In China, medium-length staple fiber and cotton-type staple prices were up US cents 2 a kg in the last week of October. Offers for Taiwan origin 3D bright ASF tow rolled over while regular specs were unchanged on the week.
Acrylic staple fibre prices climbed in Asian markets, particularly in China, as run rate moved down tightening supply somewhat. Meanwhile, end-use demand improved, leading to fresh orders. Downstream performance was stable, and buying appetite for ASF picked up slightly.
Asian markers were down US$5 a ton CFR Far East Asia and Southeast Asia in the last week of October. In China, offers for offshore cargoes remained unchanged on the week.
Acrylonitrile prices edged down in Asian markets, after remaining firm past four weeks, as demand weakened from downstream acrylic fibre makers while upstream propylene cost declined sharply.
Meanwhile, Taiwan-based China Petrochemical Development Corp shut its 240,000 ton a year ACN plant for scheduled maintenance.
Asian MEG prices surged US$18 a ton CFR China and CFR South East Asia in the last week of October. In China, trading values surged US$10 a ton on the week.
Mono ethylene spot prices in Asia surged week on week to six-month highs as import pricing surged nearly 10% since late September. In China, MEG market fluctuated following an uptrend that week driven by PTA futures initially, and then softened due to sustained drop in crude oil prices. Later MEG market fluctuated upward and rebounded by weekend.
Asian paraxylene prices edged down US$0.50 a ton CFR Taiwan/China and FOB Korea in the last week of October. Isomer mixed xylene offers fell US$20 a ton FOB Korea on the week.
Paraxylene prices gained on the first two days of the week and declined midweek, only to recover later and post a mild weekly loss tracking PTA futures.
Meanwhile, November contract prices were nominated up from October. Isomer – mixed xylene market structure changed from flat to a contango weekend.
In China, FDY70D/24F SD prices were up US cent 1 a kg while FDY40D rolled over on the week. DTY 70D/24F prices remained unchanged while 30D/10F were down US cents 9 a kg on the week. Monofilament 30D prices were flat while nylon staple fiber 1.5D prices fell US cents 3 a kg during the week.
Asian caprolactum prices gained in the last week of October with SE and FE markers up US$20 a ton while Japanese goods were flat on the week.
Sinopec settled its October contract which was down US$100 a ton from nomination for liquid goods while Fibrant announced October settlement down US$100 a ton for liquid goods.
In China, 30s spun viscose prices fell US cents 5 a kg in Xiaoshan in the last week of October while 40s compact sirospun yarn prices in Jiangsu were down US cents 2 a kg on the week. Viscose spun markets were feeble and prices began sliding, however less rapidly than VSF prices, and consequently, margins rose at spinning mills. Market discussions for ring‐spun 30s yarn and siro‐spun 40s yarn mostly moved down.
In Qianqing, PC (65/35) 32s yarn prices rolled over in the last week of October while 45s PC combed yarn prices were stable on the week. 32s PV (65/35) were down US cents 2 a kg during the week. Blended spun yarn prices moved in different directions, depending on the specs. Viscose blended yarn prices in China retreated to lower levels, in line with the current fall of VSF prices.
In Shengze, offers for 32s polyester yarn were up US cents 2 a kg in the third week of October and 45s climbed US cent 1 a kg on the week. In Qiangqing, offers for 32s weaving rose US cent 1 a kg on the week.
Spun polyester prices rose 0.8-1.5% in Qianqing following the rise in OSF pricing. The benchmark 1.4D PSF gained 1.15% in the week, reflecting higher raw material costs but also a slightly stronger demand from spinners. Offers for spun polyester yarns in partial specs in Shengze market were also raised, as sales volume was moderate.
Asian PTA markers fell US$4 a ton CFR China and CFR Southeast Asia in the third week of October. Purified terephthalic acid prices edged down amid volatility in futures market despite active trading in Chinese domestic market. End-users were seeking goods to meet year-end demand.
In China, offers for nearby-month goods were range bound on the week. PTA market was relatively quiet in H1 of the week as PTA futures values inched up, while the trading atmosphere in spot waned since polyester producers showed weak interest to buy high-priced goods.
