Polyurethane feedstocks in March 2012: Seasonal influences spark demand / TDI producers see triple-digit gains / MDI and polyols rise by single-digit figures / Producers will seek further margin gains come April

摘要

Prices of all polyurethane feedstocks rose in March against February. Driven by tightening inventories in the wake of maintenance turnarounds and higher toluene numbers in some regions, TDI showed the most obvious upward mobility. Here producers had set a Ql goal of adding EUR 250/t and with March gains averaging EUR 125/t it seems the target has been achieved. MDI producers also stood their ground, and with a rise of EUR 60/t this month they, too, appear to have reached their quarterly goal. Polyols producers fell short of the EUR 150/t rise they were seeking, adding only EUR 65/t.