December 17 Plastics Market Forecast: Oil Edges Up as Resin Spot Prices Stay Range-Bound

Crude oil benchmarks closed slightly higher on Monday. Investors are hoping the phase-one trade agreement China and the US announced last Friday might support energy demand, yet prices stayed under the three-month peak reached in the previous session.

January WTI crude settled up USD 0.14, or 0.2%, at USD 60.21/bbl, while February Brent gained USD 0.12, or 0.2%, to close at USD 65.34/bbl.

Yesterday's spot market was broadly stable, with only regional adjustments. Linear futures edged up, prompting sellers to adjust offers to market conditions; some quotations moved marginally higher. Downstream factories remained difficult to motivate, market participation was limited, and demand follow-through was weak. Market reference: Shantou quotes were consolidating, with Maoming

2426K at RMB 7,950/tonne; Hangzhou quotations were largely stable with minor moves, Zhenhai 7042 at RMB 7,550/tonne; Qilu Chemical City prices were consolidating, Qilu 7042 at RMB 6,930/tonne.

Today's forecast: range-bound consolidation is expected to continue.

Market prices consolidated within a range yesterday. Although international crude oil and polypropylene futures moved higher, their directional signal for spot trade was limited. Petrochemical ex-works prices were mostly stable with small changes, and traders, bearish on the outlook, offered modest discounts. Downstream delivery showed no improvement, with purchases still made on a need-only basis to keep production normal. Market reference: some Hangzhou prices declined, with Shaoxing

T30S at RMB 8,000/tonne; Linyi ran at low levels, Baofeng K8003 at RMB 8,750/tonne; Lanzhou edged down, Ningxia T30S at RMB 7,800/tonne.

Today's forecast: prices are likely to adjust lower in a weak range.

PVC market:

PVC trade was largely stable yesterday, with isolated small declines. Trader sentiment was temporarily calm, though early-week operating appetite was weak and most players preferred a wait-and-see stance. Downstream purchasing remained hard to stimulate, and actual deals followed slowly. Market reference: selected grades in Shantou were adjusted,

Type 5 mainstream quotations stood at RMB 7,300-7,450/tonne; Guangzhou offers were reduced, with ordinary calcium carbide material at RMB 7,250-7,360/tonne; Changzhou mainly consolidated, Type 5 calcium carbide material at RMB 7,100-7,200/tonne.

Today's forecast: the market is expected to stay mainly stable with isolated grade adjustments.

Quotations moved both ways in some regions yesterday. Traders faced limited inventory pressure and mostly kept light positions with stable offers. Buying interest was average and wait-and-see sentiment prevailed. End users bought only for immediate needs, and transaction reports were relatively sparse. Market reference: Shunde quotations were roughly steady,

PG33 at RMB 10,150/tonne; Dongguan was steady to lower, Guang 525 at RMB 9,130/tonne; Yuyao was generally steady with mixed local moves, 118 at RMB 9,900/tonne.

Today's forecast: stability is expected to dominate, with minor isolated movements.

ABS market:

ABS prices were stable yesterday with isolated small movements. Traders and downstream enterprises remained cautious, with low willingness to act, and actual market trading was less than ideal. Market reference: Dongguan quotations were steady with consolidation, Tai

757 at RMB 11,720/tonne; Ningbo was basically stable, 121H Yongxing at RMB 12,400/tonne; Yuyao saw isolated minor moves, 0215A at RMB 12,350/tonne.

Today's forecast: the market is expected to be stable with minor movements.

The market carried a slightly firmer tone yesterday. Polyester feedstock

PTA continued to rise. Supported by costs, bottle chip producers raised some offers, and traders followed with higher quotations. Although downstream demand remained soft, faster shipment schedules and low inventory levels underpinned the market. Market reference: water bottle material in South China was referenced at RMB 6,600-6,700/tonne; in East China around RMB 6,550-6,650/tonne.

Today's forecast: prices are expected to be largely stable with small moves.

PET waste recycling

Recycled PET prices changed little overall yesterday. Winter reduced collection volumes, tightening recycled bottle flake supply and supporting prices, giving the recycled market a slightly firmer tone. Downstream recycled chemical fiber sales were average, producers bought feedstock cautiously, trading was acceptable, and firm deals were mostly negotiated. Market reference: in East China, machine-use white flakes imitating large-scale chemical fiber were at

around RMB 5,100/tonne, tax excluded.

Today's forecast: the market is expected to run steady to slightly firmer.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn), original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-354265.html