Argaam Petrochemical Index drops on low prices of basic petrochemicals, fertilizers

22/03/2015 Argaam - Exclusive

Argaam Petrochemical Index, which measures the average change in prices for a basket of petrochemicals produced in the Gulf, declined 1.5 points to 219.6 points by the end of last week compared to the previous week as prices of basic petrochemicals and fertilizers also retreated.

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index

219.6

Argaam Index (March 22)

(0.7%)

Weekly change

(21.8%)

6 months change

(21.4%)

1-year change

 

Naphtha feedstock dropped $15 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 (March 22)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(45%)

 (41%)

(3%)

505

Naphtha *

(45%)

(41%)

(3%)

364

Propane **

* CFR  Japan.

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

Basic petrochemicals, like propylene, benzene, styrene, and MTBE, declined on the back of a drop in the price of Naphtha. Ethylene bucked the trend on tight supplies. 

 

Fertilizers continued to drop on higher supply and limited demand. Urea lost $10 to $275 a ton. Ammonia decreased $10 to $435 a ton. Ammonia decreased $10 to $435 a ton.  Polymers were unchanged.

 

Basic Petrochemicals (March 22) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(22%)

(28%)

+2%

1095

Ethylene*

(31%)

(28%)

(5%)

940

Propylene*

(42%)

(40%)

(6%)

720

Benzene*

(34%)

(30%)

(6%)

1060

Styrene*

(44%)

(21%)

--

330

Methanol  (Methanex)**

(16%)

(19%)

(3%)

295

Methanol (China)***

(39%)

(35%)

(3%)

675

MTBE****

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

** ACP "Methanex"

*** Methanol prices in China.

**** Spot – Singapore.

 

Fertilizers (March 22) - Gulf Arab Countries

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(18%)

(24%)

(4%)

275

Urea

(9%)

(24%)

(2%)

435

Ammonia

+9%

(2%)

--

480

DAP*

* Export price from Saudi Arabia

 

Polymers Prices (March 22) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(20%)

(21%)

--

1230

Polyethylene*

(21%)

(22%)

--

1175

Polypropylene

(29%)

(25%)

(1%)

1220

Poly Styrene

(16%)

(16%)

+3%

870

PVC

(5%)

(9%)

--

2375

PCB

* High-density polyethylene.

 

Intermediates (March 22) - Asian markets

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(13%)

(12%)

(2%)

810

Spot MEG - china

(14%)

(14%)

--

960

MEG (SABIC)

(30%)

(32%)

(2%)

620

PTA

 

Titanium Dioxide (March 22)

1-year change

6 months change

Weekly change

Price

Product

(8%)

(8%)

--

2575

Tio2 (Asia)

(24%)

(20%)

--

2445

Tio2 (Europe)

(8%)

(8%)

--

3190

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

MA’ADEN

 

About Argaam Petrochemical Index:

 

Argaam Petrochemical Index is the only benchmark 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.

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