US benzene and toluene markets rose to two-month highs Tuesday to $2.35/gal ($703/mt) FOB US Gulf Coast and $2.25/gal ($684/mt) FOB USG, respectively.
Sources attributed gains in both markets to stronger energy as NYMEX December crude settled $1.76 higher at $47.90/b and NYMEX December RBOB gasoline was 7.02 cents higher at $1.4455/gal.
Talk of a reformer shutdown also boosted sentiment and resulted in higher pricing, sources said.
A reformer issue would affect toluene mostly, with the impact on benzene pricing likely to be minimal, a couple of sources said.
US benzene pricing was last seen at that level August 17, while toluene was last seen at that level August 18, based on Platts data.
Source:
http://www.platts.com/latest-news/petrochemicals/houston/us-benzene-toluene-at-two-month-highs-on-energy-26264881
