Asia top stories – weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 12 November 2021.

China spot C2 demand to be underpinned by 2022 term discussions
Spot ethylene (C2) demand from China for December- and January-arrival cargoes will see some support from the 2022 term contract negotiations and downstream expansions.

INSIGHT: Vietnam takes first step toward PE self-sufficiency in H1 ’23
Vietnam will take a firm step toward polyethylene (PE) self-sufficiency in the first half of of 2023 with the start-up of the country’s first petrochemical complex, which should shave its complete reliance on imports.

BG softens in China on weak demand; firms in SE Asia on limited supply
Butyl glycol (BG) import prices in China have softened owing to sluggish downstream consumption, while those in southeast Asia firmed amid tightened supply, with the mixed market conditions likely to continue in the near term.

Arab Gulf chemical output, trade poised for growth in 2021-2022 – GPCA
The Arabian Gulf petrochemicals industry in 2021-2022 is poised to register growth in output, sales and international trade, according to the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA).

PODCAST: Asia EPDM market boosted on tight supply and demand recovery
Asia’s import prices for ethylene propylene diene-monomer (EPDM) have held firm at multi-year high levels for more than three months, supported by recovery of downstream production post-second wave of pandemic, and sustained limitations in regional supplies.