Market participants attributed the price cuts to year-end destocking activities and the stronger US dollar, which has pressured commodities priced in the currency. However, the softer import offers also present local traders with an attractive opportunity to restock
Meanwhile, the domestic PVC market in China has shown signs of stabilization after seven consecutive weeks of declines. This recovery has been attributed to rebounding futures prices on the Dalian Commodity Exchange and heightened optimism around the government’s promises to boost local consumption in 2025.
Over the course of the week, the two petrochemical giants offloaded 70,000 tons, equivalent to 10.3% of their total inventory. This marks a smaller drawdown compared to the previous week, when inventories fell by 100,000 tons, or 14% - highlighting a moderated sales pace.
As the year-end approached, Shenhua significantly reduced its auction volumes, a key factor driving the robust performance. Reports suggest that the coal-based producer's sales strategy for 2025 will allocate 60% of its output to the Auction Platform, 30% to the export market
Market participants are cautiously interpreting the surge in purchasing activities as a potential market support mechanism. However, a critical caveat remains: persistent weakness in the upstream PTA market could potentially constrain any significant price recovery in the PET bottle sector.