Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE)

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 13 September 2024. Asia LAB struggles amid crude oil weakness; Q4 supply to tighten By Clive Ong 13-Sep-24 13:40 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Asia’s linear alkylbenzene (LAB) market remains in the doldrums with sentiment staying cautious following recent slippages in crude oil prices, while supply could tighten in the fourth quarter. INSIGHT: China-US trade tensions build as anti-dumping cases increase By Fanny Zhang 12-Sep-24 18:35 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–The US has become the top target of China’s anti-dumping cases for chemical imports, underscoring growing trade barriers between the world's two biggest economies. Saudi Arabia fosters closer ties with China; Aramco, Chinese firms sign fresh deals By Nurluqman Suratman 12-Sep-24 12:39 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Energy giant Saudi Aramco has signed new agreements to advance separate expansion plans with Chinese petrochemical producers Rongsheng and Hengli. China Aug petrochemical markets tumble; weak demand persists By Yvonne Shi 11-Sep-24 16:38 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Domestic prices of most petrochemicals in China declined in August due to weak demand and new capacity, with not much improvement in market conditions expected throughout September. Asia solvent MX facing headwinds in Sept amid various bearish factors By Jasmine Khoo 10-Sep-24 12:13 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Within Asia, trading activity for solvent grade mixed xylenes (MX) in certain import markets like southeast Asia is poised to take a hit going forward into the later part of September. Heavy rains, floodings continue in north Vietnam in Yagi’s wake By Nurluqman Suratman 09-Sep-24 16:42 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Heavy rains and floodings continued in northern Vietnam on Monday, two days since Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall in the region and killed more than 20 people. UPDATE: Sumitomo Chemical to close two Singapore MMA/PMMA lines by end-Sept By Nurluqman Suratman 11-Sep-24 12:48 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Sumitomo Chemical will close two of its three production lines for methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in Singapore by the end of September this year, the Japanese producer said on Wednesday. PODCAST: Weak fuel LPG demand to weigh on China 2024 propane/butane imports By Lillian Ren 11-Sep-24 10:50 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–ICIS has revised down its forecast for China’s combined imports of propane and butane for 2024 because of weaker-than-expected demand in fuel applications. Wang Yen, Senior Analyst speaks with Lillian Ren, analyst on the China propane, butane and LPG markets. UPDATE: Indonesia starts ‘safeguard measures’ probe into LLDPE imports By Izham Ahmad 10-Sep-24 18:09 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Indonesia has initiated an investigation as to whether “safeguard measures” would be needed in response to a sharp increase in imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), its trade ministry said.

16-Sep-2024

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Ascension parish, home to Geismar and its many chemical plants, was among the regions hardest hit by Hurricane Francine, which has caused hundreds of thousands of power outages. UTILITIESNearly 350,000 power outages were reported in Louisiana, according to the website poweroutage.us. Ascension and Assumption parishes as well as the coastal parts of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes appear to be among the hardest hit, said Entergy, a power company. CHEMICAL OPERATIONS Several chemical companies shut down their plants ahead of Francine's landfall on Wednesday evening. On Wednesday, BASF idled operations at Geismar, North Geismar and Vidalia, it said. The company is conducting safety assessments, and operations will resume once those are completed. Roehm is taking its methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant in Fortier, Louisiana, offline. Meanwhile, Dow said its sites in Louisiana are safely resuming normal operations. It is unclear what steps it took in preparation for the storm and whether those steps had any effect on operations or production. Louisiana is home to just above 25% of the total ethylene capacity in the US, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database. It also has close to 50% of the country’s vinyls chain capacity – for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorine, ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and caustic soda. Other significant exposures close to 50% of total US capacity include methanol, ethylbenzene (EB), styrene and low density polyethylene (LDPE). Upstream, an estimated 38.56% of current US oil production and 48.77% of US natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico was shut in as of Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). OIL AND GASHurricane Francine caused liquefied natural gas (LNG) loadings to drop 22% this week. If disruptions to LNG loadings last long enough, it could cause an increase in domestic gas supplies, which could cause prices to fall. That, in turn could lead to a decline in prices for ethane, the predominant feedstock that US crackers use to produce ethylene. The ports of Cameron and Lake Charles in Louisiana remained closed, according to the US Coast Guard. That halted access to the Cameron LNG plant and Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG. The Sabine channel near US Sabine Pass LNG, however, was open, though no cargoes have departed the plant since 10 September. Oil future prices rose by more than a dollar in late morning trading. LOGISTICSThe New Orleans Public Belt Railroad said on Thursday that it will resume operations at 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) following damage assessments. The Port of New Orleans has shut down, and railroad companies warned customers of delays as traffic will be diverted following the port's flood-gate closure. BNSF has issued a temporary permit embargo affecting all traffic originating or destined to move through the area. STORM UPDATEFrancine has weakened into a tropical depression, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 35 miles/h (55km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The following map shows Francine's projected path. Source: National Hurricane Center Earlier, the storm made landfall on Wednesday evening as a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained wind speeds of about 100 miles/h, according to the NHC. Additional reporting by Emily Burleson, Bryan Campbell and Joseph Chang Thumbnail shows Francine. Image by National Hurricane Center Track the latest updates on Hurricane Francine and its impact on chemicals on the Topic Page: Storm Season 2024.

