China’s import of alumina, or aluminum oxide, rose to 250,000 mt in April, up 146.1% year on year, according to General Administration of Customs data released Wednesday. The April imports, however, were down 40.5% from March. Over January-April, China’s alumina imports totaled 1.17 million mt, down 12.7% year on year. China exported 6,509 mt in

There will be no short-term impact on the European styrene market from possible anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports of styrene from South Korea, sources said on the sidelines of the European Petrochemical Luncheon in Dusseldorf. China’s Minister of Commerce Monday issued an official notice for an investigation and potential imposition of anti-dumping duties on styrene

European MTBE’s factor to Eurobob gasoline barges are now an 18-month high as a result of large exports to the west coast of Africa, according to S&P Global Platts data. The factor — the ratio of the MTBE price to Eurobob barges — rose by 0.016 to 1.304 during Wednesday’s session and remained unchanged Thursday

US July benzene contract prices settled 19-20 cents lower Friday at $2.51/gal, sources said. Both Phillips 66 and ExxonMobil settled contracts at that level, sources said. Contracts were expected lower because of slow demand and ample feedstocks, despite low imports from Asia, sources said. July could see a rebound in pricing because of a recent

Senior officials at China’s General Administration of Customs agency are meeting Tuesday to discuss plans to increase checks on seaborne cargo arrivals, a move a number of market sources say could slow down the flow of thermal coal imports into the country. The agenda for the top level meeting was said to include the possibility