US benzene surges in late October as derivative demand rises, crude costs steady

摘要

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US benzene experienced a brief resurgence in late October as stronger derivative demand has shifted values higher while crude costs continue to show little direction. Despite a rather calm October in terms of market activity, benzene spot values climbed last week as short-term demand for styrene and an opening of the arbitrage window with Asia markets emerged. Benzene prices had been trading at $1.36-1.495/gal DDP (delivered, duty paid) in the US Gulf Coast region over the past few weeks and then jumped to around $1.57/gal DDP the week of 23 October.