Improving availability Slower demand than in 2021



The European
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene market continued to move towards more balanced
supply and demand dynamics in the week to Feb. 9, continuing a trend seen
through the opening weeks of 2022. Sources indicated that availability had
improved. They pointed to Ineos Styrolution’s Wingles France production
facility of 50,000 mt/year, which was officially launched on Jan. 31. There was
also an increase in import volumes and an increase in offers from Asian
exporters. One European producer stated
that if there is a possibility to obtain cheaper material from Asia, customers
will wait to receive the price. As
February contract negotiations continue, lower-priced Asian offers were used to
justify lowering the freely negotiated February pricing. However, limited
composite feedstock cost movements were cited as a reason for stable pricing. In...