Styrene monomer (SM) producers are seeing low profitability in China as the prices of benzene used as a raw material for SM remain high. However, the SM market may rise. In addition, the arrival of a demand season for derivative products arriving in October is likely to be a factor supporting the SM market. Looking at raw material prices, the benzene market was rising until last week as crude oil prices were strong due to a hurricane hitting the US. Furthermore, SM prices are also lifted by a recent sharp increase in coal prices in China. On the supply side, SM inventories may decrease in China going forward as there was information that Zhejiang Petrochemical's SM facility will start regular maintenance from the second half of October. Nevertheless, it was unclear the maintenance will be conducted as planned. On the demand side, polystyrene (PS), EPS, and ABS are expected to enter the peak demand season from October. Currently, the operating rates of these facilities are 70-75% for PS, 65% or less for EPS, and less than 85% for ABS.