Urethane Blog

Middle East PU Markets Slow

June 5, 2017

Middle East isocyanates, polyols demand muted amid Ramadan

02 June 2017 04:37 Source:ICIS News

car seats 2 June

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Demand for isocyanates and polyols in the Middle East has entered a seasonally weak period amid the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which started on 27 May.

Spot prices of polymeric methyl di-p-phenylene isocyanate (PMDI) and toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) will likely continue to ease as demand wanes further through the month, market sources said.

“This is the trend now, prices are coming down,” said another NE Asian market source.

Polyols prices are however expected to be stable despite the slow demand as producers have been reluctant to lower their offer levels due to rising prices of feedstock propylene oxide (PO).

In the week ended 1 June, spot import prices of TDI to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the rest of the Middle East region were stable in the week ended 1 June, while prices of PMDI were stable-to-soft amid sufficient supply.

TDI prices in the GCC, East Mediterranean (East Med) and Iran were stable at $3,600-3,650/tonne on a CFR (cost & freight) basis in the week.

PMDI import prices were stable-to-soft, with GCC prices at $2,600-2,650/tonne CFR GCC, the top end down by $50/tonne from the previous week, while prices in Iran and the East Med were all unchanged.

“Activity is slowing down. Some producers will try and keep their [isocyanates] prices up for as long as they can but they will offer the discounts to whoever wants to buy,” said a trader in Europe.

It was a similar picture in the polyether polyols market, where prices of 10-13.5% polymer polyols were stable at $1,600-1,650/tonne CFR Middle East while prices of rigid polyols were unchanged at $1,400-1,450/tonne CFR Middle East.

Isocyanates and polyols are used together in the manufacture of rigid or flexible foam products, which are being used widely in the production of automotive car seats and mattresses.

Demand was stable but subdued with few market participants willing to commit to large orders amid what is typically considered a slow season, market sources said.

Ramadan is considered the holiest month in the Muslim calendar, during which, practising Muslims abstain from food and water between sunrise and sunset.

It is also a period where many Muslims focus their attention on the spiritual aspect of their lives and so many actually cut back on commercial activities during the 30-day period.

As such, manufacturing activity slows down as factories observe shorter operating hours and as many workers take some vacation time as well.

“The demand is slow because of Ramadan. No one wants to commit to deals,” said a source at a northeast (NE) Asian polyols supplier.

While demand for consumer items like food and clothing does improve leading to the Eid ul-Fitr festival, which marks the end of Ramadan, demand for products like polyurethane foam would stagnate.

“Things are a bit softer now and it’s expected to be quiet for the next month or so,” said a Middle Eastern source.

Focus article by Izham Ahmad

Mideast isocyanates-polyols 2 June

Picture: Car seats. Isocyanates and polyols are used together in the manufacture of rigid or flexible foam products, which are being used widely in the production of automotive car seats and mattresses. (Source: ddp USA/REX/Shutterstock)

https://www.icis.com/resources/news/2017/06/02/10112193/middle-east-isocyanates-polyols-demand-muted-amid-ramadan/

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