Europe top stories: weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
15-Jan-2018
LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended 12 January.
Stronger Asian market
pushes Europe styrene spot values up
Higher pricing in the Asian styrene spot market
has also pushed European values up, although it
is not clear if this is the only reason for the
latest surge in domestic market pricing,
players said.
Germany’s Chancellor
Merkel advances on forming new
government
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian
Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats
(SPD) have agreed a “compromise paper”, paving
the way to begin official negotiations to renew
their “grand coalition” government, they said.
Europe toluene market
remains firm amid crude oil ongoing
strength
Energy continues to be the driver of European
toluene spot prices as Brent crude oil values
surpassed $70/bbl this week, although overall
fundamentals remain slow after the holiday
season, players said.
Swiss
exchange launches Clariant investigation over
Huntsman disclosures
Switzerland’s key stock exchange has opened an
investigation into a potential breach of
disclosure requirements by chemical producer
Clariant in relation to its failed merger with
US-based Huntsman, the bourse said.
OUTLOOK ’18: European
players eye impact of global shifts on phenol
and acetone conditions
European phenol and acetone market players
continue to cite differing expectations for the
year ahead, on the back of global shifts in the
production landscape and anticipated trade
flows.
Europe methanol futures
contract ‘to launch in March’
A futures contract for the European methanol
market could launch as early as March, a
Russian methanol trader who is involved in the
process said.
INSIGHT INTERACTIVE: IPEX
data show producers ending 2017 on a high
note
Petrochemical and polymer players saw a strong
end to 2017 with key commodity prices up month
to month and year to year, ICIS data shows.
OUTLOOK ’18: Africa
polymers players optimistic for healthy demand
in 2018
Africa polymers players are optimistic for 2018
following a poor year for demand across the
continent, although positive expectations are
on the perception that the bottom has been
reached rather than any real signs of
improvement.
OUTLOOK ’18: European PVC
demand to rise, feedstocks to tighten
The European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market is
likely to see solid demand growth in 2018
although supply may be affected because of
possible higher chlorine run rates, with
feedstocks expected to structurally tighten due
to the closure of some chlorine capacity.
OUTLOOK ’18 – Europe
plasticizers positive for 2018, market awaits
new DOTP capacity
European plasticizer markets are largely
expected to have a positive 2018, buyers and
sellers agree.
OUTLOOK ’18: A
significant restart to play on Europe PET
conditions
The restart of India-based polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) producer JBF Industries’
Belgian plant poses as the greatest factor for
European market participants to consider in
2018.
Rhine
waterways closed to shipping as water levels
surge
Sections of the River Rhine are currently
closed to shipping transportation as a result
of surging water levels in Germany over the
weekend, a representative of the country’s
waterway and shipping administration said.
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