Live Asian Benzene Market Report | Chemicals Updates

Asian Benzene: Downstream markets dampenbenzene price discussions / Benzene FOB Korea $4/mt lower on week / Downstream markets feel squeezed

Apr 29, 2024

The benzene price discussions in Asia have been dampened by the weak demand, poor margins from downstream markets, and the increase in upstream costs. A benzene buyer stated that this is a major problem, as many benzene buyers are feeling squeezed. Benzene FOB China was down $11/mt from the previous week. In China, hydrogenation benzene unit were operating at 72.02 percent in the week ending April 26. This is a 0.78 percentage point decrease.
Asian Benzene Daily Rationale & Exclusions
The CFR China marker, which takes into account intraday changes in both the FOB Korea market and the domestic Chinamarket, was down $1/mt at $1077.50/mt.

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Weekly China Market Price Report as on 21-Jul-2026
Asia Pacific Sweet Crude Daily Market Analysis / Petco offers Muda, Cakerawala condensate for Sep loading / End Aug-early Sep loading NWS moves / ONGC Videsh offers Nile Blend crude for Sep loading / offered its Muda and Cakerawala condensate for September-loading via a tender that closes / Comparatively, Indonesia’s Pertamina was last heard to have purchased a cargo of / a South Korean buyer, according to several trade sources. The second-month gasoline and / at the July 17 Asian close, and averaged $19.22/b and 87 cents/b month to date, compared / with averages of $20.84/b and minus $3.91/b the month prior. In the medium-sweet crude / prices. In the Sudanese and South Sudanese crude complex, India’s ONGC Videsh was seen / in the $2s/b against the same benchmark. The South Korean government plans to expand its / by more than 20 million barrels, a move prompted by a domestic crude supply crisis that / in its “Economic Growth Strategy” report for the second half of 2026, seen by. The / capacity would strengthen energy independence and security, according to the latest data / of July 20. Elsewhere, crude oil loading operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium / terminal have been suspended following attacks on two tankers offshore the Black Sea port / not damaged in the attacks, in a statement posted on Instagram. Shipments via CPC have / Asia Light Sweet Crude Daily Rationale & Exclusions / ESPO FOB Kozmino Mo01 Spore vs Dubai Mo01 <AASEU00> assessment rationale: The ESPO
Middle East Sour Crude Daily Market Analysis / US-Iran hostilities escalate / Dubai differential flips into premium / June Omani crude exports fall 3.9% MOM to 25.72 mil barrels / firmed for a second day, with benchmark cash Dubai up $2.81/b day over day at $79.71/b at / the July 20 Asian close, while its differential against same-month Dubai futures was up / $1.05/b at a 75 cents/b premium. Oman’s crude oil exports fell 3.9% month over month but / Oman produced 34.37 million barrels of crude in June, down from a record-high of 36.33 / Mideast Sour Crude Daily Rationales & Exclusions / Dubai Mo01 <PCAAT00> assessment rationale: The September cash Dubai assessment July 20 / Oman Blend Mo01 <PCABS00> assessment rationale: The September cash Oman assessment / July 20 took into consideration the declaration of an Oman cargo on convergence of Dubai
US West Coast Light End Daily Commentary / California CARBOB prices rise 3 cents/gal / San Francisco hits highest level since July 9 / Gasoline imports of 1.12 million barrels head to state / Buying interest elevated the differential for California CARBOB grades July 20, despite / incoming gasoline imports, assessed the differential for San Francisco CARBOB at NYMEX / August RBOB futures plus 28 cents/gallon, up 3 cents, marking the highest price reported / since July 9. The differential for Los Angeles CARBOB followed a similar trend, also / hitting a six-month low of futures plus 15 cents/gal for San Francisco CARBOB and a five- / month low of futures plus 19 cents/gal for the Los Angeles counterpart. that 1.12 million
