(ICIS) -- European butadiene (BD) and crude C4 (CC4) spot prices have registered sharp decreases over the past week as availability in the market lengthens while demand slows further, players said on Friday.
Domestic inland BD spot prices slid by EUR 50-75/tonne (USD 71-107/tonne) to trade at EUR 2,350-2,400/tonne FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe), while export values also lost a further USD 50/tonne, leaving prices at USD 3,500-3,550/tonne FOB (free on board) according to data from ICIS. The CC4 spot factor also slipped to 1.45-1.48 times naphtha from the 1.65 recorded just three weeks ago.
Many players said that the length in the market had initially appeared over the traditionally slower summer holiday season, as although demand had dwindled, cracker margins remained strong making producers reluctant to cut back operating rates.