Asia top stories – weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
05-Feb-2018
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 2 February 2018.
Saudi Arabia’s Sadara TDI cargoes available in
Asia – sources
Cargoes of toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) produced
by Saudi Arabia’s Sadara Chemical have arrived
in various parts of Asia, marking the company’s
initial foray into the world’s largest TDI
market, sources said.
Asia PBR demand slows down ahead of Lunar New
Year holidays
Spot polybutadiene rubber (PBR) in Asia halted
their uptrend as demand has started to slow
down, with players retreating from the market
ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.
China domestic BDO prices extend gains on tight
supply
China’s domestic butanediol (BDO) prices have
been rebounding on the back of tight supply,
which may continue in the near term with plants
running at reduced capacity and amid logistics
problems in the northwestern and central
regions of the country.
China PMI slips for second month amid winter
anti-pollution drive
China’s manufacturing activities slowed down
for the second consecutive month in January,
hit by the government’s winter anti-pollution
measures that curbed overall production.
China acrylonitrile production may decrease
slightly in 2018 on heavy turnarounds
China’s domestic acrylonitrile (ACN) production
may decrease slightly in 2018 due to heavy
turnarounds during the year.
China ACN import/export trades to be more
active after restrictions eased
China’s acrylonitrile (ACN) buyers will be
importing more in 2018 due to a slew of unit
turnarounds in the country and especially after
government removed import export quotas with
effect from 1 January.
Asia SBR uptrend may be capped as buyers resist
higher offers
Price gains in Asia’s spot styrene butadiene
rubber (SBR) market may be capped as downstream
tyre makers are resisting higher offers, citing
availability of cheaper alternative raw
material, natural rubber (NR).
Strong yuan bolsters March outlook in Asia EVA
market, PV industry clouded
Asia-based ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
producers were upbeat about the March demand
outlook in China post-Lunar New Year holidays,
partly on expectations that buyers would be
able to afford higher US-dollar denominated
cargoes on the back of a stronger yuan versus
the dollar.
China 2017 MEG imports grow 15.6% on strong
polyester market
China’s monoethylene glycol (MEG) imports in
2017 increased 15.6% to 8.75m tonnes, backed by
a stronger-than-expected performance in
downstream polyester markets.
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