Asia top stories – weekly summary

ICIS Editorial

03-Dec-2018

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 30 November.

BASF TDI plant output halt could stem GCC price decline
A production halt at BASF’s flagship toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, could halt the downtrend in prices in the Middle East, but a sharp recovery may still not materialize yet.

Asia SAN extends losses on weak China demand
Asia’s styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) prices extended losses this week with demand in the key Chinese market remaining weak.

Asia ABS market to stay weak on tepid demand
Asia’s acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) market has remained weak with prices drifting lower in the Chinese spot market, and regional buying interest likely to stay tepid in the near term.

China BDO falls for 8th month in a row, demand to remain soft
China’s butanediol (BDO) prices have been on a downtrend for eight consecutive months in November on oversupply and weak demand, a situation likely to continue to cast its shadows on the market till the end of the year.

Asia MTBE prices rebound; market outlook stays bearish
Asia’s methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) prices rebounded on the back of higher bids for Singapore exports, but the market outlook remains bearish.

BASF TDI plant output halt could stem GCC price decline
A production halt at BASF’s flagship toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, could halt the downtrend in prices in the Middle East, but a sharp recovery may still not materialize yet.

Asia’s MMA prices slide to over 13-month lows on slow demand
Asia’s methyl methacrylate (MMA) spot markets have slid to more than 13-month lows, reflecting slow buying momentum and a lack of market confidence, industry participants said.

Malaysia B10 implementation to boost biodiesel consumption
Malaysia’s consumption of biodiesel will get a boost as its government’s mandatory nationwide implementation of the B10 biodiesel blending programme is due to kick in this weekend, market sources said.

GPCA ’18: Chem players need to speed up efforts on plastic waste crisis – execs
The petrochemicals industry will need to speed up its efforts in innovating and collaborating with other industries to solve the global plastics waste crisis, key industry executives said.

GPCA ’18: Southeast Asia PE players to brace for the onset of supply pressure
Polyethylene (PE) players in southeast Asia are bracing for the onset of supply pressure and expect December prices to be weighed down as a result.

GPCA ’18: Southeast, south Asia on the radar of US PE sellers
Polyethylene (PE) markets in southeast and south Asia will be on the radar of US producers as they prepare to export greater volumes in 2019, industry sources said.

GPCA ’18: Pakistan PE/PP demand struggles amid crude slump
Spot polymer demand in Pakistan continues to struggle amid the steep decline in crude values as it has prompted price uncertainties, giving rise to a bearish near-term outlook.
Speaking to ICIS at the sidelines of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum currently underway in Dubai, market sources said that off take for December is likely to remain curtailed to a need-based sourcing of product.

GPCA ’18: Q1 2019 to lend clearer direction for polymers
The first quarter of 2019 is likely to lend a clearer direction to how the rest of the year would shape up for the polymers markets worldwide, given that uncertainty and pessimism persists going into end of 2018.

GPCA ’18: GCC polymer exports to grow amid US-China trade war
Polymers exports of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to increase amid the US-China trade war.

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