News & Insights | ข่าวสารและบทวิเคราะห์

[Sample] Analysis of what will drive naphtha and olefin prices this quarter: regional supply, crude oil and demand from China.

ICIS reports that Malaysia's chemical trade deficit widened to about M$4.28 billion in September 2026 from about M$2.52 billion in August, as chemical imports rose 26.6% year on year while exports slipped 2.0%. Malaysian producers including PETRONAS Chemicals and Lotte Chemical Titan point to regional olefins oversupply and weak downstream demand, even though the country's overall exports hit a record on electronics and energy shipments. ICIS data show Malaysia remains a net importer of most major polyolefins, LDPE being the exception.

[Sample] Results of the TPTA member survey on product carbon reporting readiness. Full findings are for members only.

[Sample] TPTA and government agencies review how Thai polymer and chemical exporters can prepare for the EU CBAM definitive period.

An in-depth members report on freight and logistics cost trends in regional resin trade (fictional data).

A summary of a fictional draft notice on resin imports and TPTA's preliminary observations, for members.

S&P Global Commodity Insights expected thin Asian petrochemical trade for 5-9 October because of China's Golden Week holiday. Aromatics such as paraxylene, benzene and toluene were supported by regional plant maintenance and tight stocks, while olefins faced pressure from weak downstream demand. The isomer-MX spread over naphtha reached its widest level since June 2024.

PTTGC and SCG Chemicals have agreed which assets would go into a proposed olefins and polyolefins joint venture, and they aim to settle the ownership split and main terms by the end of October 2026. The deal would then go to Thailand's Trade Competition Commission, alongside internal and partner approvals. PTTGC is expected to be the major shareholder.

ICIS expects Asian petrochemical demand to stay weak after China's October holiday, with high and volatile feedstock and freight costs still squeezing downstream margins. Asian cracker operators are widening their naphtha sources, and the ethylene-naphtha spread has stayed positive since 18 September. If Chinese stocks build up, producers there may push more polyethylene and polypropylene cargoes into Southeast Asia.

The UAE and Kuwait have raised naphtha exports to Asia through ship-to-ship transfers outside the Strait of Hormuz, shipping about 1.6 million tonnes in August and September versus about 700,000 tonnes in March and April. This has helped Asian crackers lift output, and SCG Chemicals restarted its Rayong cracker on 17 September after about six months under force majeure, buying naphtha on the spot market. Supply is improving but is not yet back to normal.

An overview of chemical recycling pilots in eastern industrial estates: capacity, feedstock and the rules that still hold them back.

TPTA held its Q3 members meeting on 17 September 2026. Members noted the progress report and the Q4 activity plan (sample news for system testing).