SunSirs: Styrene Prices Trended Upward Last Week (August 10–14)

According to the SunSirs commodity analysis system, the styrene market saw a slight rise last week; the average price was 8,620 RMB/ton on August 10 and 8,650 RMB/ton on August 14, representing an increase of 0.35% over the period and a year-on-year rise of 12.98%.

Macroeconomic overview: International crude oil futures closed lower on August 13. The settlement price for the September contract of U.S. WTI crude oil futures was $81.25 per barrel, a decline of $2.02 or 2.4%. The settlement price for the October contract of Brent crude oil futures was $87.07 per barrel, a decline of $1.91 or 2.2%.

Cost side: The benzene market has shown a trend of fluctuating upward. Prices rose due to factors such as typhoon-related delays in cargo unloading, a continued decline in inventories at major Jiangsu ports, the postponement of restarts for certain production units, and a slower-than-expected recovery in output. Meanwhile, demand from some downstream sectors remains sluggish, and overall downstream operating rates are low. Overall, although the increase in supply has fallen slightly short of expectations, demand remains weak, limiting the scope for a rebound in benzene prices.

Supply and Demand: Last week saw a mix of maintenance shutdowns and restarts at styrene plants; due to low profit margins, the industry's operating rate remained low. Downstream demand for 3S products was in a seasonal lull, limiting demand growth. Amidst weak supply and demand, the styrene market experienced fluctuating price trends.

External Styrene Market: On August 13, closing prices in the Asian styrene market rose by $17/tonne. The FOB Korea closing price stood at $1,125–$1,135/tonne, while the CFR China closing price was $1,110–$1,120/tonne.

Market Outlook: Currently, drivers from the supply and demand sides of the styrene market are limited; end-user demand has yet to recover, and profit margins in downstream industries remain low. Consequently, downstream enterprises are expected to limit procurement to essential needs while resisting high prices. In the short term, the styrene market is expected to track fluctuations in oil prices.

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