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Margin pressure is relieved by softening upstream markets, but margins are still negative  | Activity slows due to limited demand

Margin pressure is relieved by softening upstream markets, but margins are still negative | Activity slows due to limited demand

Mar 23, 2023

- Margin pressure is relieved by softening upstream
markets, but margins are still negative- Activity slows due to limited
demand





Asian acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene lower
at $1,365-1405/mt for the CFR China marker in the week to March 22. The
corresponding CFR Southeast Asia marker was assessed lower on the week at
$1,390-1,430/mt. Domestic Chinese prices were largely unchanged compared to the
previous week, although market participants generally spoke of poor demand.
Weaker upstream markets gave some reprieve to the pressure on margins, but
production margins remained negative. "Currently, it's quite tough,"
a producer said. The bearish sentiment is echoed by a
few producers. Participants in the Southeast Asian market reported a decrease
in activity due to Ramadan.