Trade Resources Industry Views October US Ethylene Contracts Settle 0.25 Cent/Lb Lower: Sources

October US Ethylene Contracts Settle 0.25 Cent/Lb Lower: Sources

Tags: Ethylene, Sources, US

US ethylene contacts for October settled 0.25 cent/lb lower, with the month's net transaction price at 28.25 cents/lb, market sources said Wednesday.

The decrease puts contract prices at their lowest level since the 27.75 cents/lb seen in December 2003, Platts data showed. The September settlement was at its lowest level since the 28.5 cents/lb seen in December 2008.

The drop for October was on the lower end of market expectations, which were talked at a 1-2 cent/lb drop, given that strong run rates at most US Gulf Coast production facilities led to a substantial buildup of inventories and a subsequent mid-month drop in pricing to 18.5 cents/lb in early October, which was near the low set in mid-December 2008.

US ethylene contracts are typically settled retroactively on a monthly basis and take into consideration spot ethylene and feedstock prices.

An October net transaction price settlement at 28.25 cents/lb would mean the posted price for the month would decline to 32.75 cents/lb.

In spot markets, US spot ethylene prices dropped 0.75 cent/lb Wednesday, assessed at 23.75-24.25 cents/lb FD USG for prompt-month deliveries. December was also 0.75 cent/lb lower for the day at 23.75-24.25 cents/lb FD USG. November was traded at 23.75 cents/lb MtB Wms in the morning and at 24 cents/lb in the afternoon. One December deal was concluded at 24 cents/lb MtB Wms.

Source: http://www.platts.com/latest-news/petrochemicals/houston/october-us-ethylene-contracts-settle-025-centlb-21418645
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Topics: Metallurgy