April 2020: Negative crude oil prices impact polymers

摘要

Most standard thermoplastic prices in China stayed on a descending path in April. Some notations were heading upward until around mid-month but then fell during the second half of April. This was due in large part to the price of WTI crude oil going negative. Demand in April was low for all types except PP. Many polypropylene plants were prioritising production of fibre-grade PP, and this created a lower supply of other grades. PP homopolymer was 8% higher against March.