12-Sep-2024

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Several chemical companies are shutting down plants in Louisiana, with others taking other precautionary measures as the eye of Francine – now a Category 2 hurricane – approaches the coast for imminent landfall. Roehm is taking its methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant in Fortier, Louisiana offline. BASF earlier on 10 September started procedures to idle operations in Geismar, North Geismar and Vidalia, Louisiana. Shell has shut in oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico at its Perdido, Auger and Enchilada/Salsa assets, but its chemical production sites in Geismar and Norco, Louisiana, and Deer Park, Texas, were operating normally as of Shell's latest update on 10 September. Operations were continuing at ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge, Louisiana plant as of 10 September. Louisiana is home to just above 25% of the total ethylene capacity in the US, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database. It also has close to 50% of the country’s vinyls chain capacity – for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorine, ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and caustic soda. Other significant exposures close to 50% of total US capacity include methanol, ethylbenzene, styrene and low density polyethylene (LDPE). Upstream, an estimated 38.56% of current US oil production and 48.77% of US natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico was shut in, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). The Port of New Orleans has shut down, and railroad companies are warning customers of delays as traffic will be diverted following the port's flood-gate closure. Track the latest updates on Hurricane Francine and its impact on chemicals on the Topic Page: Storm Season 2024. Thumbnail shows wind speed probabilities of Hurricane Francine from the US National Hurricane Center Focus article by Joseph Chang

11-Sep-2024

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Saudi Arabian producer Methanol Chemicals Co's (Chemanol) specialty chemicals subsidiary Madarat Al-Dhara Chemicals Co has signed an agreement to secure a long-term supply of ethylene oxide (EO) from Sadara Chemical Company. The EO supply is intended for Madarat Al-Dhara's methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) and choline chloride projects, Chemanol said in a filing to the Saudi bourse, Tadawul, on 29 August. Details on cost and volume of the EO supply deal were not disclosed. "Chemanol aims to become one of the largest producers of specialty petrochemicals in the region given that all targeted products would be the first of their kind in the region," the company said. Financial and capacity details of the MDEA and chlorine chloride projects were not disclosed. "Such products would be used in many vital and strategic industries such as oil and gas Industry, nutrition additives industry, extraction of environmental harmful gases, carbon capture and storage technologies and others." MDEA is crucial for gas purification, while choline chloride plays roles in animal nutrition, chemical processes, and industrial applications. In May, Chemanol completed its Saudi riyal (SR) 80 million ($21 million) acquisition of an 80% stake in Global Company for Chemical Industries (GCI), a specialty and fine chemicals manufacturer. The company is aiming to expand its specialty chemicals market share and diversify its product offerings.

