The Asian monoethylene glycol (MEG) market is expected to be driven by robust demand from the downstream polyester market in China in the first half of 2018. SEE MORE China’s emergence as a global economic rival to the U.S. is perhaps most obvious in Latin America. SEE MORE What a difference a year makes. In the oil markets, it has produced a $10 a barrel rise in benchmark Brent crude, a well-engineered cutback of more than 1 million barrels a day in global oil supply and an estimated decline of 83 million barrels in OECD oil inventories in the first three quarters of 2017. SEE MORE Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is expected to keep the February price for Arab Light crude steady, close to the highest in more than three years, while lowering prices for medium and heavy grades, a survey by Reuters showed on Tuesday. SEE MORE Most Chinese base metals ended lower on Wednesday, while lead gained more than 1 percent as parts of the United States braced for more frigid weather. SEE MORE