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 July 2020.

INSIGHT: China industries expand for fifth month; downside risks still high
China’s industries have remained in expansion mode for the fifth consecutive month in July, recovering from a record slump in February but downside risks to economic growth are high as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.

India NBR offers rise on BD surge; demand driven by agricultural sector
Offers for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) in India rose on the back of surging cost of feedstock butadiene (BD) and improved demand from the agricultural sector.

Asia epoxy resins demand stays limp on weak downstream production
August trade for Asian epoxy resins is poised to stay under pressure, as concrete and even downstream production recovery still seems a remote reality despite some upbeat economic data in China.

Asia NBA demand recovering; widened price gap with 2-EH may remain
Demand for n-butanol (NBA) in Asia is recovering gradually from a trough in the first quarter at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. But a rebound in its prices is unlikely to catch up with the gains of fellow oxo-alcohol 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) anytime soon.

Saudi SABIC adjusts output to meet strong pandemic-related demand
Saudi petrochemical major SABIC has adjusted its production slate to meet increased demand from sectors such as healthcare and packaging amid the coronavirus pandemic, a company official said.