Potassium fertilizer prices in Europe fluctuated moderately as suppliers were pushing up the price of potash fertilizer in the second quarter. Some buyers gave prices far below the quoted price level, while some suppliers said that the CIF price of granular potassium chloride was as high as 305 euros (ton price, the same below), and the game between the two sides intensified.

The demand for granular potassium chloride in Southeast Asia is low. The Thai government raised the retail price of major fertilizers, but the increase did not stimulate consumption, while severe drought reduced market demand and prices. Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region usually starts to apply for fertilizer in March, and sales have declined due to lack of rainfall. With high inventories and delayed demand, Vietnam’s imports are also affected.

Last week, the price of potassium chloride remained stable and the price of potassium sulfate in East Asia fell. Since the abolition of export tariffs, the export volume of potash fertilizer in China has increased sharply, which may continue in the case of weak domestic market. Export market competition is intensifying.

It is reported that if the market demand meets the supplier’s expectations, the price of Brazilian granular potassium chloride may rise. The supplier does not give any reason for the price increase. If negotiation fails to reach an agreement, the buyer is prepared to reduce the purchase volume. The price of granular potassium chloride in Southeast Asia will remain stable. The price of granular potassium chloride in Northwest Europe may be in line with the new quarterly price to be announced by K+S in early May.

On April 14, the hydrofluoric acid commodity index was 91.65, which was the same as yesterday. It was 34.74% lower than the peak of 140.43 points in the cycle (2018-02-21), and 71.02% higher than the low of 53.59 points on November 30, 2016. (Note: Period refers to 2011-09-01 to date)

According to statistics, the price trend of domestic hydrofluoric acid market is temporarily stable in the near future. As of the 15th day, the domestic market price of hydrofluoric acid is 10,100 yuan/ton. The domestic start-up rate of hydrofluoric acid is about 60%. Enterprises reflect that the supply of hydrofluoric acid on-site is normal at present, the situation of on-site shipment is poor in the near future. Some enterprises have increased their hydrofluoric acid stocks, and the ex-factory price has slightly decreased. Recently, due to the weak price of raw materials market. The market price of hydrofluoric acid is declining. At present, the mainstream of hydrofluoric acid negotiations in the southern region is about 9500-10500 yuan/ton, while the price of hydrofluoric acid in the northern market is 9500-10500 yuan/ton. Domestic hydrofluoric acid market prices remain low, spot supply is sufficient, due to the recent weakness of the raw material market trend, fluorite price trend is slightly lower, which has a negative impact on hydrofluoric acid, hydrofluoric acid market price trend is temporarily stable.

Recent downstream refrigerant products start at a low level, the upstream fluorite and hydrofluoric acid demand is general, the recent downstream refrigerant trading market is general, hydrofluoric acid products prices are temporarily stable. Recent downstream refrigerant market transactions are cool, R22 refrigerant facility starts at 60%, R22 market facility start-up rate is temporarily stable, the main manufacturer of bulk water factory offer price is between 18,000-19,000 yuan/ton, but the manufacturer does not have bulk water spot, mainly a small number of cylinders shipped. In addition, the actual demand side of the market has not changed much, and the delivery market has increased. The domestic market price of R134a is declining, the start-up rate of production enterprises is low, the refrigerant market demand is general, and the manufacturers mainly export their products. However, the on-site transaction price does not change much. Businessmen buy on demand. Recently, due to the poor market situation, the price trend of hydrofluoric acid market has been slightly lower.

Refrigerant field transactions are general, refrigerant industry equipment start-up rate remains low, for upstream hydrofluoric acid market demand is normal, but upstream fluorite prices are weak, Business Analyst Chen Ling believes that the hydrofluoric acid market may be slightly lower.

According to Dow Jones, London, April 11, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Thursday that global oil production declined significantly in March as a result of OPEC-led production cuts, helping to boost crude oil prices to a five-month high.

In its monthly oil market report, the IEA said global oil production fell by 340,000 barrels a day in March to 99.2 million barrels a day from a year earlier. Compared with last November’s high, it decreased by 3.1 million barrels per day, but still increased by 530,000 barrels per day.

On April 9, the PX commodity index was 67.20, unchanged from yesterday, down 34.38% from the peak of 102.40 points in the cycle (2013-02-28), and up 47.53% from the low of 45.55 points on February 15, 2016. (Note: Period refers to 2013-02-01 to date).

Recently, the domestic market price trend of p-xylene has been temporarily stable. Pengzhou Petrochemical Plant has been running steadily in the field. Urumqi Petrochemical Plant has started 50% of its operation. Fuhai Aromatic Hydrocarbon Plant has started a line. CNOOC Huizhou Refinery and Chemical Plant has been overhauled. Hengli Petrochemical PX Plant has been put into operation. Other units have been running steadily for the time being. Due to the increase of domestic market supply of p-xylene, the market for p-xylene has increased. Price trend is stable for the time being. The opening rate of PX plant in Asia is about 80%. On April 9, the closing price of p-xylene in Asia increased by 3 US dollars/ton. The closing price is US$1036-1038/ton FOB in Korea and US$1055-1057/ton CFR in China. More than 50% of the domestic units need to be imported. The rise of foreign prices has a positive impact on the domestic market price of p-xylene. The price trend of p-xylene in the market is temporarily stable.

On April 9, the price of WTI crude oil in May fell to $63.98 per barrel, a decline of $0.42. Brent crude oil in June fell to $70.61 per barrel, a decline of $0.49. The fluctuation of crude oil price has supported the price of downstream petrochemical products, while the price of p-xylene market has temporarily stabilized. Recent textile industry market shocks, PTA price trend shocks on the 10th day, the average price of East China bid is around 6850-7000 yuan/ton, the domestic PTA start-up rate is about 80%, polyester industry start-up rate is about 90%, downstream production and sales rate remains high, but PTA market price changes little, it is expected that PX market prices will remain stable in the later period.

On the sidelines of the Mexican Plastic Rubber Industry Exhibition in 2019, sources said that Central and South America had received a large number of offers for PVC from vendors in Asia, Mexico and the United States.

Long-term global supply of PVC has led suppliers to sell their products at a reduced price of $5-15 per ton per week for the past six weeks as overseas sellers try to win the competition.

Taiwan Plastics announced a price cut of $40-60 per ton in April, and other Asian suppliers followed suit in order to avoid losing market share.

In March and early April, slowing domestic sales in Mexico boosted exports to Central and South America. FOB Mexico’s export quotation hovered between $765 and $780 per ton.

In January and February this year, US raw material data weakened and domestic sales declined, resulting in adequate supply and increased low-price exports to Latin America.

The latest FOB quotation in the Gulf of Mexico this week was $755 per ton, while CFR Latin America quoted about $820 per ton, depending on distance.

Unipar Indupa, Braskem, Unipar carbcloro, Mexichem and Peevan are Latin American producers of PVCs.