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Little incentive for Chinese buyers to purchase propylene for PP production / Propylene-naphtha Spread below Breakeven Level

Little incentive for Chinese buyers to purchase propylene for PP production / Propylene-naphtha Spread below Breakeven Level

May 21, 2024

Market sources reported that discussions in the Asian propylene markets were muted on May 20 as buyers kept their distance. Market sources say that with propylene and its downstream counterpart polypropylene priced at $55-$70/mt, Chinese buyers were not motivated to purchase propylene. The margins were also negative for the propylene producers. On May 20, the spread between cargo assessments FOB Korea propylene versus naphtha CF Japan cargo assessments was $134.25/mt. The spread was down $13.625/mt from week to week, and it remained below the usual breakeven point of $250/mt. CFR China propylene remained unchanged at $850/mt on May 20, and FOB Korean propylene remained stable from May 17, at $820/mt.