Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) prices in Asia remained under pressure in early April xxxx due to weak demand from the paints and coatings sector, high inventories, and soft feedstock costs. While some supply-side maintenance helped limit output, sluggish construction activity and slow exports continued to weigh on the market. A seasonal demand rebound, and ongoing plant maintenance may offer mild support in the coming weeks.
MEK prices in China stayed weak through early April. Demand from the downstream paints and coatings sector remained low due to slow activities in the end user construction sector. Real estate sales fell xx.xx year-on-year in Qx xxxx, cutting into construction-related consumption.
Export demand also slowed, with February and March seeing a sharp drop in foreign trade orders. Export volumes fell below xx,xxx tons for the first time in nearly five months, causing excess supply to shift back into the...
