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.