MOSCOW (MRC) - Importers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the CIS countries reported an increase in prices of Asian and European material, according to ICIS-MRC Price Report.
The initial rise in prices in Asia was caused by an explosion at the paraxylene plant at Dragon Aromatics on 16, April.
The share of Dragon Aromatics in the structure of world capacity of paraxylene is 3.6%. Total capacities of PX plant of Dragon Aromatics is 1.6 m tonnes/year. The company's share in the production of paraxylene in China is 14.2%.
Following the force majeure on paraxylene plant was closed plant for the PTA production of Xianglu Petrochemical in Gulei (Zhangzhou, Fujian, China). The output of PTA was resumed later.
The above listed events, as well as the growth of oil futures have fuelled PTA prices for PET producers and resulted in the growth of export PET prices. Last week, the import prices of PET for the Russian market rose to USD990-1,060/tonne CIF Vostochny and USD1,060-1,130/tonne CIF Novorossiysk, excluding VAT.
Import prices for Arab PET in the Ukrainian market last week rose to USD1,125-1,150/tonne CIF Odessa. Asian PET prices for Ukraine were at USD1,040-1,130/tonne CIF Odessa, excluding VAT. The lower limit of the price was typical for the beginning of last week, the top - at the end of the week. At the same time this week PET prices rise again, said importers on Tuesday morning.
Another force majeure at the MEG production of Sinopec plant in China on Tuesday can help producers of PET chips to increase prices even higher. Spot prices of European suppliers are growing after the increase in prices in China.
The low rate of the euro against to the dollar as well as strong seasonal demand helps European producers to increase prices.
Belarusian export prices of bottle grade PET were not announced for CIS buyers last week. Mogilevkhimvolokno has produced APET. However, importers in Ukraine expected the producer's prices, nominated in euros, to increase following the trends in foreign markets. At the same time buyers in Russia expected the producer's PET prices, nominated in the Russian roubles, to be cut.
Despite the increase in the dollar prices of external suppliers, prices for Russian importers decreased in the rouble terms in April on the back of the rouble strengthening. Asian PET prices (in national currency and taking into account the logistics) began to drop again in the local spot market.
This situation can not last long, as it is unclear how long the rouble will remain at current values. As it was previously reported, PET prices in Russia remained steady, but may soon be reduced
MRC