Asian paraxylene markers were down US$18 a ton FOB Korea while CFR Taiwan/China lost US$18.50 a ton in the third week of June.

Paraxylene prices in Asian markets declined on the week as upstream cost softens simultaneously with weakening demand from PTA makers amid increased supply. In China, Hanbang shuts its PTA plant while South Korea’s May exports rose 34% on the month.

In US, spot paraxylene pricing remained at Asia netback as spot tracked falling Asian pricing. Upstream supply was however, limited while cheaper gasoline pushed upstream mixed xylene down. US spot paraxylene fell US$25 a ton FOB USG on the week. Mixed xylene pricing for June and July was down US cents 4 cents per gallon USG. Spot orthoxylene was down US cent 0.5 per pound FOB USG on the week.

In Europe, both paraxylene and orthoxylene prices were down as markets were mute on slow demand Spot xylene prices in Europe saw mixed fortunes as the oil complex remained volatile. European spot paraxylene was down US$18.50 on the week.

Courtesy: Weekly PriceWatch Report