30-Aug-2024

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–SABIC's net profit surged by 84.7% year on year to Saudi riyal (SR) 2.18 billion in the second quarter, supported by higher margins amid improved average selling prices, the chemicals giant said on Thursday. in Saudi riyal (SR) billions Q2 2024 Q2 2023 % Change H1 2024 H1 2023 % Change Sales 35.72 34.1 4.8 68.4 70.53 -3.0 Operational profit 2.1 1.64 28.0 3.31 3.4 -2.6 Net profit 2.18 1.18 84.7 2.43 1.84 32.1 “The global economy experienced a slight decline in the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to unexpected downturns in the recent economic indicators of major countries," said Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, SABIC's CEO and executive board member. However, PMI data continued to indicate improvement in global economic conditions, while global trade showed signs of recovery, driven by higher exports, inventory restocking and increased financial activities, Al-Fageeh noted. "As inflationary pressures ease, some central banks have begun reducing interest rates, potentially providing additional stimulus to the global economy.” Q2 KEY POINTS – Q2 sales growth primarily attributed to the improvements of the average selling prices and a slight increase in sales volume. – Gross profit rose by SR1.76 billion due to improved profit margins for key products, partially offset by increased operating expenses from non-recurring charges. – A reversal of zakat provision, which is a mandatory Islamic tax on wealth, resulted in a non-cash benefit of SR545 million in Q2 2024, compared to a zakat expense of SR440 million in Q2 2023, due to updated regulations. – The petrochemicals segment's revenue increased by 10% quarter-over-quarter to SR 33.33 billion in Q2, driven by higher methanol sales volume. – EBITDA rose 37% to SR 4.88 billion in Q2, compared to SR 3.56 billion in Q1, due to higher sales volume and average selling prices. Market trends on quarter-on-quarter basis: – Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) prices remained stable, supported by summer demand. – Methanol prices held steady, driven by tight supply and low inventories in China, as well as strong demand from Asia. – Monoethylene glycol (MEG) prices were flat, due to higher supply and stable demand. – Polyethylene (PE) prices increased slightly, due to delayed Middle East deliveries and tightened Southeast Asian supplies. – Polypropylene (PP) prices rose, supported by tight container and vessel supply. – Polycarbonate (PC) prices slightly increased, despite global oversupply, with high freight rates adding pressure to subdued demand in automotive and construction sectors. Separately, SABIC has successfully commissioned its new hydrotreater plant in Geleen, the Netherlands.  This facility plays a crucial role in SABIC's advanced recycling process, transforming pyrolysis oil derived from post-consumer mixed plastic waste into high-quality alternative feedstock. This feedstock is then used to produce the SABIC's TRUCIRCLE circular polymers. H1 KEY POINTS – The company's revenue decreased by 3% year on year primarily due to a decline in sales volume. – Net profit rose on the back of an 18% increase in gross profit (SR1.96 billion) due to improved margins, partially offset by increased operating expenses from non-recurring charges. – Earnings were also supported by a SR245 million increase in the share of results from associates and non-integral joint ventures. OUTLOOK"Looking ahead, a global GDP growth of 2.7% is expected in 2024. At SABIC, our long-term focus remains on strategic portfolio optimization, restructuring of underperforming assets, and prioritizing sustainability and innovation," the company said. "We maintain a disciplined approach in managing our CAPEX, projecting a spending at the lower range of $4.0 to 5.0 billion for 2024." SABIC is 70%-owned by energy giant Saudi Aramco. Thumbnail shows a SABIC production facility (Source: SABIC)

