據ICIS網站8月5日消息 由于裂解裝置問題抑制了供應，需求繼續復蘇，受現貨價格和現金成本上漲影響，美國7月大多數市場參與者的乙烯合同結算價上漲1.0美分/磅。

此次合約價格是繼4月份達到谷底之后的第三次連續上調，當時油價暴跌，需求受到冠狀病毒的打擊。

7月合約價格從6月的24.5美分/磅（562美元/噸）升至25.5美分/磅。

乙烯合同價格創下自1月份以來的最高水平，當時結算價為25.75美分/磅。

因現金成本上升和需求復蘇，現貨平均價格上漲約2.5美分/磅。

前幾個月乙烯在7月的交易價格為14.75-16.00美分/磅，高于6月份的11.75-13.50美分/磅。

由于美國的成本優勢以及亞洲從冠狀病毒需求沖擊中復蘇，對亞洲的健康套利使得出口成為美國乙烯需求前景中的亮點之一。ICIS供需數據顯示，1月至5月美國乙烯出口同比增長35%。

乙烯最大的衍生物聚乙烯（PE）的需求在冠狀病毒危機中出人意料地強勁增長，主要是因為聚乙烯在食品包裝等非耐用消費品中的大量使用。

7月份影響供應的裂解問題包括巴斯夫道達爾在德克薩斯州阿瑟港的工廠、英力士位于德克薩斯州巧克力灣的工廠、美國福爾摩沙塑料公司在德克薩斯州康福特的工廠以及陶氏在德克薩斯州弗里波特的工廠等。

7月份，丙烯和苯的副產品合同上漲。丁二烯（BD）仍然疲軟，但正在緩慢改善。

乙烯是一種重要的石化原料，用于制造聚乙烯、乙二醇（EG）和聚氯乙烯（PVC）等產品。

美國主要乙烯生產商包括雪佛龍菲利普斯化學公司、陶氏、埃克森美孚、英力士烯烴和聚合物公司、利安德巴塞爾和殼牌化學。

王磊 摘譯自 ICIS

原文如下：

US July ethylene contracts settle up amid cracker issues, recovering demand

US July ethylene contracts for the majority of market participants settled at an increase of 1.0 cents/lb, on higher spot prices and cash costs, as cracker issues curbed supply, and demand continued to recover.

The settlement marks the third consecutive increase, following the trough reached in April, amid crashing oil prices and coronavirus-stricken demand.

The settlement puts July contracts at 25.5 cents/lb ($562/tonne), up from 24.5 cents/lb in June.

Ethylene contract prices are the highest they've been since January, when they settled at 25.75 cents/lb.

Average spot prices increased by about 2.5 cents/lb, amid higher cash costs and recovering demand.

Front-month ethylene traded in July at 14.75-16.00 cents/lb, up from 11.75-13.50 cents/lb in June.

Healthy arbitrage to Asia, driven by the cost advantage belonging to the US - as well as Asia's recovery from the coronavirus demand shock - has allowed exports to emerge as one of the bright spots in the US ethylene demand picture. US ethylene exports from January through May rose 35% from the same period in the prior year, according to ICIS Supply and Demand data.

Demand for ethylene's largest derivative, polyethylene (PE), proved surprisingly buoyant through the coronavirus crisis, largely driven by its heavy usage in consumer non-durable applications such as food packaging.

Cracker issues affecting supply during July included BASF Total's facility in Port Arthur, Texas, INEOS's facility in Chocolate Bayou, Texas, Formosa Plastics Corp USA's facility in Point Comfort, Texas, and Dow's facility in Freeport, Texas, among others.

July contracts for co-products propylene and benzene rose. Butadiene (BD) remains weak, but slowly is improving.

Ethylene is a key petrochemical feedstock, used to make PE, ethylene glycol (EG) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), among other products.

Major US ethylene producers include Chevron Phillips Chemical, Dow, ExxonMobil, INEOS Olefins & Polymers, LyondellBasell and Shell Chemical.