Early in June xxxx, the worldwide Maleic Anhydride market showed plain regional divergence with prices moving higher in Europe and continuing their downtrend in China. The diverging dynamics were influenced by differing fundamentals in supply availability, seasonal demand patterns, as well as logistics issues impacting each region.
In Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium felt a strong increase in Maleic Anhydride prices. This was mainly caused by tightening local supply due to Huntsman&#xx;s soon-to-be-shut-down Moers plant, the region&#xx;s leading manufacturer. Preemptive purchasing by downstream consumers鈥攑articularly in the unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) market鈥攈elped to support prices as customers scrambled to cover before the perceived shortage.
Seasonal demand from marine, automotive, and construction sectors are also hardened. Congestion in ports, ship delays, and labor stoppages in major terminals such as Rotterdam and Antwerp, as well as rail disruptions in Germany and...
