Aromatics
Benzene prices on an FOB Korea basis and paraxylene (PX) prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis were bearish throughout the week along with changes in benchmark feedstock crude prices. In China, demand for end-products was expected to be high from September to October. But demand had not recovered as of now.
　
Olefins
Ethylene prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis were stable. Production cuts of ethylene were still taking place in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Further, a fire broke out at Aster Chemicals and Energy's naphtha cracker in Singapore. For these reasons, supply was tight. On the other hand, buying interest was scarce as profitability of derivatives was low. As a result, trade was muted.
　
Propylene prices in Asia strengthened. In the Asia propylene market, supply was tight as two South Korean petrochemical makers' naphtha crackers were scheduled to undergo maintenance in October onwards while troubles were occurring at propylene facilities in Asia. Since China domestic prices were firm, buying interest from end-users strengthened.
　
In the CFR Northeast Asia market, European cargoes to be delivered at the end of November were reportedly traded for China. But buying interest was not strong in general.
In the CFR Southeast Asia market, Singapore's Aster Chemicals and Energy reportedly moved to procure butadiene since supply was in shortage due to a fire at its naphtha cracker