02-Aug-2024

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Ocean container freight rates in Asia are expected to remain high in the near term amid persistent congestion at key ports in the region, particularly Singapore. Peak demand season, capacity issues continue to push up rates Singapore port wait times reduced, but challenges remain ASEAN Express offers faster rail alternative to sea freight The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) edged up 1% to $5,901 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) for the week ending 11 July, with the rate of increase easing from a double-digit pace se in recent weeks. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), which measures spot rates for shipping containers from Shanghai to major global ports, meanwhile, dipped 1% week on week to 3,674.86 points in the week ending 12 July. The convergence of seasonal peak demand and strained capacity as commercial vessels continued to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal, are expected to keep shipping costs firm in the near term for container routes globally, said Judah Levine, the head of research at online freight shipping marketplace and platform provider Freightos. According to supply chain advisors Drewry, ocean freight rates are expected to remain high until the end of the peak season, which typically falls between August to October each year. SINGAPORE CONGESTION EASING In Singapore, the world's second-largest port and the largest transshipment hub connecting Asia and the west, the average wait time to berth has been "reduced to two days or under", port operator PSA Singapore said in a statement on 10 July. This compares to waiting times up to seven days for a berth in the port of Singapore in late May this year, according to logistics data group Linerlytica. Singapore has experienced high berth demand and unscheduled vessel arrivals since the start of 2024, leading to increased waiting times despite utilizing all available berths, PSA said. PSA has since "significantly ramped up its capabilities to support increased activity and mitigate the impact of global supply chain disruptions since the beginning of 2024". However, the PSA warned that “the Red Sea crisis has significantly disrupted global shipping and trade and we anticipate this challenging situation to persist for a prolonged period, potentially extending port congestion from Asia to Europe”. For chemical tankers, shipping brokers have reported varying degrees of congestion and delays at Singapore ports. A broker involved in bio-chemicals and clean petroleum product (CPP) trades noted congestion at all terminals with delays of at least one week. A tanker carrying methyl acetate (MEAC) was facing a two-week delay in discharging cargoes at a key terminal in Jurong Island, another broker said. Jurong Island is Singapore’s petrochemical hub. A third broker indicated that delays in unloading and loading of cargoes at Singapore ports were generally measured in days rather than weeks. A Singapore-based acrylates producer was having difficulties securing vessel space, as shipping companies were bypassing the congested port. This congestion has also spilled over into Malaysia, impacting customers in both countries which are now experiencing delays of up to a week for July shipments. Overall port congestion levels in Malaysia have been reduced, but berthing delays remain at five days at Port Klang, while Tanjung Pelepas has limited delays, Linerlytica said in an update on 10 July. In India, heavy congestion is also reported at Colombo port, resulting in backlogs and delays, with adverse weather conditions around the Cape of Good Hope compounding the situation, causing further delays, according to global digital freight forwarder Zencargo in a note on 15 July. Vessels are increasingly navigating around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the heightened risks in the Red Sea and Suez Canal due to escalating Houthi attacks since November 2023, opting for a longer-but-safer route despite the added time and costs. "The market from the Indian subcontinent to Europe is experiencing significant disruptions," it said. "Carriers have stopped accepting bookings from South India for Europe due to heavy congestion in Colombo, causing a minimum delay of three weeks in transshipment. Carriers are only quoting on spot rates due to the tight space situation​." Historically, Colombo has handled a substantial portion of India’s containerized exports and imports due to insufficient direct line-haul connections from the country’s east coast ports, according to Zencargo. However, recent months have seen an unusual surge in volumes, exacerbated by vessel diversions linked to Red Sea shipping disruptions, with ships languishing for over five days before securing a berth, it said. In China, port delays have worsened in the week to 10 July after recent improvements due to bunching of vessel arrivals, with wait times of up to four days in Shanghai and up to two days in Ningbo, Linerlytica added. China is also set to continue grappling with rising container prices and leasing rates in July, according to Haoze Lou, a member of the broker team at online shipping container leasing firm Container xChange. Scarcity of available slots for China-Europe and China-US routes has intensified, prompting offline suppliers to offer competitive prices to attract customers, Lou said. "In June, we've observed a continued rise in container prices in China, impacting both trading and leasing activities," he said, adding that a rebound is expected over the next month as slot availability tightens again. CONTAINER RATES HINGES ON CONSUMER DEMAND The outlook for the container trading and leasing market in the second half of 2024 hinges on a revival in consumer demand but faces uncertainties due to geopolitical disruptions and potential labor unrest, according to Container xChange. Continued Houthi attacks threaten supply chains, while potential labor issues in US ports could further disrupt operations, it said. "However, if the current market conditions persist without major changes, we expect container rates to ease,” Container xChange noted. “This reduction in rates could trigger an uptick in container buyer activity, as the buyer side is currently waiting for prices to decline before resuming trading and leasing activities." RAIL OPTIONS OPEN UP FOR CHINA-SE ASIA ROUTE The successful inaugural trips of the ASEAN Express – a new cargo rail service connecting Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China – highlight its potential as a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional ocean freight as it connects new trade routes and inland ports across Asia. This includes the Kontena Nasional Inland Clearance Depot in Selangor, Malaysia; Latkrabang Inland Port in Thailand; and the Thanaleng Dry Port in Laos, which connects to a railway terminal in Chongqing, southwest China. The first ASEAN Express cargo train successfully completed a round trip between Malaysia and China on 11 July, carrying electronic appliances and agricultural products, marking a milestone in regional trade connectivity which could boost trade of petrochemical end-products. The recently launched cargo rail service has been met with optimism by Asian recyclers, though immediate impact is expected to be limited. While the service directly benefits buyers and sellers in China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Laos, recyclers in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam anticipate primarily using ships, potentially freeing up shipping capacity and alleviating tightness in vessel and container space. This new service significantly reduces transit time compared to sea freight, taking just under 14 days compared with up to three weeks by sea. "This service will provide smoother and more efficient goods flow throughout the region as well as enhance rail cargo transport capacity while reducing logistics costs by an estimated 20% from current market rates," Malaysian transport minister Loke Siew Fook said in a speech at the flag-off ceremony for the new rail service on 27 June. "The shorter transport times are also expected to open up new markets, with the agricultural sector in particular to benefit by allowing perishable products to be transported more quickly by rail," he added. Insight article by Nurluqman Suratman Additional reporting by Hwee Hwee Tan, Corey Chew, Arianne Perez and Ai Teng Lim Thumbnail image: At the Keppel and Brani port terminals in Singapore, 15 June 2024 (By Joseph Nair/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

