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Key downstream margins remain negative | Ongoing lockdowns in China dampen derivative demand

Apr 29, 2022

Key downstream margins remain negative  Ongoing lockdowns in China dampen
derivative demand  



The Asian ethylene market
saw prices fall on April 28 due to weak sentiment and negative downstream
margins. On April 28, margins in the downstream
MEG sector were calculated at minus 254/mt. Margins for SM were calculated at minus $170-180/mt while
margins for HDPE film were calculated at minus 160/mt. "We have already reduced operating rates for PE &
SM so there is no immediate need to purchase spot ethylene. A buyer from Northeast Asia stated that, given our margins
being negative over the past months, we will look for spot ethylene below
$1,200-1,230/mt to improve profitability. Many
ethylene buyers said that domestic sales of derivatives are still poor in
China's downstream demand. In view of
increasing stock levels, raw material procurement has...

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