- Continued soft market conditions- Slight recovery of automotive
sector demand





The European
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene market saw continued low demand in the week to
Dec. 21, with muted spot activity and minimal contract volume offtake across
downstream sectors. Sources indicated that, despite a
slight improvement in the automotive sector's month-on–month and year-on–year
demand, overall buy interest in the European ABS spot markets remained weak.
Consumers are looking to avoid building stock before the year-end and consider
extended holidays. According to a producer, the contract market saw
slower trade as December progressed. Consumers were reportedly taking minimal
contractual volumes. Sources reported that there was a healthy supply
situation, with slightly lower import rates from South Korea due to freight
price uncertainty. Stock maintenance in some European plants also had little
impact on the market length....