Asia and Middle East Fuel Oil Daily Market Analysis / LSFO market structure firmer, cash premium gains WOW / Benchmark 380 CST HSFO cash premium up on active trading / The Asian LSFO market structure was seen strengthening its backwardation further July 20, / buoyed by concerns over near-term supplies due to the re-escalating Middle East war. The / Singapore marine fuel 0.5% balance July- August swaps time spread was pegged at a firmer / backwardation of $40.25/metric ton in midmorning trading July 20, compared with of the / spread at $38.75/mt at the Asian close July 17. The M1-M2 intermonth spread for FOB / Singapore 0.5%S marine fuel swaps averaged a backwardation of $22.20/mt in the first half / of July, compared with an average of $19.27/mt in H2 June, data showed. the Singapore / marine fuel 0.5%S cargo’s cash differential over the Mean of Singapore marine fuel 0.5%S / assessments at a premium of $25.25/mt at the Asian close July 17, up $2/ mt day over day / and 27.2% week over week. In the downstream bunker market, the Singapore-delivered / marine fuel 0.5% bunker premium against the benchmark Singapore marine fuel 0.5%S cargo / values rose 40.3% week over week to $91.86/mt July 17, amid expectations of fewer / based traders. the spread between the Singapore 0.5%S marine fuel cargo and the FOB / Asia’s HSFO fundamentals also remain buoyed by dwindling supplies, but easing seasonal / strength in power generation consumption and sluggish feedstock demand from refiners / Singapore 380 CST HSFO August-September swaps time spread was pegged at a / spread at $12.25/mt at the Asian close July 17. the Singapore 380 CST HSFO cargo’s cash / differential to the MOPS 380 CST HSFO assessments at a premium of $3.75/mt at the Asian / lower by persistently competitive offers from Aramco Singapore during the Market on Close / assessment process in the week to July 17. The Singapore 180 CST HSFO cargo cash / differential to the MOPS 380 CST HSFO assessments remained unchanged day over day at a / FOB Singapore Marine Fuel 0.5% cargo Daily Rationale & Exclusions / Marine Fuel 0.5% FOB Spore cargo $/mt <AMFSA00> Assessment Rationale: The FOB / Marine Fuel 0.5%S August-September swaps time spread, which was assessed up / $2.25/metric ton day over day at a wider backwardation of $41/mt. This assessment / commentary applies to the market data codes Marine Fuel 0.5% FOB Spore cargo $/mt / <AMFSA00>. Exclusions: No market data was excluded from the July 20 Market on Close
Asia and Middle Eastern Gasoil Daily Market Analysis / US-Iran tensions boost Asian gasoil prices / Singapore gasoil M1/M2 swap timespread widens to $7.27/b / backwardation reflected a stronger market, as brokers pegged the front-month August- / September Singapore gasoil swaps time spread — an indicator of the near-term market / outlook — at $7.27/ barrel in midafternoon Asian trading July 20, widening compared to / day over day. Favorable West-bound arbitrage economics was heard supporting trading / Brokers pegged the front-month August gasoil EFS — the spread between Singapore 10 ppm / $96.72/metric ton in midafternoon trading July 20, narrower from minus $104.18/mt at July / unchanged on the day, against MOPAG gasoil assessments. “East-West has been extremely / Asia and Middle Eastern Gasoil Cargo Daily Rationale & Exclusions / Gasoil .001%S (10ppm) FOB Spore Cargo <AAOVC00> assessment rationale: The benchmark / FOB Singapore Gasoil 0.001% (10 ppm) cargo assessment July 20 was based on the following / input: an offer a cargo loading Aug. 4-8 at Mean of Singapore plus $2.49/barrel after / normalizing for deemed pricing. The front, middle and back loading windows were assessed / at MOPS plus $2.44/b, plus $3.40/b and plus $3.64/b, respectively. Gasoil .05%S (500ppm) / FOB Spore Cargo <AAFEX00> assessment rationale: The FOB Singapore Gasoil 0.05% (500 / ppm) cargo assessment July 20 was assessed at MOPS gasoil plus $2.22/b, down 11 cents/b / from intraday notional, based on the movement in the FOB Singapore Gasoil 0.001% (10 ppm) / cargo assessment. Gasoil FOB Spore Cargo <POABC00> assessment rationale: The benchmark / FOB Singapore Gasoil 0.001% (10 ppm) cargo assessment July 20 was based on the following / pricing. The front, middle and back loading windows were assessed at MOPS plus $2.44/b, / plus $3.40/b and plus $3.64/b respectively. Exclusions: No market data was excluded from / FOB Fujairah Gasoil Daily Rationale & Exclusions / Gasoil FOB Fujairah cargo <AFUJK00> assessment rationale: The FOB Fujairah Gasoil / assessment on July 20 was assessed at a premium of $10.50/b to the MOPAG gasoil / assessment, taking into consideration prices in the FOB Fujairah gasoil market as well as / $138.94/b. Gasoil 500 ppm FOB Fujairah cargo <AFUJN00> assessment rationale: The FOB / Fujairah 500 ppm Gasoil assessment on July 20 was assessed at a premium of $5.00/b to the
