Ethylene prices in the United States remained unchanged on Monday, with the FD US Gulf benchmark assessed at 20.00-20.50 cents per pound, maintaining the same range as seen last Friday. An industry source in the US told that while the market remains stable, there have been reports of a few operational issues among crackers, though none have yet triggered price adjustments.
The lack of movement in US pricing reflects a broader cautious sentiment. Buyers are adopting a wait-and-see stance, even as supply appears adequate and downstream demand is mixed. The reported cracker issues, whether small-scale maintenance or minor disruptions, seem to have been absorbed without significantly rattling market expectations.
Across the Pacific, Asia likewise saw ethylene prices remain firm. The CFR Northeast Asia assessment held in the USD 845-855/mt band, exactly the same as last Friday, showing little reaction from regional buyers despite the US hints of supply concerns.
This synchronized stability across two major ethylene markets suggests that sellers and buyers currently lack both the impetus and the justification for revising deals. Downstream industries have so far shown neither sharp pickup in demand to push prices up, nor a fall-off severe enough to demand discounts. Any future movement is likely to hinge on whether the reported US cracker disruptions expand, or if macroeconomic signals bring downstream players more confidence to act.
