Hefty hikes surface in PP and PE markets of Se Asia for April

01-Apr-15

Hefty hikes have started to be announced for PP and PE prices for April in Southeast Asia, as per ChemOrbis pricing service. Tight supplies continue to drive both import and local markets up in the region, according to players. Monthly increases of up to US$200/ton are seen in the new announcements. A Saudi producer raised prices by US$120/ton for HDPE film and homo-PP, US$100/ton for LLDPE and US$160/ton for PP block copolymer early this week. A source from the producer commented, “We have already sold out our LLDPE allocation while our customers are trying to negotiate for lower prices for HDPE film. We are expecting PP and PE prices to continue to move higher over the near term as supplies remain tight.” A Saudi Arabian producer announced April prices for PP and PE to Southeast Asia with increases from March. The producer raised prices by US$180/ton for LLDPE and HDPE, by US$200/ton for homo-PP and by US$90/ton for PP copolymer. “Middle Eastern prices are moving higher because of supply limitations stemming from a number of shutdowns in the region. We are facing some resistance to our new PP block copolymer prices, but consumer response to other offers has been good so far,” a producer source commented. According to a trader in Philippines, a major Saudi Arabian producer came with increases from March. The producer’s new levels indicate increases of US$180/ton for HDPE film, US$150/ton for LLDPE film, US$170/ton for LDPE film, US$190/ton for homo-PP raffia, US$240/ton for PP block copolymer and US$260/ton for PP random copolymer when compared to the initial March prices which the trader received from the same seller. A domestic producer in Indonesia also announced a new hike on PE, maintaining the upward momentum that has been in place since early February, according to ChemOrbis.