Argaam petrochemical index declines as polymers plummet

21/12/2014 Argaam- Exclusive

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index

213.1

Argaam Index ( December 21, 2014)

(4.7%)

Weekly change

(24.5%)

6 months change

(25.5%)

1 year change

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index, which measures the average change in prices for a basket of petrochemicals produced in the Gulf, dropped 10.3 points to 213.14 points by the end of last week compared to the previous week as the prices polymers and basic petrochemicals dropped to levels almost similar to that during the financial crisis amid amble supply and lack of demand.
 

 

Naftha feedstock declined $40 to $480 a ton last week.

 

The prices of Saudi natural gas liquids (NGL) such as propane and butane are set at 28% below the Japanese Naphtha benchmark, excluding freight costs.

 

Prices of Naphtha ​​including shipping cost to Japan ( December 21, 2014)

1 year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

product

(51%)

 (51%)

(6%)

480

NAFTHA *

(51%)

(51%)

(6%)

346

Propane **

* CFR  Japan.

** Approximate price in Saudi Arabia (28% discount for NAFTHA).

Polymers declined sharply last week as buyers in India and China demanded that the final prices of the shipments were determined when delivered not when shipped because of the declining prices, traders said.

 

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) dropped $70 to $1,200 a ton. Polypropylene lost $80 to $1,135 a ton. Polystyrene declined the most, plummeting $190  to $1,100 a ton. PVC fell $80 to $795 a ton.

 

Propylene declined $100 to $590 a ton, ethylene lost $60 to $890 a ton, benzene decreased $40 to $645 a ton, MTBE fell $55 to $650 a ton. Styrene bucked the trend gaining $40 after losing $210 a ton last week.

 

basic petrochemicals (December 21, 2014 ) - Asian markets

1 year change

 6 months change

Weekly change

Price

product

(36%)

(36%)

(6%)

890

Ethylene*

(58%)

(57%)

(14%)

590

Propylene*

(52%)

(53%)

(6%)

645

Benzene*

(48%)

(44%)

+5%

870

Styrene*

(30%)

(3%)

--

415

Methanol  (Methanex)**

(50%)

(18%)

(10%)

270

Methanol (China)***

(41%)

(41%)

(8%)

650

MTBE****

* FOB-East Asia (Japan, Taiwan and Korea).

** ACP "Methanex"

*** Methanol prices in China.

**** Spot – Singapore.

 

Polymers prices ( December 21 2014 ) - Asian markets

1 year change

 6 months change

Weekly change

Price

product

(21%)

(24%)

(5%)

1220

Polyethylene*

(27%)

(26%)

(7%)

1135

Polypropylene

(39%)

(35%)

(15%)

1100

Poly Styrene

(22%)

(24%)

(9%)

765

PVC

+3%

+4%

--

2575

PCB

* High density polyethylene.

 

Intermediates ( December 21, 2014 ) - Asian markets

1 year change

 6 months change

Weekly change

Price

product

(25%)

(23%)

+1%

770

Spot MEG - china

(21%)

(16%)

(5%)

950

MEG (SABIC)

(37%)

(34%)

(9%)

625

PTA

               

Fertilizers (December 21, 2014 ) - Gulf Arab

1 year change

 6 months change

Weekly change

Price

product

(9%)

+3%

--

320

Urea

+26%

+20%

(7%)

560

Ammonia

+20%

+7%

--

480

DAP*

* Export price from Saudi Arabia

 

Titanium Dioxide ( December 21, 2014)

1 year change

 6 months change

Weekly change

Price

product

(4%)

(2%)

--

2750

Tio2 (Asia)

(12%)

(10%)

--

2860

Tio2 (Europe)

--

--

--

3465

Tio2 (America)


 

About Argaam Petrochemical Index:

 

It is the only index that provides a weekly capacity-weighted measure of the average change in international prices of a basket of petrochemicals produced in the Gulf region.

 

Internally -consumed products which are used as a feedstock for producing other petrochemicals and are not sold regularly in the international market like ethylene, propylene and ammonia represent smaller weight in the index.

Final products sold in international markets such as Polyethylene, polypropylene, MTBE, MEG and urea represent the biggest index weights.


Naphtha prices, the main feedstock benchmark, correlate negatively with the index. The index products’ weights are reviewed periodically.

As of Jan 1, 2002 the index started at 100 points.
 

End products for the Saudi petrochemical companies

Finished products

Company

Polyethylene , polypropylene , poly styrene , ethylene glycol (MEG), methyl tert- butyl ether (MTBE), benzene , urea , ammonia , PVC, and PTA

SABIC

Urea, ammonia.

SAFCO

Polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene glycol (MEG), methyl tert- butyl ether (MTBE), benzene.

YANSAB

Polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene. (TiO2)

Tasnee

Polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene glycol (MEG), polycarbonate, and bisphenol A.

Saudi Kayan

Polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene oxide, and refined petroleum products.

Petro Rabigh

Polyethylene, polypropylene, poly styrene.

Petrochem

Polyethylene, polypropylene.

Sahara Petrochemicals

Styrene, benzene, Cyclohexene, propylene.

Saudi Group

Methanol, Butanol, acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer.

Sipchem

PP.

Advanced

Polypropylene.

Alujain

Formaldehyde - improvers concrete

CHEMANOL

Epoxy resin, hydrochloric acid, liquid caustic soda, soda granules.

NAMA

Ammonia and DAP

MAADEN

 

 

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