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 4 April.

Malaysia’s PCG on track to start RAPID commercial ops in H2 ‘19
PETRONAS Chemicals Group (PCG) is on track to start commercial production at its new Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Johor, Malaysia, in the second half of 2019, the company’s chief executive said.

China Q1 gasoil exports up 11.9% on year amid domestic supply glut
China’s first-quarter gasoil exports increased by 11.93% year on year to 4.7m tonnes amid an oversupplied domestic market, official data showed.

Indian ACN firming up as bids improve on tight supply
India spot price for acrylonitrile (ACN) is set to make bigger gains if buying appetite continues to improve amid ongoing supply constraints.

SE Asia PME softens on weak demand, lower palm oil prices
Spot prices of palm methyl ester (PME) biodiesel in southeast Asia are expected to remain under pressure as demand remains weak, while prices of feedstock crude palm oil (CPO) are expected to soften.

Asia SBR offers spike on surging BD costs, better demand
Offers for styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in Asia continued to increase, tracking gains in feedstock butadiene (BD) market, amid expectations of a near-term improvement in demand.

NE Asia C3 buying sentiment weakens as tight supply eases
Spot propylene (C3) prices in northeast Asia fell, snapping three consecutive weeks of increase, as buying sentiment weakened amid an easing of tight supply conditions.

Asian melamine may firm on tight supply and resumption of business
Spot discussions for Asia melamine are expected to firm up in the coming weeks on tight supply and as trade returns to normalcy after a holiday.

Asia BD tight supply may ease on CSPC plant start-up
Asia’s tight butadiene (BD) supply is expected to ease when a new plant in China starts up, and possibly exert downward pressure on spot prices in May.