Petrochemical Prices Report (weekly)

7 Mar. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", reveal decrease during this week in 4.2 points, to reach at 239.7 points compared with the previous week level of 243.9 points.
Worth mentioning that the indicator since six weeks move in the rang of 238 & 244 point.

Ethylene prices continued to decline for fourth constantly week to stable at 1.100$ per tonne (-70), becoming lost about 200$ compared to higher level recorded in late January and early February, with instant market supplies increased, especially from the Arabian Gulf.

Conversely, propylene prices rose to its highest level since 18 months at 1.250$ per tonne (+ 20), which observers attributed it to the maintenance of many factories and abrupt stop of three factories in Japan over the past two weeks.

Benzene & styrene prices continued to decline for the second week in a row, as MEG prices decline also because of stocks increased.

Petrochemical Prices Repor t(weekly)

28. Feb. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", reveal slightly increasing during this week in 2 points, to reach at 243.9 points compared with the previous week level of 241.9 points.

This is the fifth week in which the indicator move in a tight range, where was record slightly decreasing during the four previus week.

Clear products prices vary during this week, where ethylene, benzene & styrene prices retreated, with increase prices of propylene & polymers (polyethylene and polypropylene).

Observers attributed the decline of ethylene for the third respectively week to increase the supply in instant market, especially by Petro rabigh. While maintenance in many production units of polymers in East and South Asia to coherence and high polymers rates in General.

During the week  the METHANEX, the world's biggest methanol producer, increase methanol price for March in Asian markets to 365$ per tonne, up 15$ compare with Fenruary levels.

Petrochemical Prices Report

22. Feb. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", reveal slightly increasing during this week in 0.6 points, to reach at 241.9 points compared with the previous week level of 241.3 points.
This is the fourth week in which the indicator move in a tight range, where was record slightly decreasing during the previus three week.

It was tranquil week with entering the Chinese market in long holiday because of the lunar new year, which celebrated in several Asian countries in addetion to China such as Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries.

Major changes is decreasing of ethylene & propylene prices, and Benzene prices offset part of the retrogressions the record past weeks.
 
 

 

Petrochemical Prices Report

16. February. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", reveal decreasing during this week in 2.1 points, to reach at 241.3 points compared with the previous week level of 243.4 points.

Limited rotations during this week with the price to drop, especially for basic products (except propylene), as well as (polymers).
Observers attributed the calm of market due to approaching of Lunar new year in China, which all type of business stops throughout the entire week (14-20 February), the Chinese holidays and the week preceding and the week that followed by considered one of the most tranquil periods, and is not expected that significant changes during this period  pending the return of Chinese importers to fully operate with the end of this month.

Petrochemical Prices Report

7. February. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", reveal decreasing during this week in 0.3 points, to reach at 243.4 points compared with the previous week level of 243.7 points.

For the second consecutive week Argaam index record slightly declined  less than one point, and the products price performance varying, where the prices of styrene compensate all the declined last week, and the price returned back to level of 1,300$ per tonne, while ethylene prices stabilized and benzene, and propylene prices declined in 20$ per tonne.

For polymerse, high density polyethylene prices recorded retreat in 30$ per tonne to be at 1,290$ level, while other products prices (polypropylene, polystyrene and PVC) risen 10$ for each of theme.

Petrochemicals Prices Report

31. January. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", reveal decreasing during this week in 0.5 points, to reach at 243.7 points compared with the previous week level of 244.2 points, and this is the first decline of the indicator since fifteen weeks.

Series of products recorded a sharp price reductive during this week  such as: benzene & styrene, whereas  benzene prices drop to 930$ per tonne (–110), with prices of styrene decrease accordingly to 1.250$ per tonne (-50).

MEG price also decreased below 1.000$ level which had reached last week, whereas record 980$ per tonne in the instant market (-20), and this after 3 months of continuous rising.

However, most other prices have stabilized, especially ethylene, propylene and polyethylene, where polypropylene prices rising to 1.320$ per tonne (+ 20).
 
 

 
 

Petrochemical Prices Report

24. January. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:
The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", record during this week increasing in 3.8 points to reach at 244.2 points compared with the previous week level of 240.4 points, continuing to rise for the fifteenth week respectively.

The same factors that affected the movement of prices over the past weeks Continued affecting during this week which the most important as quantity shortage in the instant markets for a number of materials, especially basic materials such as ethylene and propylene were mainly due to technical failures in several plants, and scheduled maintenance operations higher than normal in this time of year.

These factors have lead to support prices for several materials inspite of NAFTA prices drop in Asian markets for the second week respectively.

Petrochemical Prices Report

Weekly Updated
16. January. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals prices:

The indicator of (Argaam), "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products such as: Ethylene, Methanol, & Benzene which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", record during this week increasing in 3.7points to reach at 240.4 points from previous week level of 236.7 points, continuing to rise to the fourteenth week respectively.

NAFTA prices record first retreat in 5 weeks at $ 750 per tonne (-10), however most materials prices continued to rise in Asian markets.Dealers attributed the prices increased of basic items such as ethylene to lack displayed in some instant markets  due to background of technical incidents of factories in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
MEG prices record rise 30$ per tonne to reach 980$ with continued talk between the dealers about technical problems for four SABIC factories, "the largest producer for this material in the world", with the absence of any confirmed or denied by SABIC.
Some of the materials as benzene & styrene abandoned on the part of big gains achieved during the past weeks, to record the bezene prices decline to 1030$ per tonne (-30$),$, and styrene to 1270$ per tonne (-10$).

Petrochemical Prices Report

Weekly Update

10. January. 2010

Indicator of petrochemicals:

The indicator, "which measure the prices of basket of petrochemicals products such as: Ethylene, Methanol, & Gasoline which produced in the gulf region in meddile east", record during this week more than 8 points to reach at 236.7 points from previous week level of 228.7 points.

Petrochemical Index Value

Petrochemical Graph

Prices of most of the petrochemicals clearlt rises during the week, observers attributed to alleged during the week between dealers that SABIC contract clients in Asia reported that it would cut their nearly 50% in January and February of products polyethylene and polypropylene due to technical problems for some plants, a news cannot be confirmed, since SABIC usually does not disclose on forfeit productivity, this news lead to the dealers to buy from precautionary instant market in precautionary reaction until clear image.

NAFTA prices rising contributed to and many of oil derivatives during the week in enable sellers to higher prices under the pretext of rising production costs, NAFTA prices level recorded  $ 760 per tonne (+ 30) which is the highest level is registered within 15 months.