Last week, ethylene prices across Asia were largely unchanged, underscoring a subdued trading landscape. FOB Korea assessments stood at USD 770–780/mt, while FOB Japan held at USD 765–775/mt, both mirroring prices from the preceding week. CFR Northeast Asia ethylene remained flat at USD 815–825/mt, and CFR Southeast Asia also held steady at USD 825–835/mt.
Market participants noted a distinct lack of fresh offers, with many traders having completed August allocations and showing limited enthusiasm for new negotiations. Others stayed on the sidelines due to concerns over short-term market volatility, driven by feedstock price swings, weak downstream demand, and logistical uncertainties.
In China, a sustained restart of ethane shipments has enabled ethane‑fired steam crackers to run at high rates – a cost-efficient path to consistent ethylene output. This reliable supply outlook has prompted market players to lower pricing expectations, as future availability appears secure.
Within the domestic Chinese spot market, ample supply and constrained demand have pressured prices downward. Producers ramped up offerings to alleviate inventory pressure, but cautious downstream buyers, operating with lean holdings, continued to limit purchases. As a result, unless downstream activity improves or cracker utilization slows, price downside appears likely to persist in the near term.
On the supply front, upcoming crackers scheduled for maintenance may shape future trends. Hyundai Chemical plans to shut its 850,000 mt/year Daesan cracker for about 50 days starting mid‑October 2025, while Indonesia’s Chandra Asri Petrochemical is targeting a November 2025 outage for its 900,000 mt/year facility.
Overall, Asia’s ethylene sector remains defined by persistent stability. Limited upstream disruptions and moderate buyer activity leave the market in a holding pattern, where plentiful supply offsets tepid demand, and prices stay flat unless catalyst events unfold.
