The Southeast Asian homo-PP market remains on the stable to softer trend on the first trading day of the month even after key international suppliers managed to close a good number of deals in the previous week. Buyers, while concerning about the increasing number of plants cutting operating rates, are fearful of the darkening global economic outlook.
In the PE sector, sellers tend to invite customers to place bids instead of opening official price lists. The constantly declining import offers to China that generates wide location gaps between the two markets are eroding Southeast Asian buyers’ confidence.
Compared to the PP market, Chinese suppliers have to concede to larger discounts on PE yet deals remain thin. Spot LLDPE film dropped CNY100/ton while HDPE and LDPE film slumped CNY150/ton day-on-day as the packaging sector continues to suffer from the lack of demand.