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Operating rates below 50% heard in China  | Eroded margins make producers wary

Operating rates below 50% heard in China | Eroded margins make producers wary

May 18, 2023

- Operating rates below 50% heard in China- Eroded margins make producers wary



The Asian monoethylene markets were quiet
on May 17 due to weak downstream demand. The operating rates were low. Several market sources
estimated that run rates in China averaged below 50% due to the eroding
margins. Since February 2022, MEG margins
have been in the negative due to high costs for ethylene, a key feedstock. Prices of ethylene fell $25/mt in a week to $865/mt, CFR
China, May 17. However, this did not improve sentiment because MEG producers
were still under pressure due to poor demand.