10 November 2010 21:40 [Source: ICIS news]
Market sources have emphasised that because of strong demand in the Asian domestic market, prices on ABS imports have risen, keeping pressure off US domestic prices.
US imports fell to 11,736 tonnes in September from 14,893 tonnes in August. Year on year, however, imports rose 40% from 8,354 tonnes in September 2009.
Imports from the top six Asian countries -- Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, China and Malaysia - fell to 6,328 tonnes in September from 6,970 tonnes in August, a drop of 9.2%.
However, high Asian import prices have not opened an arbitrage window for US producers, sources said, as Asian producers have been able to keep domestic prices low.
US exports of ABS dropped less than 1% year on year and month on month. The US exported 7,743 tonnes in September, down from 7,492 tonnes in August.
Major US ABS producers are BASF, INEOS and Sabic Innovative Plastics.
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