Asian paraxylene prices were up US$6.25 a ton CFR Taiwan/China in the third week of September while FOB Korea was up US$6.33 a ton on the week.
Paraxylene prices in Asian markets inched up on the week on higher naphtha cost while the Px-naphtha spread remained below US$400 a ton. Naphtha spot prices gained US$16 on the week to US$410.90 a ton CFR Japan. Meanwhile in China, Sinopec settled its September contract price.
Crude oil prices in November declined on pressure from a rallying US$ and expectations of higher interest rate. The US$ hit 6-1/2-month high against a basket of currencies. Data also showed eight straight weeks of inventories builds in US. Brent, the global benchmark for oil, was less than $2 from setting new 6-1/2-year lows in the mid of November. US crude and Brent price fell 6.8% and 7.4% respectively as compared to previous month’s average. US Futures averaged US$42.91 a barrel, down US$3.15 from October and Brent averaged US$48.25, down US$3.56 on the month.
In the week ended 5 September, crude oil prices climbed more than US$2 early in the week as the markets bounced off several month lows hit in the previous week. Also prospects for peace in CIS and a strong US data raised demand expectations. Weaker US$ and expectations of a decline in US crude stocks also supported prices. However, the oil complex settled lower on the week after a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine helped minimize risk premium, while concerns remain over the impact of Russian sanctions on European demand.
Asian paraxylene prices shot up significantly back to June end levels as traders' scrambled for short-covering in the week ended 18 July 2014. Prices continued to remain supported by shortage owing to the postponed start-up of new unit run by Total, planned maintenance of several units in China as well as the delayed restart of units run by JX Nippon. In the last two days of the week, prices gained as much as US$61 a ton and over the week, they were up US$83.50 closing the week at US$1,460-1,461 a ton FOB Korea and US$1,482-1,483 a ton CFR Taiwan/China.
Asian contract price for paraxylene (Px) once again failed to reach a settlement for June, for the eighth time in the last 10 months. Meanwhile, spot prices have jumped US$145 during June, the second highest monthly gain in 24 months. In June prices surged throughout the month on active short covering for July. They are now at their 2014 peak.
