Polymerupdate global resin pricing

In Asian polystyrene (PS), general-purpose (GP) PS and high-impact (HI) PS were up by $10/tonne, with GPPS flat at $1520/tonne CFR, while HIPS prices were assessed at $1570/tonne CFR. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) prices in Asia also edged higher by $10/tonne to $1190 to $1200/tonne.

In Asian plant news, Polymerupdate is reporting that Formosa Polypropylene plans to increase operating rates at its Ningbo, China facility to 100% in early May. The plant’s No. 1 homopolymer PP line is running at 100%, with the No. 2 PP block copolymer at 40 to 60% capacity. Propylene feedstock will be provided by sister company Formosa Petrochemical’s steam crackers in Mailiao, Taiwan. Repair work to the crackers has almost been completed, with operations to be ramped up to 100% by early May. The No. 1 unit has ethylene production capacity of 700,000 tonnes/yr and propylene production capacity of 350,000 tonnes/yr.

GS Caltex is shutting down its PP plant in Yeosu, South Korea, bringing off line 180,000-tonnes/yr of capacity. Polymerupdate reports that the shutdown will last five days. Oman Polypropylene has delayed startup of its PP facility until the last week of May. The operation has a capacity of 340,000 tonnes/yr, and an unplanned outage at the residual fluid catalytic cracker in Sohar, which has been in place since the first week of April, has been resolved.

In European resin-pricing news, Polymerupdate reports that Ineos Nova has proposed a price increase of euro 30 to 40/tonnes for May PS. This follows an announced increase of euro 45/tonne by Dow Europe for GPPS. PP contract prices in Europe were lower last week, with PP homopolymer injection grade contract prices at euro 1225/tonne FD North West Europe, while spot PP homopolymer prices were lower to euro 1060/tonne FD North West Europe.

Contract prices of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) were unchanged from the week before at euro 1725/tonne FD north West Europe, with spot markets higher at euro 1330 to euro 1335/tonne FD North West Europe. PS contract prices in Europe slipped last week, with GPPS at euro 1390/tonne FD North West Europe, while HIPS contract prices were at euro 1445/tonne FD North West Europe. EPS contract prices were unchanged at euro 1415/tonne FD North West Europe.

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) contract prices in Europe last week were unchanged at euro 1285/tonne FD North West Europe for butane grades. In the spot markets, LLDPE prices fell across Europe, falling from euro 1205/tonne FD levels to euro 1185 to euro 1190/tonne FD.

LDPE general-purpose contract prices were assessed flat in Europe last week at euro 1320/tonne FD North West Europe, with spot markets down at euro 1195/tonne FD, down from prior-week prices of euro 1220/tonne FD in the spot markets. PVC contract prices were unchanged in Europe last week, with suspension-grade PVC at euro 1035/tonne FD North West Europe, and pipe-grade PVC contract prices in some select markets showing reductions of between euro 10 to euro 20/tonne. In European PE, Dow has said it will increase prices of its PE grade by euro 50/tonne. The increase will affect LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE resins.

In plant news, Ineos ChlorVinyls reports that it has not been affected by a refinery strike in Grangemouth, Scotland. The company sources ethylene feedstock from 320,000 tonnes/yr and 720,000 tonnes/yr crackers at Grangemouth. The company is planning a six-week shutdown at its facility in Runcorn, northern England.