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Supply constraints persist/ Purchases are made mainly on a need-to-buy basis

Supply constraints persist/ Purchases are made mainly on a need-to-buy basis

May 29, 2024

The fundamentals of the Asian butadiene market were stable on May 28. Discussions remained rangebound. The supply remained tight due to a combination of lowered operating rates in Asian steam crackers that use naphtha and some plant shutdowns in China. According to sources on the market, buyers were cautious due to thin margins in downstream rubber, and there was a weak demand for imported butadiene. Market participants said that some trade was observed in the Chinese domestic market, and that purchases were mostly made on a need-to basis due to ongoing shutdowns in derivative plants in China. The benchmark C+F Japan Naphtha was valued at $689.50/mt, up $14/mt from the previous day's close on May 28. Butadiene and naphtha were calculated at $680.50/mt above the usual spread of $300/mt.