Asia benzene market fell again on Wednesday due to sluggish market sentiment. FOB Korea closed at US $842.5-843.5 per ton while FOB Southeast Asia settled at $835.5-836.5 per ton, down $4.75 from the previous day.
Pure benzene market was more cautious and seemed to have a wait-and-see attitude, due to effects of styrene and phenol, which are in the doldrums. September benzene shipment was offered at $845 per ton in the morning, but fell to $830 in the afternoon.
On supply side, as a result of about to start new capacities in China and Indonesia, Asia benzene supply will increase. Japan's Idimitsu plans to reduce operation rate of aromatics plant in August due to shortage of its feedstock; naphtha.
No-3 aromatics plant of Taiwan FCFC3 located in Mailiao has yet to restart after it shut down on July 1. There is no problem of raw material supply, since the recently restarted No-2 styrene plant has sufficient inventory.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - China
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