Argaam Petrochemical Index drops 7 pts as basic chemicals, polymers decline

13/07/2015 Argaam - Exclusive

Argaam Petrochemical Index, which measures the average change in prices for a basket of petrochemicals produced in the Gulf, declined 7 points to 230.8 points by the end of last week, as the prices of all petrochemicals dropped amid slow demand and ample supply.

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index

230.8

Argaam Index (July 12)

( 2.9 % )

Weekly change

+ 14.2 %

6 months change

( 18.7 % )

1-year change

 

 

Naphtha feedstock decreased $40 to $505 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 12)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 48 % )

+ 22 %

( 7 % )

505

Naphtha *

( 48 % )

+ 22 %

( 7 % )

354

Propane **

*CFR Japan.

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

 

The prices of most basic materials plummeted, triggered by a drop in Brent crude prices and the Chinese stock market selloff. Ethylene lost $90 to $1,200 a ton, propylene dropped $55 to $855 a ton, while styrene slid $95 to $1,190 a ton.

 

Prices of polymers declined in East Asia’s spot markets on slow seasonal demand from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries during the holy month of Ramadan amid high supply.

 

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) declined $35 to $1,290 a ton and polypropylene dropped $40 to $1,170 a ton.

 

Basic Petrochemicals (July 12) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 18 % )

+ 36 %

( 7 % )

1200

Ethylene*

( 39 % )

+ 28 %

( 6 % )

855

Propylene*

( 43 % )

+ 33 %

( 2 % )

780

Benzene*

( 26 % )

+ 42 %

( 7 % )

1190

Styrene*

( 9 % )

+ 6 %

--

375

Methanol  (Methanex)**

( 12 % )

+ 25 %

( 3 % )

300

Methanol (China)***

( 30 % )

+ 39 %

+ 1 %

765

MTBE****

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

**ACP "Methanex"

***Methanol prices in China.

****Spot – Singapore.

 

Polymers Prices (July 12) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 19 % )

+ 12 %

( 3 % )

1290

Polyethylene*

( 24 % )

+ 9 %

( 3 % )

1170

Polypropylene

( 22 % )

+ 16 %

( 4 % )

1350

Poly Styrene

( 18 % )

+ 8 %

--

855

PVC

+ 2 %

+ 6 %

--

2550

PCB

*High-density polyethylene

 

Intermediates (July 12) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 11 % )

+ 23 %

( 4 % )

875

Spot MEG - china

( 3 % )

+ 16 %

--

1100

MEG (SABIC)

( 33 % )

+ 14 %

( 7 % )

660

PTA

 

Fertilizers (July 12) - Gulf Arab Countries

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 8 % )

( 15 % )

( 2 % )

285

Urea

( 13 % )

( 26 % )

--

390

Ammonia

+ 5 %

--

--

480

DAP*

*Export price from Saudi Arabia
 

Titanium Dioxide (July 12)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

( 11 % )

( 4 % )

--

2500

Tio2 (Asia)

( 23 % )

( 11 % )

--

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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