Asia top stories – weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 24 May 2024.

INSIGHT: Asia plasticisers producers brace for mounting selling pressure amid soaring freight rates
By Julia Tan 24-May-24 12:00 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Recently surging freight rates have led to a largely pessimistic outlook for the Asia plasticisers spot market, particularly for producers who rely heavily on export sales, as higher freight rates will continue to keep selling pressure high as sellers find it difficult to move product out of the region.

SE Asia PE June offers firmer due to shipment delays, tight supply
By Izham Ahmad 24-May-24 11:16 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Initial spot import offers for June shipments of polyethylene (PE) in southeast Asia were announced mostly firmer so far in the week ending 24 May, with gains driven by tight supply, which is being aggravated by delays in cargo delivery from the Middle East.

US tariff hikes on China EVs, batteries take effect 1 August
By Fanny Zhang 23-May-24 13:37 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Starting August, US tariffs on imports of electric vehicles (EVs) from China will quadruple to 100%, while those for battery materials will more than triple to 25%, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said.

Freight rates on China exports soar amid Red Sea crisis
By Fanny Zhang 22-May-24 11:56 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Freight rates for China’s exports, including petrochemicals, have been spiking in recent weeks and are expected to remain firm in the next three to six months on the back of improving overseas demand and amid continued logistics disruptions in the Middle East.

INSIGHT: China’s industrial activity gathers pace but lopsided April data clouds outlook
By Nurluqman Suratman 21-May-24 12:00 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–China’s industrial output grew by 6.7% year on year in April, signalling a further strengthening of its manufacturing sector, but weaker retail sales and bleak property data suggest that its overall growth momentum remains weak.

INSIGHT: Asia MEG market continues to brace for headwinds
By Judith Wang 20-May-24 20:17 SINGAPORE (ICIS)– Asia monoethylene glycol (MEG) market continues to face headwinds in the near term as it is grappling with the ample supply in China and soft global textile demand.

Asia IPA supported by acetone strength; demand lagging
By Joy Foo 20-May-24 14:13 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–After seeing a sharp increase in late April, tracking a surge in feedstock acetone cost, Asia’s isopropanol (IPA) spot prices have remained buoyant on cost support.