Argaam Petrochemical Index drops 3.1 pts on lower MEG, urea prices

06/07/2015 Argaam - Exclusive

Argaam Petrochemical Index, which measures the average change in prices for a basket of petrochemicals produced in the Gulf, declined 3.1 points to 237.8 points by the end of last week, as the prices of basic materials, urea, and MEG dropped.

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index

237.8

Argaam Index (July 5)

( 1.3 % )

Weekly change

+ 14.6 %

6 months change

( 16.2 % )

1-year change

 

 

Naphtha feedstock decreased $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 (July 5)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 44 % )

+ 17 %

( 1 % )

545

Naphtha *

( 44 % )

+ 17 %

( 1 % )

392

Propane **

*CFR Japan.

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

 

Prices went down as end producers were cautious over the possibility of further price drops in the coming weeks.

 

The prices of basic materials declined significantly last week on concerns about repercussions of the Greek financial crisis and panic over the steep decline of Shanghai stock exchange.

 

Prices of basic materials dropped as Ethylene fell $100 to $1,290 a ton and propylene decreased $40 to $915 a ton. Styrene and MTBE also declined.

 

Urea lost $15, dropping below $300 amid weaker seasonal demand.

 

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) bucked the trend, adding $20 a ton after four weeks of declines. Polypropylene was unchanged. 

 

Basic Petrochemicals (July 5) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 10 % )

+ 45 %

( 7 % )

1290

Ethylene*

( 34 % )

+ 39 %

( 4 % )

915

Propylene*

( 42 % )

+ 18 %

( 4 % )

795

Benzene*

( 20 % )

+ 36 %

( 2 % )

1285

Styrene*

( 9 % )

+ 6 %

( 4 % )

375

Methanol  (Methanex)**

( 7 % )

+ 27 %

--

310

Methanol (China)***

( 33 % )

+ 21 %

( 3 % )

755

MTBE****

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

**ACP "Methanex"

***Methanol prices in China

****Spot – Singapore

 

Polymers Prices (July 5) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 17 % )

+ 14 %

+ 2 %

1325

Polyethylene*

( 21 % )

+ 8 %

--

1210

Polypropylene

( 18 % )

+ 28 %

( 1 % )

1410

Poly Styrene

( 18 % )

+ 8 %

+ 1 %

855

PVC

+ 3 %

( 1 % )

--

2550

PCB

*High-density polyethylene

 

Intermediates (July 5) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 9 % )

+ 22 %

( 3 % )

915

Spot MEG - china

( 3 % )

+ 16 %

--

1100

MEG (SABIC)

( 29 % )

+ 12 %

( 1 % )

710

PTA

 

Fertilizers (July 5) - Gulf Arab Countries

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 6 % )

( 11 % )

( 5 % )

290

Urea

( 15 % )

( 27 % )

--

390

Ammonia

+ 5 %

--

--

480

DAP*

*Export price from Saudi Arabia

 

Titanium Dioxide (July 5)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 11 % )

( 9 % )

--

2500

Tio2 (Asia)

( 23 % )

( 14 % )

--

2455

Tio2 (Europe)

( 11 % )

( 11 % )

--

3080

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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