[Aromatics]

　 Benzene prices on an FOB Korea basis and paraxylene (PX) prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis sharply rebounded compared to Friday in the previous week. This reflected a rebound in crude oil prices amid continued tensions in the Middle East. Additionally, supply for gasoline was tight and market sentiments were strong. Along with this, consumption for gasoline blending components such as toluene was also firm, which bolstered prices for aromatic products.

[Olefins]

　 Ethylene prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis and CFR Southeast Asia basis were largely unchanged. End-users reduced their buying interest, partly because crude oil and naphtha prices had softened by the first half of the week. Meanwhile, amid continued tensions in the Middle East and persisting uncertainty over the future of crude oil prices, sellers did not lower their offers and were not in a hurry for sales. Additionally, with China entering Mid-Autumn Festival holidays in the latter half of the week, trade became muted. In the Southeast Asia market, due to factors such as the restart of some ethylene facilities, the sense of tight supply eased slightly, leading to prices softening marginally.

　 The Asia propylene market saw declines. In the CFR Northeast Asia market, demand for propylene receded as crude oil prices declined from their temporary highs and prices for several derivative products, including polypropylene, remained soft. These factors weakened market sentiments. In the CFR Southeast Asia market, some propylene facilities had restarted operations, easing the sense of tight supply. Under these circumstances, market sentiments weakened. However, price declines were limited due to continued spot demand.

　 In the CFR Northeast Asia butadiene market, trade was muted as many countries were on holiday. But as butadiene rubber futures prices in China increased in the second half of the week, views emerged that market sentiments improved slightly. A South Korean petrochemical maker reportedly sold October loading cargoes.

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