July IPEX Index up 1.6% month on month on rising NE Asia and US prices

LONDON (ICIS)–The ICIS Petrochemical Index (IPEX) rose by 1.6% month on month in July, tracking price increases seen in most major petrochemicals and plastics markets in northeast Asia and the US Gulf. The increase came despite a drop in prices in Europe.

Prices in northeast Asia registered the steepest increase following a jump in the price of commodities such as butadiene (BD), benzene and paraxylene (PX).

All petrochemicals and plastics prices used to calculate the index in the region rose in July, with the exception of PVC, methanol, polystyrene (PS) and propylene.

The US Gulf index also rose, increasing 1.2% month on month in July. BD and ethylene saw the biggest price increases, and styrene, PS and benzene were the only ones to fall.

The European index posted the only decline in July, with styrene, benzene and PS leading the fall.

The Global IPEX index has risen 71% year on year.

The monthly IPEX indices provide a snapshot of the petrochemicals and plastics markets in the three major producing and consuming regions, as well as globally.

The IPEX table and charts below are ‘live’ and update on a regular basis. The latest price increases are shown and values of the regional and global IPEXs..

Price changes for the commodities used to create the IPEX can be captured by users on the price table allowing comparisons to be made on a flexible monthly basis.

Likewise, IPEX values can be captured by clicking into the chart are and downloading current and historical data using the ‘downlaod’ button and slecting an option.

The ICIS petrochemical index tracks the movement of prices for the 12 major petrochemicals and polymers: ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, paraxylene (PX), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), styrene, polystyrene (PS), methanol and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with the regional indexes weighted by capacity. The IPEX values are related to a January 2000 base of 100. IPEX values are subject to change retrospectively as monthly contract prices are settled.