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 ** |
** 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**** |
** 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* |
|
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 |
|
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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