Polyester staple fibre markets in Asia were stable to soft this week, seeing trading values slightly falling. Downstream buyers were cautiously on sidelines, and trading activities was mute, with offers notionally stable but discounts available in firm deals.

Polyester Chain: No Signs Of Improvement, Paraxylene Tank [ 01 Apr, 2013]

Price movements in Asian ethylene markets were diverged as cargoes continued to move from Northeast to Southeast Asia despite the price gap between them narrowing. In Europe, the April contract price for ethylene was fully settled down Euro 60 a ton on the month while the spot markets tumbled on low demand. In US spot ethylene slipped following the market talk of improving supply, which in turn was attributed to the recent restarts of petrochemical facilities in the US Gulf. Paraxylene prices were at their lowest since 2 August 2012 in Asian markets while European spot prices tanked as global sentiment continued to decline. US spot paraxylene continued to be under pressure by lower US spot MX prices and weakening Asian prices.

Mono ethylene glycol prices slipped amid weak polyester demand while the markets scrambled for the psychologically-important level. MEG market was also weighed down by bearish sentiment early in the week. US MEG prices are set to move lower in April after MEGlobal had set its North American benchmark price for the month at a decrease from March. The plunging feedstock paraxylene has a adverse impact on purified terephthalic acid prices which sank to the lowest level since 30 August 2012. PTA prices accelerated their downward trend, with offers dwindling. In Europe, PTA producers continued to face weak demand for their product, as activity in downstream PTA stalled on expectation of price declines.

Source: YnFx.com

Polyester Chain: Paraxylene prices tanked [ 25 Mar, 2013]

Ethylene prices rose in Asian markets amid tightening supply as crackers lowered operating rates on poor margins. In Europe, cutbacks in operating rates by polyethylene producers contributed to the length in the market. In US, spot ethylene slipped as production facilities were returning back to normal operation. Asian paraxylene prices tanked below the psychologically important US$1,500 a ton mark for the first time in six months, hit by bearish downstream PTA market. Market players were sitting on comfortable-to-high inventory levels and taking a wait-and-see approach, anticipating further drops in prices. In Europe, spot price for paraxylene declined, tracking Asia. US spot paraxylene remained flat attributed to weak demand while no firm bids were heard this week.

Mono ethylene glycol price slid in Asia amid weak polyester demand in China. In Europe, MEG contract price for March was fully settled down on the month while US MEG market was heard quiet as industry players were awaiting to hear the April contract announcements to know how far prices will come down. PTA prices sank hit by bearish upstream and downstream markets for paraxylene and polyester. PTA spot market sentiment gradually waned with the restart of several PTA units increasing the overall operating rate by 10% from last week.

Source: YnFx.com