Asia top stories – weekly summary

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News Asia and the Middle East for the week ended 30 August 2024.

Asia EDC demand suppressed while deep-sea availability improves
By Jonathan Chou 30-Aug-24 12:19 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Soft downstream conditions are weighing on demand for ethylene dichloride (EDC) in Asia. Margins of some downstream polvinyl chloride (PVC) producers are being depressed by an influx of imports in the key markets of India and southeast Asia.

SE Asia regional ethylene tightness sees more arbitrage opportunities
By Josh Quah 28-Aug-24 18:07 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–The market thus far is on track to end the third quarter as anticipated in the ICIS outlook for second-half 2024. The two main regions in Asia’s ethylene markets – northeast Asia and southeast Asia – have diverged in terms of demand-supply fundamentals.

INSIGHT: China PP exports to seek other outlets amid intense competition in southeast Asia
By Lucy Shuai 27-Aug-24 17:34 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–As China’s polypropylene (PP) capacity increases and a weak economy drags down demand, the imbalance between supply and demand has intensified and China’s PP exports have surged.

NE Asia ACN at the lowest point in a year, market players await seasonal demand
By Corey Chew 27-Aug-24 11:11 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–The acrylonitrile (ACN) market saw prices fall significantly last week in the northeast Asia market, while the India market saw a smaller decrease.

India’s BPA price falls; sellers may face more pressure
By Li Peng Seng 26-Aug-24 13:59 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–The average bisphenol A (BPA) spot price in India has fallen to a 2.5-month low recently on easing freight rates, and buyers may now hold back spot purchases if they could as they expect freight rates to undergo further downward correction.

INSIGHT: China PP exports to seek other outlets amid intense competition in southeast Asia
By Lucy Shuai 27-Aug-24 17:34 SINGAPORE (ICIS)–As China’s polypropylene (PP) capacity increases and a weak economy drags down demand, the imbalance between supply and demand has intensified and China’s PP exports have surged.