- Benzene fluctuating imports, domestic production, and
consumption to jostle price: sources- Styrene drops as feedstocks
decrease, and regional markets are weaker





US July DDP benzene rose 2.50 cents/gal to
492.50c/gal on July 14. Participants continued to monitor volatility and other
regional markets to determine the price direction of benzene. The settlement price of upstream RBOB gasoline
futures was $3.18-4.50/gal, down 1.45%. WTI crude
oil futures were between $90.56 and 97.00/b the day before closing down 52
cents/b to $95.78-100.50/b. This is a decrease of 0.54%. Sources
noted that volatility in crude oil futures caused uncertainty in the benzene
markets. The benzene forward curve showed a sharp
backwardation. However, more imports were expected to arrive in August and
September. This made the supply and demand balances somewhat uncertain. The July
market saw a sharp decline...