Asian Styrene: Increases amid talk of ethylbenzene on the
market- FOB China Ethylbenzene heard at $930-950/mt- East China around Yuan 7,500-7,600/mtThe styrene monomer market rallied on May
26 after sources indicated that SM producers were offering ethylbenzene. After news spread of an
ethylbenzene offer from a producer east China, the domestic China market rose
in the afternoon. This was due to a bullish sentiment about the potential
demand for blending gasoline with ethylbenzene. In China, a producer was heard to offer ethylbenzene.
Another major producer in East China was also heard to be considering cutting
rates for ethylbenzene. Ethylbenzene, a
precursor of styrene monmer, is used in the production process. One producer estimated the operating costs of ethylbenzene
deshydrogenation as Yuan 500/mt. Ethylbenzene
was offered at around Yuan 7,500-7600/mt as prompt domestic cargo and $930/mt
FOB China. The...