- PX tumbles $50.33-55.40/mt, narrows PX-MX spread- PTA plant closing





Asian isomer-grade mixed xylene dropped $39-44/mt
to $983-1010/mt FOB Korea, and $983-1010/mt CFR Unv1. However, it rose from $7-8/mt
Aug. 16 to $982-1010/mt CFR China. This was due to weaker downstream and
upstream prices. Paraxylene downstream fell $50.33-55.50/mt
to $1,054-1,080.50/mt CRU Unv1/China. This narrowed the spread of the PX-MX
spread to $71-76/mt. It was down $11.33-16.50/mt and the lowest level since
July 12, at $63.25-68.50/mt. The September domestic isomer-MX
price in East China was heard at Yuan 7,680-7700/mt or $987.60-1010.50/mt if
you consider import-parity. Downstream, South Korea’s Hanwha
General Chemical is closing its No. 1, and No. Three
purified terephthalic acid plants, with a combined capacity of 400,000 and
450,000 mt/year at Ulsan, are available for scheduled maintenance. According to
the source, the company's current operating...