In Western Europe, styrenics prices continued to decline in November. These followed the renewed decrease of the styrene monomer reference. Producers of PS, EPS and ABS tried – mostly in vain – to retain part of the cost reduction, but their efforts to bolster emaciated margins failed due to the oversupply in all styrenics.
The basic trend will not change in the next few weeks, and the way towards further price reductions has been mapped out – the styrene reference declined by €47/t ($52) in December and styrenics contract prices were sure to follow, in view of the continuing weak demand.