Contract prices of styrene in the United States for October supplies were agreed at USD1,375-1,485 per tonne, which is USD33 lower than the previous month due to weaker market demand in Asia, which led to a decrease in prices globally, ICIS reports.

The fall in demand in Asia, mainly in China, led to a fall in imports from Europe. This also led to a decrease in buyers’ interest in styrene from the United States.

Starting from October 5, prices for styrene in China decreased by 20%. Similarly, spot prices for styrene in Europe have fallen by 14% since October 5.

The October spot prices of styrene in the United States fell by USD165 per ton, or slightly less than 13%, compared with the previous month.

Styrene is the main raw material component for the production of polystyrene (PS).

According to the ICIS-MRC price review, for the period January-September of the current year, imports of all types of PS to Russia decreased, except for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). In September, imports of general purpose polystyrene (PSS / M) amounted to 0.91 thousand tons against 1.82 thousand tons a month earlier and 1.70 thousand tons in September last year. In the first nine months, deliveries of PSS / M from abroad in the Russian Federation decreased by 26% to 14.39 thousand tons against 19.34 thousand tons for the same period last year. In September, imports of high impact polystyrene (UPS / M) totaled 0.95 thousand tons against 2.61 thousand tons a month earlier and 2.04 thousand tons in September last year. In the first nine months, imports of UPS / M decreased by 14% to 15.29 thousand tons against 17.70 thousand tons for the same period last year.

North American styrene manufacturers include AmSty, INEOS Styrolution, LyondellBasell Chemical, Pemex, Shell Chemicals Canada, Total Petrochemicals and Styren Westlake.