Despite limited availability due to reduced operating rates, weak demand and fierce competition from other sources triggered these drastic price cuts. Numerous LDPE film cargoes from other origins have been trading below the $1200/ton mark for several weeks.
The Chinese PET bottle market sustained its downward trajectory, driven by subdued demand and a weak upstream market. While negotiations are ongoing, actual transactions remain sparse due to strong expectations of further price reductions in the coming week.
It is reported that the demand from the PVC flooring, cables, films, and profiles sectors showed a slight improvement compared to last month, while the pipe segment continued to struggle. The persistent home price slump in July exacerbated pressures on the sector that is heavily reliant on the property market.
Shenhua concluded the final auction session of the week with notable success, as key grades such as homo-PP and LLDPE film secured over 80% of deals. However, this apparent strength in transactions is largely attributed to the significantly reduced auction quantities and softer auction prices for LLDPE film.