Tagged Posts for Aromatics-fibers
India Phenol Retreats From 12-Week High; Market in State of Flux
Spot phenol prices in India declined last week from a 12-week high, as importers took profit following the recent price run-up. At the same time, some market participants described market conditions as being in a state of flux, with companies pursuing expansion and new partnerships in the wake of the second wave of U.S. sanctions related to alleged violations of Iran sanctions. Read More
India Phenol Edges Up After Pre-Diwali Jump; Market Braces for Sanctions
Spot phenol prices in India inched higher after the market reopened this week following the Diwali holidays. At the same time, several market participants said they are navigating a trading landscape shaped by expanded U.S. sanctions and are bracing for additional measures. Read More
China’s Aromatics Imports Down in September Amid Weakening Demand
China’s aromatics imports plunged in September amid weaker domestic consumption and increased local production, dampening buyer interest for overseas shipments, industry sources said on Tuesday. Read More
China Phenol Price Unchanged at Five-Month Low; Import Volumes Set to Rise
China's domestic phenol prices held steady this week at their lowest in five and a half months, data from Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS shows, with the resumption of imports from Saudi Arabia set to boost overall supply. Read More
India’s Local Phenol Prices Hit Nine-Week High Amid Expanding US Sanctions
Domestic spot phenol prices in India climbed to a nine-week high following the expansion of U.S. sanctions targeting India-based entities allegedly engaged in the purchase and sale of Iran-origin petroleum and petrochemical products, market participants said on Tuesday. Read More
Broadening US Sanctions Could Impact CFR India Phenol Trade
Broader U.S. sanctions targeting India-based entities allegedly engaged in the purchase and sale of Iranian-origin petroleum and petrochemical products are expected to negatively impact spot phenol trades into India, market sources said on Friday. Read More
Asia’s Toluene Prices Sink to 3-Month Low on Weak Demand, Supply Glut
Asian toluene prices have fallen to their lowest levels in nearly three months, weighed down by weak demand, poor downstream product spreads and burgeoning supply, market participants said. Read More
Benzene Falls to Five-Month Low in Asia as Q4 Supply Builds
Benzene spot prices in Asia tumbled below the $700 per metric ton FOB Korea mark for the first time in nearly five months on Sept. 30, closing at levels last seen on May 9, when the OPIS midpoint touched $682.50/mt FOB Korea. The decline reflects deepening fragility in the region’s aromatics market, pressured by a mounting supply overhang and seasonally slower consumption patterns going into the fourth quarter, according to market sources. Read More
China Targets 5% Growth in Petchem Restructuring Drive
China aims to achieve more than 5% growth in the added value of petrochemical output in 2025–2026, as part of broader efforts to restructure the industry amid mounting pressure from oversupply, according to a plan released on Friday. Read More
Sinopec Expands Xinjiang Refining Complex Into High-Value Petrochemicals
Sinopec has started a major upgrade of its Tahe refining and petrochemical complex in Xinjiang, aiming to boost capacity and diversify into higher-margin products such as ethylene and paraxylene, amid a broader shift in China’s industrial strategy, according to a news release on Saturday. Read More
OPIS Forum: China’s Petchems See Steady Demand Amid Margin Pressure
China’s petrochemical industry continues to face steady demand as well as significant challenges, with profits expected to remain under pressure, said Yixin Xu, associate researcher with Sinopec Economics & Development Research Institute at the OPIS Energy and Chemicals Forum on Wednesday. Read More
OPIS Forum: China’s Primary Energy Consumption Forecast to Grow at Slower Rate
China’s primary energy consumption is expected to maintain its growth momentum till around 2040, albeit at a decelerating pace, according to Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute at the OPIS Energy and Chemicals Forum in Singapore on Wednesday. Read More
Petrochemical Giants’ Overhaul To Impact Benzene Market Conditions
Sweeping reforms in Asia’s two petrochemical powerhouses, South Korea and China, are set to reshape the global benzene market. After years of overcapacity and weak margins, both countries are cutting outdated facilities and pivoting to higher-value operations -- moves that are expected to tighten benzene supply and influence global pricing, sources say. Read More
South Korea’s Aromatics Exports Up in July on Sustained Demand
South Korea's aromatics exports remained strong in July, supported by robust demand from major export destinations, including China, India and the U.S. Continued restocking activity by international buyers, alongside healthy downstream consumption, played a key role in increasing export volumes across key products such as mixed xylenes or MX, toluene and benzene. Read More
Asia’s Benzene Holds Steady on Balanced Fundamentals, but Q4 Outlook Still Murky
Asia’s benzene market is showing signs of stability for September as scheduled maintenance offsets tepid demand, keeping supply-demand fundamentals largely balanced. However, amid macroeconomic uncertainties, global trade headwinds and fresh capacity, market participants remain cautious heading into the final quarter of the year. Read More
Robust Demand Lifts Asia’s Toluene Prices to One-Month High
Asia's toluene prices have climbed to a one-month high, settling at $683 per metric ton FOB Korea on Monday, a 2.2% increase, according to OPIS data. This marks the highest price point since June 24, driven by robust buying activity for September cargoes. Read More
China’s June Aromatics Imports Fall on Plant Restarts, Weak Demand
China’s aromatics imports significantly declined across the board in June, with reductions ranging from 0.9% to a sharp 30.8%, according to the latest customs data. This was mainly due to subdued domestic demand and a robust increase in domestic supply following the restart of several plants after their annual maintenance turnarounds, industry sources said. Read More
No Sign of Recovery for Europe Chemical Industry Amid High Energy Prices, Tax
The overall message from the recent European Petrochemical Luncheon in Munich, Germany, in mid-June suggests that demand for most sectors of the petrochemical industry remains soft and there is no real sign of any recovery until 2026. Read More
Sinopec Cuts Benzene Price Again as Market Slides on Crude Retreat
China’s state-owned Sinopec reduced its benzene list price for the second time this week, cutting it by 100 yuan per metric ton ($14/mt) on Thursday to 6,100 yuan/mt ex-warehouse, industry sources said Friday. On an import parity basis, the adjusted list price equates to around $747/mt CFR China. Read More
South Korea’s Aromatics Exports Down in May On Global Trade Uncertainty
South Korea’s aromatics exports declined in May as weak demand and ongoing trade uncertainties continued to weigh on market sentiment. Buyers are scaling back purchases amid volatile commodity prices and ongoing global trade tensions, an industry source said on Friday. Read More
Asia’s Benzene Margins Narrow as Trade Routes Shift, Demand Falters
Asian benzene producers are grappling with shrinking margins as the benzene-to-naphtha spread sank to $130 per metric ton on June 20, well below the breakeven threshold of $150/mt, according to OPIS data. The last time the spread was this low was in early May, and producers have struggled to remain profitable amid persistent global oversupply and weak downstream demand. Read More