Aromatics

Benzene prices on an FOB Korea basis and paraxylene (PX) prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis were bearish throughout the week since crude prices fell at the beginning of week. In addition, futures prices for styrene monomer (SM), PX and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) were bearish on exchanges in China and this also weighed on the market.

Olefins

In the CFR Northeast Asia ethylene market, discussions were muted. As for facilities, in Taiwan, CPC's No.3 naphtha cracker that had been shut down due to typhoon in early October restarted operations. In Southeast Asia, a Malaysian petrochemical maker conducted a sell tender for a cargo loading late October.

Propylene prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis increased slightly as Chinese petrochemical makers showed buying interest for imported cargoes. Profitability of Chinese polypropylene (PP) makers was seen to be improving. As for facilities, Tiawan's Formosa Petrochemical (FPCC) restarted its No.2 residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC).

In the CFR Northeast Asia butadiene market, spot trade was muted as players were apart from the market. On the other hand, there were moves to bring US cargoes to Northeast Asia. One vessel was charter in the previous week and another vessel was chartered in the week. The buyers, the prices and the volumes were uncertain.

In Southeast Asia, two butadiene makers sold November cargoes via tenders.

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