17-Jul-2024

RIO DE JANEIRO (ICIS)–In just a few years, global automotive majors have switched their focus from an all-electric production to a more hybrid model, an executive at US crude oil major Chevron said on Tuesday. Chris Castanien, global industry liaison at Chevron and lubricant additive expert, said that most automotive majors who had set up targets to go all-electric or nearly all-electric by 2030 have dropped those plans as intake among consumers remains slow. This has happened even after authorities in North America or Europe have poured “tremendous amounts of money in trying to force everyone” into the energy transition. Castanien was speaking to delegates at the 14th International Summit with the South American Market 2024 organized by specialized publication Lubes em Focus, which focuses on base oils. ICIS is a partner in the event. BILLIONS – BUT THE JUMP IS NOT HAPPENINGAnyone in the lubricants industry would be pleased to see the initially quick transition to electric mobility some authorities had planned is not happening. At the end of the day, they are an interested party which would lose out much if ICE engines – combustion engines – went out of the market. Therefore, Castanien was somehow pleased to list the many plans in the EU and the US which had planned for a quick electric vehicles (EVs) implementation, including the US’ $1 trillion New Green Deal in 2021 or the consequent $67 billion investments contemplated in the CHIPS Act or the $369 billion of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). “The US’ EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] had forced a ruling that by 2032 around two thirds of cars should be EVs; the EU issued a ban on ICE engines by 2035 – well, I think those targets will not happen,” said Catanien. “Moreover, now we are seeing a lot of protectionist tariffs against Chinese EVs: we want people to make and use EVs, but we don’t want the Chinese to make them.” The Chevron executive went on to say that the US is still a “long way” to meet its own targets on charging points, for instance, which, added to the considerably higher cost of EVs, would be putting off consumers. And this consumers’ reluctance, he went on to say, is even happening when many jurisdictions are implementing fiscal incentives and rebates for EVs. “In the US, you even get the case of California, where HOVs [high occupancy vehicle lanes] are now allowing EVs even if it’s only the driver inside the car…” he said. Thus, the initial change planned by automotive majors – even with thousands of redundancies of ICE engines engineers – is giving way to a slower implementation of the EV push. Castanien mentioned the case of Germany’s major Mercedes. “Only a few years ago, Mercedes said they would be making all vehicles electric by 2030 – they don’t say that anymore. Their updated target is aiming to make 50% of its fleet electrical by that year,” he said. “[US major] Ford has said it is losing $64,000 every time they sell an EV. Tesla was planning a gigafactory in Mexico: they have dropped those plans. The shift towards more hybrid vehicles and not purely EVs is happening – this is a big change.” The automotive industry is a major global consumer of petrochemicals, which make up more than one-third of the raw material costs of an average vehicle. The automotive sector drives demand for chemicals such as polypropylene (PP), along with nylon, polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyurethane (PU), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Base oils, also called lubricants, are used to produce finished lubes and greases for automobiles and other machinery. The 14th International Summit with the South American Market 2024 runs in Rio de Janeiro on 2-3 July.

02-Jul-2024

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–In this podcast, ICIS editor Mason Liang discusses the China methyl methacrylate (MMA) market. Supply disruptions in key producing regions drive significant price increases amid strong demand Market participants closely monitor plant operations for the second half of 2024 Qixiang Tengda's planned July restart expected to boost activity in the Shandong market In light of this, ICIS launched the MMA DEL (delivered) Shandong assessment in April. Detailed methodology is available on the ICIS website.

