Episode 1119: PODCAST: Asia benzene sees crude support, pre-holiday restocking, derivative SM faces low demand

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's benzene market trended upwards on account of crude gains as well some pre-Lunar New Year restocking. Downstream SM producers however, struggled with higher costs and low demand from PS, EPS and ABS. In this chemical podcast, ICIS editors Angeline Soh and Luffy Wu discuss recent market conditions with an outlook ahead in Asia.Benzene Feb cargo sold out from pre-LNY stocking up, US demand as plants shut from winter stormDemand for March cargoes buoyed; buyers beyond Asia worried about tightened supply with upcoming derivative additions in ChinaAsian styrene market players struggling with high costs but low demandRegional styrene exporters eyeing long-haul opportunities to Europe