Aromatics import/export and pricing trends

1. AROMATICS TRADE FLOW REPORT
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 29 – JULY 21, 2015
BENZENE
US August benzene prices posted notable week on week gains, rising roughly
$72 on the week as prices touched the $900/mt DDP HTC mark Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Asia, spot FOB Korea benzene prices also rose and were up
roughly $23, closing Tuesday at $782/mt. The FOB Korea-September DDP HTC
arb was estimated at near $42/mt. European spot benzene values were up
near $35 and closed Tuesday at $870/mt CIF ARA amid thin trade activity. The
CIF ARA-August DDP HTC arb was estimated at -$17/mt Tuesday.
Benzene fixtures:
Regional spot benzene spreads:
HIIGHLIGHTS:
US M2 SPOT BENZENE PRICES
POST SHARP REBOUNDS ON
THE WEEK.
ASIA-USGC ARB WIDENS TO
$42/MT PRIOR TO COSTS
JULY BENZENE IMPORTS FOR
THE FIRST HALF OF THE MONTH
TOTALLED JUST OVER 63,000
METRIC TONS.
KOREAN BENENE EXPORTS TO
THE US FOR JULY 1-19 WERE
ESTIMATED AT NEAR 35,800
METRIC TONS.
US SPOT STYRENE CONTINUES
TO SEE SUPPORT FROM
STRONGER EUROPEAN PRICES.
THE US M1 SPOT STYRENE-
BENZENE SPREAD ESTIMATED
AT $330/MT.
US SPOT TOLUENE PRICES
MOSTLY LEVEL ON THE WEEK
AMID STEEP BACKWARDATION.
ASIA-US TOLUENE ARB
ESTIMATED AT NEEAR $150
PRIOR TO FREIGHT.
M1 US SPOT BENZENE-TOLUENE
SPREAD FALLS TO -$74.50/MT.
US SPOT MX PRICES HOVER
NEAR $900 PUTTING THE PX-MX
SPREAD AT JUST OVER $40/MT
Benzene
Qty Load Discharge Laycan Ship
10-15,000 USGC ARA H1 Jun Chembulk Savannah
10,000 Houston Huelva H1 Jun Fairchem Friesian
4,500 Houston ARA H1 Jun N/A
9,000 Korea USGC H1 Jul Stolt Sun
9,000 Korea USGC H1 Jul Ginga Cougar
6,000 Korea USGC Mid July TTI TBN
3,000 Brazil USGC H2 Jul N/A
27,000 Korea USGC Mid August MOL tonnage

2. STYRENE, TOLUENE & XYLENES
US spot styrene values rebounded on
the week as prompt European
styrene lent support. US July spot
values were up near $40 on the week
to finish Monday at $1,240/mt FOB
USG.
August European styrene was seen
Tuesday at near $1,315/mt FOB NWE
while M2 CFR China rose over $50 to
finish at $1,245/mt.
The FOB USG-M2 FOB NWE spread
was estimated at $50 before costs
while the FOB USG-M2 CFR China
spread was at -$47/mt as of close of
business Monday.
The US M1 spot styrene-benzene
spread narrowed to $330/mt while
margins on a spot basis were
estimated at near $232/mt.
US M1 spot mixed xylene prices
were down near $38 on the
week, closing Monday at
$899.50/mt FOB USG while
downstream PX rose $20.50 to
finish at $940/mt Monday. The
M1 spot PX-MX spread was
estimated at $40.50/mt.
US spot toluene was sharply
backwardated with July at near
$941.50/mt. August bids were
seen as low as $850/mt FOB
USG Tuesday.
Asian toluene was at $725/mt
Tuesday putting the spread
between Asia and M2 FOB USG
at near $75 after freight.
ad was estimated Monday at -
$118/mt.
Styrene
Qty Load Discharge Laycan Ship
5,000 Houston ARA H1 June Pacific Endeavor
5,000 Houston Med H1 June Fairchem Friesian
5,000 Lk Charles FE H1 June TRF Oslo
5,000 Houston FE H2 June Maritime Kelly Anne
10,000 USGC ARA H2 June MTM Rotterdam
5,000 USGC ARA H1 Aug N/A
5,000 USGC ARA H1 Aug ChemBulk New York*
PX
Qty Load Discharge Landed Ship
5,000 Gonfreville USEC H1 Jun N/A
10,000 ARA USEC H1 Jun Bow Tone
5,000 ARA USEC H2 Jun Stolt Norland
5,000 Netherlands USEC H1 July Stolt Perseverance
10,000 Netherlands USEC H1 July Bow Sagami
Toluene
Qty Load Discharge Landed Ship
9,000 Brazil USGC H2 Jun Bow Jubail
1,400 Colombia USGC H1 Jul Nordic Ann
5,000 China Kalama H1 Jul Lime Galaxy
3,000 Spain USGC H1 Jul Chemical Luna