Europe top stories: weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
15-May-2023
LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended 12 May.
Europe R-PP non-packaging
demand down by up to 50% in April and
May
Demand for non-packaging grade recycled
polypropylene (R-PP) in Europe has fallen by as
much as 50% year on year in April and May,
players confirmed this week.
Ammonia supply
constraints spark European spot
activity
Global ammonia continues to encounter downward
price pressure for most major exporting and
importing hubs because of plentiful supply and
poorer than usual demand from the fertilizer
and chemicals sectors during the second
quarter.
Europe’s phenol and
acetone sector stuck in a rut in Q2
Phenol and acetone demand in Europe remains
below forecasts for Q2, with lower energy costs
doing little to lift consumption. As a result,
operating rates are not expected to increase
any time soon.
Europe butanediol stable
as frail demand persists
The European butanediol (BDO) market expects
lower than usual demand patterns to persist.
Still, the sector shows signs of stability and
consumption does not appear to be eroding any
further.
Europe spot PE prices
fall below two-year low in May on monomer drop,
“dead” demand, imports
Spot prices for several grades of polyethylene
(PE) in Europe fell below a two-year low in
early May, dragged down by a fall in upstream
monomer and naphtha prices, unseasonably poor
demand and the expected arrival of imports.
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