The tide continues to change for the pricing of naphtha, a raw material for petrochemicals that has been strongly influenced of late by a historic depreciation of crude oil. The...
naphtha
Benchmark Price of Japanese Naphtha Rises for First Time in Three Quarters
Japan’s benchmark price for naphtha has shifted to an increase for the first time in three quarters, averaging 44,600 yen ($408) per kiloliter across the 2017 October–December period. This marks...
Asian Naphtha Prices Continue to Climb
The naphtha market in Asia has risen yet another level. Impacted by the elevated cost of crude oil, the price of naphtha passed $500 per ton in September of last...
Chemical Industry’s Strong Results, Future Issues – Part 2: Sumitomo
Various chemical companies have recently shown strong performances. This has been made possible by improved profitability in the petrochemical sector, and has extended to companies around the world. However, where...
Japanese Naphtha Sees Low Base Price in July–September
Japanese naphtha recently saw a continued drop in value, with the benchmark price of domestic naphtha at 36,100 yen ($316.46) per kiloliter for the July–September period. This is a reduction...
Ethylene Prices Remain High in Northeast Asia
Ethylene prices are likely to stay in the high range. The price per ton in Northeast Asian markets currently sits around $1,250 to $1,300, or about 35 percent higher than...
Ethylene Plant Utilization Rates Surpass 95% in September
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s (METI) Material Industries Division announced on Oct. 16 that ethylene production for September was 534,400 tons, a year-on-year increase of 13.7 percent. Ethylene...
Ethylene Production Favorable in August, Up 10.9% From Last Year
According to data compiled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s (METI) Material Industries Division, ethylene production for August totaled at 562,000 tons for a year-on-year increase of 10.9...
Soaring Styrene Monomer Prices in Asia Top $1,300 for First Time in Five Months
Styrene monomer (SM) has soared in price on the Asian market, rising $100 per ton over the last week to reach the $1,300 level for the first time in five...
Mitsui Chemicals Moves to Diversify Petrochemical Feedstock, Adapt Plants for Propane Use
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) is moving forward with plans to diversify the raw materials for ethylene produced at it plant in Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture. As part of the effort to...
SCG to Invest in Vietnam’s First Cracker Complex
Thai-based Siam Cement Group (SCG) recently announced that it has decided to invest in the construction of a petrochemical complex in southern Vietnam. The construction project includes several polyolefin facilities...
Toagosei First to Commercialize Process Making Acrylic Acid From Propane
Toagosei Co. Ltd. (TYO:4045) has success in its sights with a new process for directly manufacturing acrylic acid from propane on an industrial scale. The new process achieves yields comparable...
Japan’s Naphtha Cracker Capacity Utilization Exceeds 100 Percent in January
With capacity utilization of ethylene-producing naphtha crackers reaching 100.1 percent in Japan last month, it marks the first time since February 2008 that naphtha crackers have operated at more than...
Domestic Naphtha Price Rises to 34,000 yen in October–December 2016 Quarter
The domestic naphtha price for October–December 2016 rose 2,700 yen ($23.96), or 8.6 percent, to 34,000 yen per kiloliter from 31,300 yen in the July–September quarter. It was the first...
Conclusion Draws Near for Price Hike Negotiations on Film-Use Polyolefin
Polyolefin price hike negotiations are entering their final stage in the film sector. It appears that the domestic naphtha price for January–March 2017 is likely to be set at low...
Prime Polymer Announces Price Hike for Polyolefins
Prime Polymer Co. Ltd. will hike the price of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), effective for shipments from Jan. 21, 2017. Prices will be revised by no less than 20...
Sumitomo Chemical Announces Price Increase for Polyolefins
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005) will be increasing its price of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), starting with shipments from Jan. 20, 2017. Set to rise by 18 yen ($0.15)...
Nippon Shokubai to Hike Price for Acrylic Acid, Acrylic Ester and Ethylene Oxide
Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114) will raise the price for acrylic acid (AA), acrylic ester (AE), ethylene oxide (EO) and its derivatives, starting with January 2017 shipments. Prices across the...
Idemitsu Kosan, Mitsui Chemicals to Increase Propane Ratio in Petrochemical Raw Materials
Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. (TYO:5019) and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) will increase the propane processing capacity at Chiba Chemicals Manufacturing LLP. Jointly operated by the two companies, the complex has...
Naphtha Cracker Margins Contract in Southeast Asia
Naphtha cracker margins are contracting in Southeast Asia. The spread between naphtha and ethylene was just under $600 per ton from late October to the beginning of November, down 20...
