(ICIS) -- Prices of butanediol (BDO) in
Asia appear poised for a sharp drop in the coming weeks, as a result of
extremely weak demand from the polyurethane (PU) segment, several market sources
said on Wednesday. A major Western producer said that its key customers have
procured BDO cargoes at $3,150/tonne (?2,268/tonne) CFR (cost & freight) CMP
(China Main Port). This is a decline of $150-250/tonne from prices assessed at
$3,300-3,400/tonne CFR CMP on 18 October, according to ICIS data.
BDO is used primarily in the application of PU in the leather industry in
China, while PU is used in the production of shoe soles.
Demand from the PU segment is likely to remain weak as the result of
shoe-factory closures amid an ongoing regional credit crisis at Wenzhou city in
Zhejiang province.
mrcplast.com
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