Aromatics

Benzene prices on an FOB Korea basis and paraxylene (PX) prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis were firm in the middle of the week. Since players returned to the market on Oct 9 after the end of holidays in China, buying interest strengthened suddenly.

Olefins

Ethylene prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis softened. Chinese end-users were apart from the market due to holidays and buyers were limited. Under this situation, sales from Southeast Asia to Northeast Asia were aggressive and prices were weighed down. A deal on a CFR Northeast Asia basis was reported at $795/mt.

The Asia propylene market was mostly in a holiday mood.

In the Northeast Asia market, China was on National Day holidays while South Korea was on Mid-Autumn Festival holidays. There were few players in the market and trade was muted.

In Southeast Asia, the restart of Pengerang Refining and Petrochemical (PRefChem)'s residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) in Malaysia was postponed.

In the Northeast Asia butadiene market, trade was muted as China was on holidays until the middle of the week. Going forward, supply was expected to remain ample as cargoes including those from Europe were scheduled to be delivered. In Southeast Asia, some petrochemical makers apparently held cargoes to sell for November loading.

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