The SE and FE Asian caprolactum markers on the lower end was down US$40 a ton in the second week of April. In China, spot liquid good offers fell US$57 a ton on the week while solid goods were up US$7 a ton on the week. European goods also plunged US$40 a ton on the week.

Caprolactum prices in Asia were on downtrend that week despite strong upstream market. In China, CPL offers slipped amid and diminishing demand which resulted in to lack of confidence during the week. Plant run rates were at 77%, fell from last week.

Tianchen Yaolong is planning to shut its 280,000 tons per year CPL plant to debottleneck and expand the capacity to 350,000 tons per year in May, which may last for 25 days. Juhua restarted its 100,000 tons per year CPL plant on 14 April which was shut from last week.

Overall, CPL market is likely to weaken in coming weeks while demand needs to recover.

Courtesy: Weekly PriceWatch Report