The upstream PTA market continues to struggle under the weight of excessive supply, with no signs of production cuts from major producers. This market weakness is casting a long shadow over the downstream PET bottle sector.
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.