PX run cuts leads to SM run cuts.

摘要

According to a source near the company, Japanese Asahi Kasei plans to cut its styrene monomer (SM) production rates from 75% to 70% of capacity. The sources said that limited availability of benzene feedstocks was the problem, with benzene assessed at $l,382/mt FOB Korea on July 3, against SM at $l,612.50/mt FOB Korea. The SM-benzene spread has fallen from $388.50/mt on March 18-a high for 2014-to just $172/mt on June 25. The July 3 spread of $230.50/mt has improved somewhat, but with co-feedstock ethylene at $l,485/mt CFR Northeast Asia it was still below the breakeven point for non-integrated producers.