亚洲苯消费量增加 原油价格看涨

原标题：亚洲苯消费量增加 原油价格看涨

中国石化新闻网讯 据ICIS网站12月4日新加坡报道 由于对明年消费增加的预期，亚洲苯市场继续走高。

尽管预计该地区明年将新增苯产能，但下游行业的产能似乎超过了这一目标，后者将在2020年新增两倍的产能。

ICIS数据显示，12月初，苯现货价格从11月1日的618.5美元/吨（韩国离岸价）升至670美元/吨以上。

东南亚的一位终端用户表示：“突然之间，如果考虑到下游产能的扩张，苯供应毕竟不会持续这么久。”

苯被用来生产一些中间体，例如制造聚合物、溶剂和洗涤剂。

看涨的原油市场也提振了亚洲苯行业。

午盘时，布伦特原油上涨50美分，至61.32美元/桶，而美国原油上涨43美分，至56.53美元/桶。

欧佩克成员国和俄罗斯在本周即将召开的会议上对产量限制甚至进一步削减的预期支撑了原油市场。

与此同时，2020年苯条款谈判仍在进行中，一些和解协议的价格比2019年的溢价高出了几美元。

最近几周，该地区的现货交易逐渐减少，参与者参与了明年的期货讨论。

东南亚一位交易员表示：“市场活动有所下降，最近甚至现货招标也变得有限。”

由于1月下旬农历新年假期前后市场将再次放缓，预计淡季市场活动将持续到明年一季度。

王磊 摘译自 ICIS

原文如下：

Asia benzene on uptrend on higher consumption, buoyant crude

Asia’s benzene market continued to trend higher on expectations of higher consumption next year.

While the region is expected to add more new benzene capacities next year, this appears to be outdone by downstream sectors, which would add twice as much capacities in 2020.

Benzene spot prices in early December rose to more than $670/tonne FOB (free on board) Korea, from $618.5/tonne FOB Korea on 1 November, ICIS data showed.

“Suddenly, benzene supply is not looking so long after all if you consider the expansion in downstream capacity,” said an end-user in southeast Asia.

Benzene is used to produce a number of intermediates that are used to create polymers, solvents and detergents.

Firm crude oil markets also bolstered Asia’s benzene sector.

At midday, Brent crude was up 50 cents at $61.32/bbl, while US crude gained 43 cents to $56.53/bbl.

Expectations of output curbs and even further cuts by OPEC members and Russia at their upcoming meeting this week propped up the crude markets.

Meanwhile, 2020 benzene term negotiations are ongoing, with some settlements done at a few dollars extra over the premiums fetched in 2019.

Spot trades in the region have tapered off in recent weeks, with participants engaged in next year’s term discussions.

“Market activity is down and even spot tenders have become limited recently,” said a trader in southeast Asia.

Thin market activity is expected to last into the first quarter of next year, as the market would again slow down before and after the Lunar New Year holidays in late January.