In the third week of February xxxx, the Indian and US markets experienced distinct shifts in Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) prices. In India, a x.xx increase in LAB prices was noted, primarily propelled by a concurrent x.xx surge in the price of feedstock Benzene. This rise directly influenced the production cost of LAB, contributing to the overall price uptick. Despite moderate demand from the domestic surfactant sector, the supply remained stable throughout the week. Global ocean freight rates saw a corrective downward trend over the past two weeks, driven by a deceleration in demand associated with the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays. However, ongoing logistical challenges in the Red Sea from the crisis restrained the drop, maintaining rates significantly above pre-crisis levels. The global container freight index remained unchanged. The average price over the week for LAB Ex Delhi NCR was USD xxxx/MT.
Simultaneously, the US market...
