Asia top stories – weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
08-Oct-2018
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 5 October 2018.
Asia MEK market sentiment bullish; spot cargoes
limited
Asia’s methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) market
sentiment is bullish on expectations of
improved demand amid limited availability of
spot cargoes in the near term.
Asia TDI downtrend continues on sluggish
demand
Asia’s toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) prices may
remain on a downtrend in coming weeks, if
regional demand fails to pick up soon.
Asia benzene up on firm crude; ample supply to
cap further gains
Asia’s spot benzene prices were firmer despite
the week-long holidays in the key Chinese
market, riding on strong crude ahead of the US
sanctions on Iran.
Asia shipping rates may firm on low-sulphur
rules at China ports
Freight rates in Asia may firm as some ports in
the key China market have tightened regulations
related to pollution emissions of ships in
October.
NE Asia industries stable-to-weak in Sept;
trade war worries persist
Manufacturing momentum in northeast Asia was
stable-to-weak in September amid soft external
demand, with overall business sentiment in the
region weighed down by the ongoing China-US
trade war.
Asia petrochemical markets gain as crude at
near four-year high
Spot prices of some petrochemicals in Asia
spiked on Tuesday with crude prices trading at
near four-year highs ahead of the re-imposition
of US sanctions on Iran next month.
India PE, PP markets on a seasonal lull ahead
of Diwali
India’s polyolefin demand has been largely
weak, with upside limited amid a seasonal
market lull ahead of Diwali in November.
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