Asia top stories – weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 29 September 2023.

NE Asia C2 trading slows on holidays; prices hold onto recent gains
By Yeow Pei Lin 29-Sep-23 11:38 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Northeast Asia’s spot ethylene (C2) prices were little changed in the run-up to the holiday season, as players sat on the sidelines weighing softer China downstream markets against strong feedstock costs and lower US October exports.

Asia petrochemical trades slow down ahead of China holidays; headwinds persist
By Nurluqman Suratman 28-Sep-23 13:03 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Asia’s petrochemical markets have slowed down ahead of the long holiday in the Chinese markets, with concerns over long-term demand continuing to weigh on sentiment despite recent gains.

SE Asia PE October import offers announced largely stable to firm
By Izham Ahmad 27-Sep-23 10:39 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Some polyethylene (PE) suppliers tried to pass on higher production costs to their customers but faced limited buyer acceptance, with the majority of bids coming in within recent ranges.

South Korea’s SKC to build PBAT plant in Vietnam
By Nurluqman Suratman 26-Sep-23 12:16 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–SKC is planning to build a 70,000 tonne/year polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) plant at Hai Phong in Vietnam, the South Korean chemicals maker on Monday.

China’s PC import price rally seen losing momentum as buyers turn wary
By Li Peng Seng 25-Sep-23 12:42 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–The hike in China’s import prices for general purpose (GP) moulding grade polycarbonate (PC) is currently driven being by feedstock costs and not by demand, causing industry players to worry that buyers may not be able to keep up given the global economic uncertainties.