Market and product

Prices for toluene and xylene truck and rail deliveries in the US Gulf and Midwest rose by 1 cent/lb ($22/tonne) on Tuesday on higher values heard in the marketplace.

Toluene and xylene values remained at parity. Prices in the US Gulf rose to 34.50-35.50 cents/lb, and Midwest prices rose to 38-40 cents/lb.

The aromatic solvents sell at a premium to the barge markets.

The toluene barge price ended last week slightly higher and the mixed xylenes (MX) barge price finished slightly lower, however, MX was higher for the week ending 4 December and it is not uncommon for truck and rail prices to lag behind the barge market.

While currently at parity, truck and rail toluene and xylene have each been 1 cent/lb higher at different times this year, and this week’s increase brings both off their lowest values of 2015.

There were no prices heard outside the assessed range for ARO 100 or ARO 150.

There were also no prices heard outside of the assessed range in the aliphatic solvents as market participants said things are pretty slow as the holiday season and end of the year approaches.