A leading Malaysian petrochemical producer has unveiled its January price list for PP and PE shipments to Indonesia, maintaining prices at the previous month’s levels while omitting offers for HDPE. Industry insiders interpret this as a strategic adjustment aimed at prioritizing higher-margin products amid shifting market dynamics.
Although the Indonesian Rupiah has shown some recovery against the US dollar compared to the previous week, it continues to trade above the critical threshold of IDR 16,000 to USD 1. This persistent weakness has deterred local suppliers from rushing any price reductions.
Several key Chinese PP suppliers have opened export homo-PP offers on the first trading day of the week, maintaining prices on the stable to softer track despite the stabilizing domestic front. A weakened Yuan provided exporters extra room to navigate the challenging export front.
Shenhua maintained robust transaction activity on its Auction Platform as the year draws near to a close. The coal-based petrochemical producer experienced reduced sales pressure, evidenced by a decline in auction volumes for PP and PE in recent weeks.
Despite the thin margins, sellers managed to offload a substantial number of cargoes. However, efforts to raise offers were swiftly rebuffed. Buyers, grappling with uncertainties linked to India's unresolved ADD hearing and a weak macroeconomic outlook, were unwilling to accept higher prices.