Coronavirus, oil price crash - impact on chemicals

Petrotahlil - Shares of petrochemical firms in Asia fell on Wednesday as crude futures continued to be pummeled by a supply glut and slumping demand amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Brent crude extended losses in Asian trade, dragging down regional prices of petrochemical feedstock naphtha back to 18-year lows; and of benzene below $300/tonne.

In the Chinese downstream butanediol (BDO) market, producers may continue running at less than half their capacity amid high stocks and poor demand.

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