- IPA price down EUR50-53/mt due to slow
demand- The automotive, construction and paints
and coatings segments are weak



ACETONE/PHENOL
: Acetone spot prices are stable at EUR 1,000/mt, FD NWE 16 May. A producer and two distributors gave their assessment at the
lower end the Eur1,000-1100/mt range. Prices
in Southern Europe were between Eur 1,050-1,080/mt. Many sources remain pessimistic regarding the domestic
demand recovery. They predict that some improvement could occur after summer,
or even Q4. Polycarbonate, Bisphenol-A
(BPA), and epoxy resins remained in low demand. The coatings season also did not take off. The plants were operating at reduced rates in order to
manage inventory. The US and Latin America
showed some relief in terms of export demand, but Turkey's buying interest was
low due to the election. Sources said that
despite the weakening, some imports had...