Released on 05/12/12

Taiwan’s TSRC will continue running its 100,000 tonne/year styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) plant in Kaohsiung at 80% of capacity throughout December because of prevailing weak market conditions, a company source said on Wednesday.The plant operated at the same reduced rate last month, the source said.Abundant supply and weak demand have been depressing SBR prices in recent months.Non-oil grade 1502 SBR prices were assessed at $2,200-2,300/tonne (€1,672-1,748/tonne) CIF (cost, insurance and freight) China in the week ended 28 November, down by $200/tonne from 31 October levels, according to ICIS.Falling prices of feedstock butadiene (BD) have been aggravating the pressure on SBR values.BD prices shed about $250/tonne since 2 November to $1,450-1,490/tonne CFR (cost and freight) northeast (NE) Asia on 28 November, ICIS data showed.

Source ICIS News