US Q2 mid-cut fatty alcohol contracts settle down

摘要

HOUSTON(ICIS)--US second-quarter C12-15 mid-cut fatty alcohol contracts are fully settled,moving down 5 cents/lb across the assessment spread.The C12-15 second quarter contracts are assessed at 68-77 cents/lb,bulk delivered.The assessment moved down 3 cents/lb on the low end and 2 cents/lb on the high end from first-quarter levels.Prices on finished business for the mid-cuts did edge down,but not as deeply down as some market participants expected.Buyers and sellers said the assessed range is representative for most second-quarter contracts,with some market participants’business falling within the spread.Feedstock price volatility for palm kernel oil(PKO)dominated second-quarter discussions and remains a concern for natural alcohol price perspectives.Market participants said synthetic alcohol supply is readily available.Prices on the synthetics are said to be competitive with the natural alcohols for the second quarter.In the US,sellers’contracts are on an account-by-account basis rather than announced price changes.