Asia and Middle Eastern Jet Daily Market Analysis / Physical crack spread near 3-month high / Pertamina seeks 200,000 barrels of jet A-1 fuel for July 23-25 delivery / Sentiment in the Asian jet fuel/kerosene market remained buoyant amid escalating US-Iran / through the waterway “as long as hostile actions of the US continue,” semi-official news / the front-month August-September FOB Singapore jet fuel/kerosene swaps time spread — an / brokers pegged the M1/M2 swap spread at plus $4.51/b. While some sources have voiced / concerns that disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could prompt governments to / clamp down harder on exports, others were of the view that strong refining margins would / won’t be low, but supply will be enough,” the source said. The FOB Singapore jet / fuel/kerosene cargo crack spread against front-month cash Dubai, which measures the / July 17, up $2.35/b day over day and $18.04/b week over week. The physical crack spread / Jakarta (SKH) over July 21-23, according to some market participants. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s / a premium of about low- to mid-$5s/b to the whole-month August average of Mean of / Asia & Middle East Jet Kero Daily Rationale & Exclusions / Jet Kero FOB Spore Cargo <PJABF00> assessment rationale: The FOB Singapore Jet / window was assessed at Mean of Singapore Jet fuel/kerosene assessment plus $2.50/b, based / on an offer for a cargo loading over Aug. 4-8 at MOPS plus $2.55/b, after normalizing for / deemed pricing. The middle and back loading windows were assessed at MOPS Jet / fuel/kerosene assessment plus $2.63/b and plus $2.47/b, respectively, reflecting the / movements in the front and middle loading windows. Jet Kero FOB Arab Gulf Cargo / <PJAAA00> assessment rationale: The FOB Arab Gulf Jet Kero cargo assessment was derived / as a freight netback from the FOB Singapore Jet Kero cargo assessment using the following / input: FOB Singapore Jet Kero cargo assessment minus the cost of transporting a 55,000-mt / data was excluded from the July 20 Singapore Jet fuel/kerosene Market on Close assessment / FOB Fujairah Jet Kero Rationale & Exclusions / recent cargo trades heard in the Middle East. The MOPAG jet fuel/kerosene strip was / $138.22/b. Exclusions: No market data was excluded from the July 20 Fujairah jet
Asia and Middle Eastern Naphtha Daily Market Analysis / Shipowners remain wary to transport naphtha through Straits of Hormuz / Kuwait oil industry site damaged following Iranian attacks / The Asian naphtha market July 20 was expected to strengthen as naphtha flows from the / production was not immediately affected by the strikes, any damage to oil industry / month August-September Mean of Japan swap time spread at $40.50/mt mid-morning July / Aramco Petrochemical Co. (Hapco) refinery is expected to begin trial operations around / to the 300,000 b/d refinery, the project includes an ethylene cracker with a production / Japan Naphtha Daily Rationales & Exclusions / Naphtha C+F Japan Cargo <PAAAD00> assessment rationale: The CFR Japan naphtha cargo / assessment July 20 took into consideration a bid for H1 September-H2 September at / of $202.30/mt. the H1 September-H2 September time spread at $14.25/mt and the H2 / September-H1 October time spread $23/mt. Naphtha FOB Spore Cargo <PAAAP00> / assessment rationale: The FOB Singapore naphtha assessment was derived as a freight / CFR Japan naphtha first cycle assessment minus the cost of transporting a 30,000-mt clean / cargo on the Singapore-to-Japan route. Naphtha FOB Arab Gulf Cargo <PAAAA00> assessment / rationale: The FOB Arab Gulf naphtha assessment was derived as a freight netback from the / CFR Japan naphtha marker using the following calculation: CFR Japan naphtha marker minus / Market on Close assessment process. No data was excluded from the July 20 Asian naphtha / FOB Fujairah Naphtha Daily Rationale & Exclusions / Naphtha FOB Fujairah <NFJSA00 > assessment rationale: The FOB Fujairah naphtha / assessment July 20 took into consideration the naphtha Mean of Arab Gulf strip value at / or trades in the FOB Fujairah naphtha Market on Close assessment process. The MOPAG / naphtha strip was calculated from the August MOPAG naphtha swap at $727.35/mt and the / September MOPAG naphtha swap at $686.55/mt. The cash differential took into
