Buying interest for LLDPE remained robust, with no additional discounts offered on auction prices, reflecting solid demand. In contrast, Shenhua introduced a modest CNY 50/ton discount on homo-PP, successfully stimulating demand in that segment.
Despite the recent decline in naphtha costs, sellers remain unwilling to lower ethylene prices, attributing their reluctance to the volatility in crude oil futures, which they argue could trigger unpredictable swings in naphtha prices.
Stable demand from the agricultural film sector provided robust support for coal-based LLDPE, as reflected in the strong auction results. In contrast, the homo-PP auction struggled, even after a CNY 80/ton discount from the previous session failed to stimulate sufficient buyer interest.
This significant drop in spot offers, along with adjustments in third-quarter 2024 contract pricing, has raised concerns among Indonesian buyers. Many have opted to delay purchases, citing uncertainty about the near-term price trajectory and supply availability.