- Market Overview
- Strategic Analysis
- Key Features
Market Overview
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
The Asia Light Olefins market is trapped in a protracted cycle of oversupply, driven by massive new ethylene and propylene capacity additions—primarily through steam crackers and PDH units in Mainland China—as the country pushes to improve self-sufficiency amid energy transition and energy-security concerns. This has severely depressed operating rates and resulted in persistently low-to-negative producer margins across the region. While new capacity additions are receding and some capacity rationalization is underway in high-cost areas like South Korea and Japan, demand growth for key derivatives like Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) is struggling to keep pace, especially amidst global economic uncertainty and regional real estate woes. This structural imbalance is exacerbated by continuous competition from US and MDE exports benefitting from a feedstock cost advantage, forcing Northeast Asian and Southeast Asian petrochemical producers to push excess product into neighboring India (which is a net importer) via favorable trade flows to maintain utilization and cash flow. Strategic companies must prioritize flexible feedstock strategies and adapt quickly to shifting CFR Northeast Asia spot price forecasts to navigate the highly volatile price environment and secure a path to sustainable profitability.
Comprehensive monthly market price, supply, demand, and trade data and analysis for:
- Ethylene
- Propylene
Strategic Analysis
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
The Asia Light Olefins service provides clients with a comprehensive yet focused view of the Asia light olefins markets for ethylene and propylene. The report includes cash cost, pricing, margin data for all covered products, and commentary of feedstocks, derivatives, and regional light olefins markets. Global production cost comparison, supply/demand balances, trade flows, derivatives affordability, and forecasts are also provided. Furthermore, the service provides in-depth profitability analysis of derivatives integrated for steam crackers and on-purpose productions in Asia.
Key Features
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
PRICES COVERED
Contract and spot price summary with a detailed review of current market conditions and future trends including price forecasts.
Chemicals covered : Ethylene & Propylene
WEEKLY MARKET SNAPSHOT
The weekly Asia Light Olefins report offers an overview of market prices, production cash costs, margins, supply concerns, operating schedules, key derivative demand, and international markets. On the other hand, the weekly China Light Olefins report provides a more detailed perspective on the mainland China market, incorporating spot discussions, supply-demand fundamentals, and a comprehensive analysis of the production economics of light Olefins plants.
MONTHLY MARKET REPORT
The monthly report features detailed graphical analyses with expert commentary on monthly and annual price forecasts, feedstock and production cost projections, as well as supply–demand balances and global trade outlooks. It also provides up-to-date pricing data, status updates on new olefins projects, operating schedules for steam crackers and on-purpose propylene units, quarterly supply/demand balances, and net equivalent trade flows. All key metrics are presented in a clear, convenient table format to enable rapid reference and informed decision-making.
ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
Clients receive direct, one-on-one access to industry experts through phone consultations, email support, or scheduled meetings to discuss the key insights featured in the monthly market report. This personalized advisory service enables subscribers to deepen their understanding of market fundamentals, price drivers, and supply–demand dynamics, while clarifying complex data points and analysis. It also provides tailored perspectives on region-specific market trends, empowering clients to make more informed, strategic decisions across the global petrochemical value chain
SUPPLY & DEMAND
Short-term production updates and statistics, including plant-by-plant operating schedules and long-term structural supply changes across the global chemicals and petrochemicals industry. The report also provides detailed end-use analysis across a broad range of downstream sectors, complemented by macro industry trend analysis to highlight evolving demand patterns, investment cycles, and competitive dynamics along the value chain.
Region covered : North & Southeast Asia
Chemicals covered : Ethylene & Propylene
TRADE
Provides regional trade statistics for olefins and their derivatives, along with current freight rates and analysis of arbitrage opportunities across key olefins markets.
OPERATING SCHEDULE
Region covered : China and North & Southeast Asia
Chemicals covered : Ethylene & Propylene
WEBINAR
Client webinars provide in-depth intelligence on critical chemical market developments, offering timely insights into global economic trends, supply–demand dynamics, trade flows, and other key factors shaping the petrochemical and energy value chain. Each session features expert analysis from industry specialists and delivers actionable perspectives on current market movements. These interactive webinars also enable clients to engage directly with our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) through live Q&A sessions, supporting clearer understanding, stronger strategic planning, and more informed decision-making across the chemical industry.
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