Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical Corp. is expected to start its latest 330,000 mt/year methyl tert-butyl ether plant in Mailiao in Yunlin County by the second quarter of 2019. “The plant should be up and running by Q2 of 2019 as of now” a source close to the company said. Formosa had recently concluded its discussions for

China imported around 2.02 million mt of LPG in October, the highest in the past 17 months, the latest data from the General Administration of Customs showed. October LPG imports were up 38.6% from September and 27.2% from a year ago, the data showed. LPG demand from household users typically rises from October, which was

The World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body on Wednesday agreed to establish panels to rule on whether the US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports comply with WTO rules, according to a Geneva trade official. The dispute settlement body approved the establishment of the panels at the second request of six WTO members:

Singapore — Seaborn medium and high grade iron ore prices on CFR North Asia basis reached new highs Tuesday on strong demand from Chinese steel mills, who were restocking ahead of the winter season, market sources said. S&P Global Platts assessed the 62% Fe Iron Ore Index at $70.55/dry mt CFR North China Tuesday, up

Houston — US September propylene contract prices showing a 1-cent decrease compared with August were accepted by a marketwide majority, sources said Friday. The decline is in line with most initial settlements from a week earlier. The 1-cent decline took the September polymer-grade propylene contract price down to 60 cents/lb ($1,323/mt) and the September chemical-grade

Valeric anhydride (C10H18O3) CAS number 2082-59-9, also known as n-valeric anhydride, pentanoic anhydride, pentanoyl pentanoate and pentanoic acid, is mainly used as a synthesis reagent in intermediate pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical steps. The most common application is in the production of the API – Butylphthalide. Used to treat hypertension and claimed to have neuroprotective effects. A

London — The crude complex was trending higher on Wednesday morning in early European trading, despite US crude inventory data showing a build in stocks, with the market likely more focused on tightened market fundamentals, analysts said. At 1110 GMT, ICE October Brent crude futures were up 24 cents/b from Tuesday’s settle at $76.19/b, while

Houston — US stocks of propylene for non-fuel use increased in the week ended August 15, representing a seventh consecutive week of growth, Energy Information Administration data showed Wednesday. Non-fuel use propylene stocks increased by 151,000 barrels last week to 3.108 million barrels, EIA data showed. Stock levels were also up by 284,000 barrels from

Pittsburgh — Canada is opening a 15-day consultation period to look into the harm or threat of harm from steel imports to domestic producers, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at ArcelorMittal’s Dofasco plant in Ontario, Morneau said the “unfair tariffs” levied by the US is causing other countries to seek alternative

Tokyo — Japan’s Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corp or NSSC Wednesday cut its August prices for austenitic stainless cold rolled coil and plates for distributors by Yen 5,000/mt ($45/mt), its first cut since August 2017. It kept ferritic CRC prices for August unchanged. NSSC does not disclose its list prices. The current market