Asian PS: Prices trade mixed; producers face margin pressure / Operating rates drop to 40% in China / Customers switch from HIPS to ABS material: trade source

Oct 12, 2026

General-purpose polystyrene (GPPS) CFR China at $1,495 per metric ton Oct. 7, up $25/mt week over week. Elsewhere, a trade was heard in the CFR Southeast Asia market for 50 mt of GPPS at $1,520/mt. “Starting from September, operating rates across China and Northeast Asia have been declining — and currently stand at about 40%. This is mainly due to the impact of rising benzene and styrene prices. Polystyrene is struggling to catch up,” a Chinabased producer said. “Especially as feedstock prices increase and customers struggle to accept higher offers, producers naturally will run at a lower rate,” a Northeast Asia-based trade source said. “Meanwhile, as the inter-product spread between high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) tightens, we’re seeing more customers swap to ABS given its better quality,” the trade...

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