 could fall by as much as 4% over 2022. Next year’s net imports may slip to as low as 3.8m tonnes from around 5.7m tonnes in 2022.
China’s PP exports decline, but this is only a temporary reprieve for the other exporters
The January-September data suggested full-year China PP exports to these top ten destinations 75,543 tonnes fewer than the January-August numbers. And the January-September numbers implied total 2021 China exports to all destinations of 1.47m tonnes compared with January-August that indicated 1.58m tonnes.
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.
China’s long-term GDP growth risks and polymers demand
Cumulative downside demand in the above chart would total 5bn – 91m tonnes lower than our base case.
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