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Participants watch and wait for the uncertain downstream direction / Naphtha drops $7/mt since April 19

Participants watch and wait for the uncertain downstream direction / Naphtha drops $7/mt since April 19

Apr 23, 2024

The Asian ethylene market was quiet on April 22. There were few new bids or offers. A market source in China said that most participants were waiting to see what happens in the early part of the week and would decide whether or not to make further offers and bids after some clarity is gained in the downstream direction. The price of feedstock naphtha remained volatile and weighed on the sentiment, as producers struggled with margins due to low operating rates and a lackluster downstream market. The benchmark C+F Japan Naphtha Marker was down $7/mt on April 19, to $690.625/mt by the Asian close of April 22. The ethylene-naphtha differential was calculated at $224.375/mt. This is below the typical spreads of $250/mt or $300-$350/mt that are typically seen for integrated...