Asia top stories: weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 15 July 2016.

Asia BPA seen stable-to-firm as China demand picks up
Spot prices of bisphenol-A (BPA) in Asia are expected to be stable-to-firm in the coming weeks, buoyed by a recovery in Chinese domestic markets and reduced output at most regional plants, market sources said on Monday.

China phenol prices rebound despite regional supply gains
Spot phenol prices into China rebounded despite the gains in regional supply, market participants said on Monday.

Asia MPG outlook stable to soft as supply expected to lengthen
Asia spot import prices of monopropylene glycol (MPG) will likely to trend stable to soft in the coming months along with the expected increase in output from a major southeast Asia-based producer, market sources said on Tuesday.

Asia PS suppliers keep offers steady on SM retreat, demand rising
Asia polystyrene (PS) suppliers are keeping offers unchanged following a decline in feedstock styrene monomer (SM) values this week, though demand is expected to pick up on third quarter manufacturing season, market sources said on Tuesday.

Asia BD gains may be capped by weak buying sentiment
Spot butadiene (BD) prices in Asia will continue to be buoyed up by tight supply in the near term, but upside may be capped by weak buying sentiment, market sources said on Tuesday.

Asia EPS offers stable-to-lower as demand remains tepid
Some suppliers of expandable polystyrene (EPS) in Asia reduced their offers this week, in view of weak demand and recent soft crude futures, market sources said on Wednesday.

China amines on uptrend amid tight supply, strong EO
China’s ethanolamines prices are expected to firm amid tightening supply of the homologues in the local market and as feedstock ethylene oxide (EO) values near a four-month peak, market participants said on Thursday.

Asia capro finds support from tight supply, strong benzene
Asia’s spot caprolactam (capro) prices are likely to be stable-to-firm for the rest of July, amid limited spot availability and firm costs of feedstock benzene, market participants said on Friday.

Solvay exploring opportunities in Indonesia, Vietnam – CEO
Belgium-based producer Solvay is exploring investment options in Indonesia and Vietnam as it seeks to capture the strong growth opportunities available in southeast Asia, the company’s chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu told ICIS.