- Benzene assessed $6-7/mt over styrene- Benzene sees open arbitrage
to US





European benzene and styrene spread
rebounded from March 3's negative figures, but was still under pressure. The
spread was $6.50/mt up $12.50/mt and down $112.25/mt for the week. Styrene demand in Europe remained low, with
plenty availability due to imports and the restart of Trinseo Terneuzen
production facility at the end January. This offset
low run rates at other production sites and ongoing outage of Maasvlakte
Netherlands . In the benzene marketplace, prices saw support due to an open
arbitrage to US related gasoline blending. Traders
stated that blending demand for derivatives cumene, ethylbenzene, and
ethylbenzene was supporting benzene markets and allowed for the spread to reach
negative levels in week leading up to March 3. Sources said this week that the
European industry-settled contract...