01.01.70
In the week ended 11 January 2012, according to ICIS statistics.
“I think some suppliers are under pressure to clear the inventory and thus the lower offers this week,” a seller said.
“Some suppliers may have held back on offering earlier on, anticipating further augmentation in prices,” said a buyer, adding that this likely contributed to the contemporaneous oversupply situation.
A few major oleochemical producers from Malaysia has maintained their clarified glycerine prices at above $800/tonne FOB SE Asia, saying they see no reason to reduction prices, as they are “comfortable” with their inventory levels.
Some players, however, are sanguine that prices would stabilise soon, to spur more buying activities in the site refined glycerine market.
“I expect the prices to stabilize soon at $700s/tonne FOB SE Asia levels and buyers will before you know it start purchasing as most are still not well covered for this quarter,” said a paramount trader.
Many buyers have been buying spot cargoes on a hand-to-inlet basis in the last few months, when prices stayed above $800/tonne FOB SE Asia levels.
Source: ICIS (subscription)