Asia top stories – weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 10 May 2024.

PODCAST: APIC ‘24: Asia recycled plastics sees sustainable finance focus
By Damini Dabholkar 10-May-24 12:22
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Sustainable finance is a key interest for companies seeking to enter the recycled plastics market in Asia or to expand their current capacities. Despite the various financial instruments available, the absence of a clear entry point often results in uncertainty for firms. In this podcast, ICIS analysts Chua Xin Nee and Joshua Tan explore the different types of sustainability-related loans available and their successful use cases.

China-SE Asia arbitrage flow for MTBE unworkable on oil price falls
By Keven Zhang 10-May-24 11:50
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–The arbitrage of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from China to southeast Asia can be reopened, after blenders in southeast Asia finish consuming their existing inventory.

PODCAST: Weak demand expected for Asia propylene and downstream PO
By Damini Dabholkar 09-May-24 15:02 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Asia’s propylene market will continue to see weak demand, although potential curbs in plant run rates in China amid weak margins could lend support.

China exports return to growth in April amid signs of improving demand
By Nurluqman Suratman 09-May-24 14:31
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–China’s April exports rose by 1.5% year on year to $292.5 billion in April, reversing the 7.5% contraction in March supported by signs of improved global demand, customs data showed on Thursday.

China petrochemical market edges up in Apr, demand outlook remains weak
By Yvonne Shi 08-May-24 13:20 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–China’s petrochemical market edged up in April, with the ICIS China Petrochemical Index – which tracks 17 key products in the domestic market – rising slightly by 1.60% to 1267.60 by the end of the month as compared with March.

Singapore April manufacturing slows amid persistent external headwinds
By Nurluqman Suratman 07-May-24 11:59
SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Singapore’s manufacturing activity fell in April as a result of decreased export orders triggered by external demand headwinds and high global interest rates.

NE Asia C3 talks to kick off, but supply concerns weigh on buyers
By Julia Tan 06-May-24 12:02 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Discussions for June arrivals will kick off as China returns from the Labour Day holidays, even with the potential headwinds of poor downstream demand and ample supply from Southeast Asia.