European polystyrene producers want to widen margins in December despite seasonally poor demand, sources said Tuesday.
Producers tried to raise margins to Eur20/mt in November but were dashed by upstream weakness and the prospect of softer demand for December.
Styrolution said Tuesday it will target a rise of Eur30/mt ($41/mt) in general purpose polystyrene prices in December, adding it would pursue a high impact PS premium of Eur105/mt over general purpose grades.
Separately, Styron Europe said it would seek a Eur20-30/mt increase in all polystyrene and copolymer grades, effective immediately. Styron said it would target a Eur20/mt hike for PS grades and a Eur30/mt rise in acrilonitrile-butadiene-styrene and styrene acrilonitrile resins prices.
On Monday, the European styrene barge contract price for December settled at Eur1,375/mt FOB ARA, up Eur10 from November.
November GPPS contracts were assessed down Eur80-85/mt in November with net prices assessed by Platts at Eur1,555-1,565/mt FD NWE. Expandable PS prices were assessed at Eur1,575-1,585/mt FD NWE, according to Platts data.
ABS contracts in November were assessed by Platts at Eur1,773-1,783/mt FD NWE, down Eur40-50/mt.
Source: platts.com
