Aromatics

Benzene prices on an FOB Korea basis and paraxylene (PX) prices on a CFR Northeast Asia basis rebounded as crude prices hit the bottom. Players actively moved to buy to cover the short-positions. However, for PX, supply/demand was slack and the spared with benchmark feedstock naphtha prices remained narrow.

Olefins

In the CFR Northeast Asia ethylene market, activity was muted as major markets including China were on Mid-Autumn Festival holidays until the first half of the week. After the holidays, buying interest for ethylene was still unlikely to rise since demand for derivatives was dull in general.

In the Asia propylene market, a holiday mood was strong for Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the CFR Northeast Asia market, there were few players and the market was in a wait-and-see mood as China was on holidays until Sep 17 while South Korea was on holidays until Sep 18 for Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the Southeast Asia market, a petrochemical maker in the Philippines sold October loading cargoes.

The Asia butadiene market was bullish.

In the CFR Northeast Asia market, supply/demand was perceived to be tight as there were few available cargoes while demand from China was strong. In China, it was difficult to harvest natural rubber recently due to typhoons. Under this situation, futures prices for natural rubber and synthetic rubber were bullish. Along with this, the butadiene market was firm.

In the Southeast Asia market, Malaysia's Lotte Chemical Titan conducted a sell tender for October loading.