Argaam Petrochemical Index rises on higher prices of polymers, basic materials

08/03/2015 Argaam - Exclusive

Argaam Petrochemical Index, which measures the average change in prices for a basket of petrochemicals produced in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, gained 10.9 points to 218.9 points by the end of last week compared to the previous week as prices of polymers and basic petrochemicals increased.

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index

218.9

Argaam Index (March 8)

+5.2%

Weekly change

(22.4%)

6 months change

(22.2%)

1-year change

 
 

Naphtha feedstock dropped $5 to $545 a ton last week.

 

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

 

Prices of Naphtha ​​including shipping costs to Japan (March 8)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(41%)

 (39%)

 (1%)

545

Naphtha *

(41%)

(39%)

 (1%)

392

Propane **

* CFR  Japan.

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

Basic petrochemicals and polymers advanced last week, as end buyers in China continued to build their stockpiles in anticipation of a drop in supply during the scheduled maintenance in South Korea and Japan.

 

Basic petrochemicals rose between 7 to 15 percent.

 

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) added 6 percent. Polypropylene advanced 10 percent.

 

MEG declined $15 a ton, and urea decreased to under $300 a ton. 

 

Basic Petrochemicals (March 8) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price per ton

Product

(28%)

(31%)

+7%

1,030

Ethylene*

(26%)

(22%)

+12%

1,025

Propylene*

(38%)

(36%)

+14%

785

Benzene*

(27%)

(22%)

+11%

1,155

Styrene*

(44%)

(21%)

--

330

Methanol  (Methanex)**

(33%)

(15%)

+15%

300

Methanol (China)***

(34%)

(29%)

--

735

MTBE****

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

** ACP "Methanex"

*** Methanol prices in China.

**** Spot – Singapore.

 

Polymers Prices (March 8) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(22%)

(24%)

+6%

1,200

Polyethylene*

(22%)

(23%)

+10%

1,165

Polypropylene

(33%)

(31%)

+1%

1,160

Poly Styrene

(20%)

(20%)

--

840

PVC

(5%)

(9%)

+2%

2,375

PCB

* High-density polyethylene.

 

Intermediates (March 8) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price per ton

Product

(13%)

(15%)

(2%)

820

Spot MEG - china

(25%)

(23%)

--

880

MEG (SABIC)

(29%)

(35%)

+7%

640

PTA

 

Fertilizers (March 8) - Gulf Arab Countries

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price per ton

Product

(19%)

(18%)

(3%)

290

Urea

(1%)

(13%)

--

450

Ammonia

+17%

(2%)

--

480

DAP*

* Export price from Saudi Arabia
 

Titanium Dioxide (March 8)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(9%)

(8%)

--

2,575

Tio2 (Asia)

(24%)

(20%)

(4%)

2,445

Tio2 (Europe)

(8%)

(8%)

--

3,190

Tio2 (America)

 

End Products for 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, polystyrene.

Petrochem

Polyethylene, polypropylene.

Sahara Petrochemicals

Styrene, benzene, Cyclohexene, propylene.

Saudi Group

Methanol, Butanol, acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer.

Sipchem

Polypropylene

Advanced

Polypropylene

Alujain

Formaldehyde - improvers concrete

CHEMANOL

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

NAMA

Ammonia and DAP

MAADEN

 

About Argaam Petrochemical Index:

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index is the only index that provides weekly capacity-weighted measures for the average changes of international prices of several petrochemical products manufactured in the Gulf Arab countries.

Internally consumed products, which are used as feedstock for producing other petrochemicals, represent smaller weights on the index. These products— such as ethylene, propylene and ammonia— are not sold regularly in the international market.

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

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

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

 

Argaam Reports

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