Aromatics News as on 21-Jul-2026 / Asia and Middle Eastern Gasoline Daily Market Analysis / Indonesian demand heard stable / China’s Aug export levels remain unconfirmed / The Asian gasoline complex strengthened July 20, amid consistent demand heard from / Indonesia, the region’s largest gasoline importer. Pertamina issued a slew of tenders, / August. The US RBOB-Brent crack was pegged at $53.94/ barrel at 0300 GMT July 20, up from / the assessment of $52.90/b at the July 17 Asian close. Brokers pegged the front-month FOB / Singapore 92 RON gasoline swaps crack spread with Brent swaps in the $21.40-$21.45/b / the physical FOB Singapore 92 RON gasoline crack against front-month ICE Brent crude oil / until Ukraine’s recent drone campaign damaged much of its downstream infrastructure, may / Singapore Gasoline Rationales & Exclusions / Gasoline Unl 92 FOB Spore Cargo <PGAEY00> assessment rationale: The FOB Singapore 92 / 4-8 at Mean of Singapore 92 RON plus $2.25/b at $111.84/b, a bid for a cargo loading over / for a cargo loading over Aug. 10-14 at $111.46/b. Gasoline Unl 95 FOB Spore Cargo / <PGAEZ00> assessment rationale: The FOB Singapore 95 RON gasoline assessment July 20 / took into consideration the previous day’s 95/92 inter-RON spread in the absence of bids, / offers and trades. Gasoline Unl 97 FOB Spore Cargo <PGAMS00> assessment rationale: The / Gulf Cargo <AAGJA00> assessment rationale: The FOB Arab Gulf 92 RON gasoline cargo / assessment was derived as a freight netback from the FOB Singapore 92 RON marker using / the following calculation: FOB Singapore 92 RON assessment minus the cost of transporting / No market data was excluded from the Asian gasoline Market on Close assessment process / July 20. No market data was excluded from the Asian gasoline derivative MOC process July / FOB Fujairah Gasoline Daily Rationale & Exclusions / Gasoline 92 RON FOB Fujairah cargo <RFJFS00> assessment rationale: The assessment of FOB / in the FOB Fujairah 92 RON gasoline Market on Close assessment process. The MOPAG 92 / RON gasoline strip is calculated from the August MOPAG 92 RON gasoline swap at $101.64/b / and the September MOPAG 92 RON gasoline swap at $96.04/b. The cash differential took into / Gasoline 95 RON FOB Fujairah cargo <AFUJA00> assessment rationale: The assessment of FOB / Fujairah 95 RON gasoline July 20 took into consideration the 95 RON gasoline MOPAG strip / in the absence of bids, offers and trades in the FOB Fujairah 95 RON gasoline MOC. The / MOPAG 95 RON gasoline strip is calculated from the August MOPAG 95 RON gasoline swap / at $104.22/b and the September MOPAG 95 RON gasoline swap at $98.28/b. The cash / in the Middle East. Exclusions: No market data was excluded from the Asian gasoline MOC
Asia Pacific Sweet Crude Daily Market Analysis / Sep-loading Ichthys Field, Wheatstone condensate moves / Sep arrival Alba condensate moves / Initial trade details surface for Sep-loading Kimanis crude / The Asia-Pacific regional market on July 17 saw further movements across the crude and / condensate complex as the trading week inched to a close. In the regional condensate / Australian Ichthys Field condensate cargo scheduled to load over Sept. 21-25 to a trading / moved its Equatorial Guinea Alba condensate scheduled for September arrival, while / Australia’s Woodside Energy was also heard to have sold its early September-loading / Wheatstone condensate cargo, according to several trade sources. In the medium-sweet / crude complex, initial trade details surfaced as Brunei Energy was heard to have sold its / The second-month gasoil and jet fuel swap cracks averaged $48.41/b and $48.89/b, / June. Meanwhile, Caspian crude exporters are showing growing interest in Black Sea export / to Germany’s PCK Schwedt refinery via Druzhba were also suspended in May, prompting / Kazakhstan to redirect volumes to Ust-Luga and CPC. India’s move to raise export taxes on / opportunities amid renewed concerns about crude and product flows from the Middle East, / analysts and market sources said July 17. However, they said that the revision — normally / from Rupees 7.50/liter. By contrast, the export duty on gasoline was lowered to Rupees / Asia Light Sweet Crude Daily Rationale & Exclusions / ESPO FOB Kozmino Mo01 Spore vs Dubai Mo01 <AASEU00> assessment rationale: The ESPO