Global Plastic Pricing Briefs from Polymerupdate.com

Steep gains in energy prices coupled with firmer Asian naphtha costs, have pushed up styrene monomer (SM) feedstock prices this week in Asia, according to a Polymerupdate.com source. This has led to a subsequent increase in polystyrene (PS) prices, with one South Korean producer lifting them $10 to $20/tonne.

After a four-day shutdown, Aromatics Malaysia Sdn Bhd (AMSB) ramped up output to near full rates at its paraxylene (PX) and benzene plants located at Kertih. AMSB has a benzene output capacity of 200,000 tonnes/yr and a PX output capacity of 550,000 tonnes/yr.”

In high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polymerupdate.com reports that CFR Far East and CFR South East Asian offers for film are above $1650/tonne, while in South Asia prices are above the $1660 to $1670/tonne CFR levels.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) prices into China are at $1740/tonne CFR levels. A Polymerupdate.com source said if post-New Year buying increases lifts, ABS prices could go up $10/tonne.

In linear low-density PE (LLDPE), one trader told Polymerupdate.com that its current offers to China are at $1630/tonne CFR, with plans to raise them to $1650/tonne CFR. LLDPE consumers and producers are awaiting the partial restart of the 476,000-tonne Mitsubishi Chemical cracker in Kashima. Middle Eastern LDPE comes in at $1810/tonne CIF, with the assumption that prices will hit $1850/tonne.

Polypropylene (PP) injection offers to India are flat at $1520/tonne from select sellers in South East Asia, with sellers in the Far East at the $1540/tonne CFR mark. There have been some purchases confirmed recently at just above the $1515/tonne CFR India levels, but volumes are not large.

Polymerupdate.com is also reporting that Arya Sasol Petrochemical Co. will be bringing its LDPE plant on stream on March 1. The 300 kt/yr plant is located in the Pars Special Energy Economic Zone (PSEEZ) in Assaluyeh. A 50% stake each is held in the complex by the National Petrochemical Co. (NPC) of Iran and South African group Sasol.

A drop in MEG contract prices in Europe, prompted polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle-grade and PET film-grade buyers to pressure European producers to abandon plans for a euro 50/tonne hike in February contract prices (CP) from January levels, according to Polymerupdate.com. PET bottle-grade prices last week were assessed at the euro 1315/tonne FD North West Europe levels, while PET film grade was at euro 1290/tonne FD North West Europe levels.

Polypropylene (PP) homopolymer contract prices were mostly unchanged from last week’s levels at euro 1275/tonne FD North West Europe, with spot market homopolymer PP at euro 1210/tonne FD North West Europe. PP copolymer prices were euro 1260/tonne FD North West Europe. LLDPE contract prices are at the euro 1270/tonne FD North West Europe for butane-grade LLDPE. Polymerupdate.com reports that polystyrene (PS) prices were up, with general-purpose PS at euro 1380/tonne FD North West Europe, while high-impact PS contract prices were assessed at euro 1425/mt FD North West Europe. Both contracts were up euro 20/mt.

In North America, Polymerupdate.com sources report that Ineos Nova has scheduled a turnaround at its styrene (SM) unit in Bayport, TX this month. To begin on Feb. 6, the planned outage at the 1.7 billion lb/yr SM unit will last a month. During the shutdown period, supplies to contract customers will not be affected as Ineos Nova has built up sufficient inventories. In addition, Westlake Chemicals will shutdown its Lake Charles, LA SM facility for maintenance. The outage at the 420 million lb/yr plant is expected to last about 45 days.