24-Jun-2024

LONDON(ICIS)–European downstream demand remains low due to inflation and high interest rates. Add logistics issues and a continuous flow of imports to that, and the doom of European petrochemical industry begins. But with the recent reduction in interest rates by ECB and increased tariffs on Asian EVs, there is hope that the acetone and phenol derivative chain might come back to its glory. Europe ICIS editors Jane Gibson (acetone and phenol), Heidi Finch (bisphenol A and epoxy resins), Meeta Ramnani (polycarbonate), Mathew Jolin-Beech (methyl methacrylate) and ICIS senior analyst Michele Bossi (aromatics and derivatives) discuss the latest development in imports, bans and interest rates that are likely to impact the acetone, phenol and derivatives markets. Acetone market balanced to tight on export demand, slim import volumes and curtailed op rates as phenol struggles to find demand Cut of interest rates by ECB and tariffs on Chinese EVs increases hope of recovery of demand Dependency increases on Asian imports for PC BPA and epoxy players keep close eye on upstream, logistics and regulatory factors Challenging global as well as regional logistics impact MMA supply in Europe Podcast edited by Meeta Ramnani

14-Jun-2024

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–China has slammed EU’s proposal to impose provisional tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), denouncing it as a "blatant act of protectionism”, raising concerns that a trade war between Asia’s biggest economy and a new western front is brewing. EU tariffs on Chinese EVs to rise to 27-48% Retaliatory measures from China likely EU imports of China cars surge sevenfold over three years "The European side has disregarded facts and WTO [World Trade Organization] rules, ignored China's repeated strong opposition, and ignored the appeals and dissuasion of multiple EU member state governments and industries," China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement issued late on 12 June. The European Commission on 12 June notified Chinese automakers, including EV giant BYD, Geely, and state-owned SAIC Motor Corp, that it will impose additional provisional tariffs of 17% to 38% on imported Chinese EVs from around 4 July. These will be applied to existing 10% tariffs imposed on all Chinese EVs, with the final rate determined by each carmaker's level of cooperation with EU's anti-subsidy investigation launched in September last year. NEW FRONT FOR TIT-FOR-TAT TRADE WAR China’s commerce ministry has urged the EU to "immediately correct its wrong practices" and "properly handle trade frictions through dialogue and consultation". The ministry said it will "resolutely take all necessary measures to firmly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies". "This move by the European side not only harms the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese electric vehicle industry but will also disrupt and distort the global automotive industry chain and supply chain, including the EU," it said. The EU's move follows the US' tariff hikes announced last month on Chinese imports of EVs, batteries and other materials, starting 1 August. In 2018, then US President Donald Trump initiated a trade war with China by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports to address alleged trade imbalances, intellectual property theft, and unfair trade practices. China retaliated with tariffs on US goods, escalating tensions between the two biggest economies in the world. While reviews by the US and EU on Chinese goods were under way, Beijing launched in May an anti-dumping investigation into imported polyoxymethylene (POM) copolymer, also known as polyformaldehyde copolymer – a key material in electronics and automotive manufacturing. China's commerce ministry alleged that the plastic is being sold below market value, harming domestic producers. The probe, targeting imports from the US, EU, Taiwan, and Japan, could last up to 18 months and is seen as a direct response to their recent trade barriers against Chinese goods. In the case of Taiwan, China has also suspended tariff concessions on 134 more products from the island, including base oil, chemicals, and chemical products, citing Taiwan’s supposed violations of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with the mainland. Meanwhile, Japan’s tightened export controls on 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment that took effect on July 2023 was deemed in line with restrictions imposed by the US and the Netherlands, potentially hindering China's access to advanced chipmaking technology. China may issue further retaliatory measures, potentially impacting global supply chains and escalating trade tensions with major economies in the west. The automotive industry is a major global consumer of petrochemicals that contributes more than one-third of the raw material costs of an average vehicle. The automotive sector drives demand for chemicals such as polypropylene (PP), along with nylon, polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyurethane (PU), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). CHINA 2023 CAR EXPORTS TO EU SURGE China’s exports of automobiles to the EU have surged over the past year, particularly in the battery electric vehicle (BEV) segment, according to Nomura Global Markets Research. Cars produced in China accounted for 20% of all BEV registrations in the EU during the first two months of 2024, it said, citing data from automotive business intelligence firm JATO Dynamics. An analysis of January-April 2024 sales figures from China’s top three EV manufacturers in the EU, however, suggests that their overall presence in the region is still nascent, Nomura noted. In 2023, EU’s imports of Chinese EVs surged to $11.5 billion, more than sevenfold increase from $1.6 billion in 2020, according to think thank Rhodium Group. China accounted for 37% of EU’s total EV imports last year, it said. In the first quarter of 2024, about 40% of China’s EV exports or 145,002 units went to Europe, according to official customs data. Focus article by Nurluqman Suratman Thumbnail image: An electric car at a charging station near the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Shutterstock)

13-Jun-2024