Polymer Prices China Standard Thermoplastics

China Standard Thermoplastics January/February 2014: Chinese New Year hiatus takes feedstock import quotes down / Declines across the entire polymer board / Adequate stock levels see prices continue soft even after the holidays

China Standard Thermoplastics December 2013/January 2014: Ethylene import costs soar to 4-year high / Cost of imported standard thermoplastics down / Domestic producers slash prices in face of sluggish demand / Market slows down ahead of lunar new year

China Standard Thermoplastics November/December 2013: Feedstock import costs rise / PE prices continue to strengthen while PS loses steam / Domestic producers impose hikes / Preparing for Chinese New Year

China Standard Thermoplastics October/November 2013: Ethylene and styrene import quotes recede while propylene advances / Import prices of PE rise while PS drops / Domestic manufacturers implement further price hikes

China Standard Thermoplastics September/October 2013: Ethylene import pricing surges while styrene and propylene remain soft / Import quotes see firm to modest increases / Domestic manufacturers raise prices after the National Day Holidays

China Standard Thermoplastics August/September 2013: Mixed pricing for feedstock imports / Standard thermoplastic imports see firm to modest price increases / Domestic manufacturers raise prices

China Standard Thermoplastics July/August 2013: Ethylene and propylene feedstock import prices recede / Styrene monomer import quotes surge to new high / Import prices of standard thermoplastics rise / Domestic manufacturers hike prices

China Standard Thermoplastics June/July 2013: Feedstock prices rise considerably / Domestic market entering slow season / Pricing steady to trending soft / LDPE outperforms other grades

China Standard Thermoplastics May/June 2013: Feedstock pricing strengthens / Commodity business picks up / Prices lift on renewed optimism

China Standard Thermoplastics April/May 2013: Mixed bag of perspectives / Ethylene pricing continues depressed / Largely stable pricing / Some slight upward movements / Downstream processing capacity utilisation 70%

China Standard Thermoplastics March/April 2013: Market mostly stable / Feedstock prices soft / Local manufacturers cut polymer notations to move volumes / No signs of an imminent revival

China Standard Thermoplastics February/March 2013: Production slowly returns to normal following New Year holidays / Feedstock and polymer notations weak / Widely expected post-holiday run fails to materialise / Highly dependent on styrene imports

China Standard Thermoplastics January/February 2013: Sector at standstill as country celebrates lunar new year / C2 and C3 notations rising / Calls for higher prices once holiday period ends / Consumption expected to rebound in Year of the Snake

China December 2012 / January 2013: Twin hikes for feedstocks and thermoplastics / PS notations set new record / Last push before two-week Chinese New Year hiatus / Petrochemical sector's pre-tax profit down 8% year-on-year over first 10 months of 2011

China March/April 2012: Slowdown in demand dampens increases for PE / PP, PVC and PS largely stable or tending downwards / Automotive sales slide / Fewer resin imports / Cautious outlook