In China, demand for paraxylene (PX), a feedstock of polyester, is low. Since demand for gasoline is dull in Europe and the US, demand for use as an additive of gasoline in these regions is receding. Prices going forward are uncertain. End-users are only buying minimal volumes that they need.

For purified terephthalic acid (PTA), prices are bearish since crude prices softened until last week. PTA facilities that underwent maintenance are restarting and supply is expected to increase going forward.

For ethylene glycol (EG), supply/demand is tight as some production facilities entered maintenance while new derivative facilities started up. Along with this, the market is bullish. But crude prices softened, as stated above, while inventories of EG at ports are increasing. On the other hand, operation rates of derivative fabric factories are decreasing and demand for polyester fibers is receding. Supply/demand might slacken going forward.