Asia top stories – weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 31 May 2019.

Upcoming HDPE capacity in south China to intensify domestic competition
The new and upcoming HDPE capacity in south China will lead to fierce competition in the south China market, several domestic producers based in south China said recently.

Asia PET spot buying returns; stabilises Chinese PET prices
Asia spot buying interest in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) cargoes has improved as Chinese PET prices started to stabilise, even seeing rebounds in offers within the week.

Asia fatty acids market subdued and likely to remain so due to holiday
Asia’s fatty acid discussions are subdued and are likely to remain so in the near future especially with the upcoming Eid ul-Fitr holiday.

Asia’s glycerine supply glut to ease in August on output cuts
Though the Asian glycerine market is currently mired in a supply glut and bearish buying sentiment, the situation could change in August when biodiesel producers in Malaysia and Indonesia put on a brake on high output.

Tight SE Asia PME supply renders thin export availability
Southeast (SE) Asia’s palm methyl ester (PME) biodiesel is facing tight supply at this juncture, rendering low export availability to markets beyond the region as suppliers gear towards covering domestic blending needs.

China’s gasoline output may fall month on month in May
China’s gasoline output may fall month on month in May, as turnarounds peak from late May to early June and the domestic market remains oversupplied.

China polymers swing makers to shun HDPE injection on decade-low price slump
China’s domestic high density polyethylene (HDPE) injection market may find more producers tuning their LLDPE/HDPE swing units to other polymers amid a decade-low price slump.

Asia PC tumbles to near 10-year low on supply glut
Asia’s polycarbonate (PC) markets have slumped to record lows in nearly a decade, pummeled by a plentiful supply situation that could persist amid the ongoing US-China trade war.

Asia SBR makers hike offers on BD gains; demand to stay weak
Asia’s styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) producers have hiked their offers in response to recent rebound in feedstock butadiene (BD) prices, even though demand is expected to remain subdued amid weakness in China’s automotive sector.

SE Asia PE buckles under pressure from China market losses
Southeast Asia’s polyethylene (PE) market is under pressure from slumping values in China, and may lead to a possible narrowing of the current wide price gap between the two markets.

Asia etac makers face cost pressure; demand remains weak
Asia’s ethyl acetate (etac) producers are facing cost pressures from firm feedstock prices, prompting them to hike offers despite continued weakness in demand.

INTERACTIVE: Asia TiO2 weighed down by escalating trade tensions
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) prices in Asia are expected to remain weighed down by heightened trade tensions between the US and China.

Southeast Asia MA market sentiment bearish; demand to stay weak
Southeast Asia’s maleic anhydride (MA) market sentiment may remain bearish in the weeks to come due to persistently weak demand and excess supply in the market.

Asia MMA slumps to 28-month low amid weak China market
Asia’s methyl methacrylate (MMA) spot prices have slumped to their lowest levels in 28 months, and the market is likely to stay stifled amid weak Chinese values and heightened US-China trade tensions.

China may import more PP in June on Asia plant start-ups, restarts
China’s polypropylene (PP) imports are expected to grow in June amid increased availability of supply in Asia, with two new start-ups and as some facilities complete their turnarounds.