Initial May PE offers indicate stable to firm trend in SEA.

Ample local supplies dominate PE market in China. 

• Import PE sees slight corrections 

• Local polyolefin supplies remain above 900,000 tons 

• LLDPE futures down further by CNY125 on week 

• Crude oil hovers at around 6-month high

• Spot ethylene hits 3-month low in Asia

• Import dutiable PE ($/ton): HDPE film 1100-1160 | LDPE film 1080-1100 | LLDPE film 1030-1060 CIF

PE buyers stick to the sidelines ahead of May C2 settlement in Europe. 

• PE spot business closed €30 higher 

• May PE outlook remains firmer 

• €30-50 hikes are projected for May C2 

• Firmer upstream, some PE outages to support uptrend

• Local spot (€/ton): LDPE film 1080-1170| LLDPE film 1050-1120 | HDPE film, b/m 1150-1240 FD | HDPE inj. 1150-1230 FD

Italian sellers anticipate fresh increases for May PE. 

• April business wrapped up €30 higher 

• Players anticipate €30-50 hikes for May C2 

• PE market is stagnant due to Easter festivities 

• Firmer expectations supported by rising costs 

• Oil prices soared to their highest levels in 6 months

• Local spot (€/ton): LDPE film 1070-1130 | LLDPE film 1030-1100 | HDPE film, b/m 1150-1250 FD

May PE outlook squeezed between costs and demand in Mid-East. 

• April PE deals mostly steady compared to initial levels 

• Players at odds over possible price increases for May 

• Thin demand persists amid poor end product sales

• Local PE in S.Arabia ($/ton): LDPE 1030 | LLDPE 1020 | HDPE 1060-1090 FD 

• Import PE in UAE ($/ton): LDPE 1090-1120 | LLDPE 1090-1110 | HDPE 1120-1150 CIF

May PE expectations hint at smaller hike attempts in Turkey. 

• New Mid-East offers to emerge next week 

• Weak TRY/USD dampens buying appetite 

• Global PE markets quiet on some holidays 

• Qatari producer partially restarts LDPE unit 

• Any hikes beyond $10-20 seen unlikely for May

• US ($/ton): LDPE 1040-1050 | LLDPE 1020-1040 | HDPE film 1080-1110 CIF 

• Mid-East ($/ton): LDPE 1050-1070 | LLDPE 1020-1080 | HDPE film 1120-1160 CIF 

• Local ($/ton): LDPE 1415-1450 | LLDPE 1360-1420 | HDPE film 1420-1480 inc VAT

African PE players turn attention to May. 

• New April PE prices firm in Algeria 

• Deals concluded at initial flat-to-firm levels 

• Political uncertainties hover on N.Africa 

• Nigerian ELEME’s local offers unchanged 

• Demand slightly improves, yet purchases limited

• Imports in Algeria ($/ton): LDPE 1130 | LLDPE 1060 | HDPE 1180 CIF 

• Imports in Kenya ($/ton): LDPE 1140-1180 | LLDPE 1070-1090 | HDPE 1170-1190 CFR

Slow activity weighs on local PE prices in Egypt. 

• Market players leave their desks for holidays 

• Local prices see decreases of up to EGP1000 

• Firm May outlook for import offers 

• Local supplies comfortable for all grades 

• Financial, political uncertainty affects purchases

• ImpCIF  PE ($/ton): LDPE 1010-1110 | LLDPE 980-1050 | HDPE 1100-1210 CIF