Asia top stories – weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
30-Jul-2018
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 27 July 2018.
Malaysia’s new government puts B10 biodiesel
plan back on agenda
After months of anticipation, Malaysia’s new
government has reiterated its commitment to the
B10 biodiesel blending programme, an important
policy initiative which could further support
the country’s key palm oil industry.
China HDPE yarn at three-month low as
coal-based supply grows
High density polyethylene (HDPE) yarn prices in
China’s domestic spot market are currently at
their three-month low, after steadily falling
since late May due to growing supply of
coal-based material.
China ethanolamines players cautious as initial
ADDs take effect
China’s ethanolamines players have started
import discussions about two weeks since
preliminary antidumping duties (ADD) on imports
took effect on 23 June, but have remained
largely cautious about the market.
China MIBK at near two-year low on poor
demand
China’s methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) import
prices fell to a near two-year low due to poor
demand during summer.
Asia ABS steady after recent rout; producers
reduce output
Asia’s acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
market was stable this week, following recent
tumbles, as buyers emerged from the sidelines
to pick up some cargoes.
China PP under pressure amid trade war with US,
falling yuan
China’s polypropylene (PP) import prices are
under pressure amid the country’s escalating
trade war with the US and the continued
depreciation of the yuan against the US dollar.
China’s MLLDPE imports set to remain bearish
amid poor demand
The sentiment for metallocene low density
polyethylene (MLLDPE) imports in China is
expected to remain bearish next month amid
tepid demand, with prices now set to drop for
the second straight week.
China soda ash remains under pressure from
rising supply
China’s domestic soda ash prices may remain on
a downward trend due to rising supply after the
conclusion of the plant turnaround season,
coupled with curtailed operations at some
downstream industries.
SE Asia IPA rebounds as supply tightens; China
cargoes limited
Southeast (SE) Asia’s isopropanol (IPA) prices
have rebounded after nearly two months of
steady decline, on tightening supply due to
limited cargoes being exported by China.
GCC TDI may fall further on higher supply as
BASF plant restarts
Spot import prices of toluene di-isocyanate
(TDI) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are
expected to be weighed down in the coming weeks
by increased supply after German chemical major
BASF resumed production at its
Ludwigshafen plant.
Global News + ICIS Chemical Business (ICB)
See the full picture, with unlimited access to ICIS chemicals news across all markets and regions, plus ICB, the industry-leading magazine for the chemicals industry.
Contact us
Partnering with ICIS unlocks a vision of a future you can trust and achieve. We leverage our unrivalled network of industry experts to deliver a comprehensive market view based on independent and reliable data, insight and analytics.
Contact us to learn how we can support you as you transact today and plan for tomorrow.