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US ethyl acetate (etac) distributor prices remained stable during the week ended 9 August, according to market sources.

Sources confirmed the published ranges. There was some talk of a slight uptick on the low end of the distributor range to 80 cents/lb, but it could not be confirmed.

In feedstocks, US industrial ethanol contract prices held steady in August, following a Q3 increase for most accounts put through in July stemming from higher corn prices. It was the fourth jump in as many quarters for US ethanol contracts.

US ethylene for August continued to trade higher on anticipated supply tightness as a result of cracker turnarounds in the coming two months. Ethylene for August traded 63.50-64.50 cents/lb, up from 62.00-63.50 cents/lb a week earlier. Ethylene contracts for July settled flat at 56.75 cents/lb.

In Europe, etac spot prices fell by €70-90/tonne on slow seasonal demand and improved supply, marking the first major drop since December 2010.

($1 = €0.70)

This week on ICIS news ( www.icis.com):

08-Aug-11 21:24 US methanol spot drops 4% on market plunge and plant restart

08-Aug-11 20:56 US ethylene margins add another 5% on higher spot prices

05-Aug-11 18:39 Europe etac prices register sharpest fall since 2010

05-Aug-11 16:55 INEOS raises etac allocation rates at UK unit on improved feedstock

03-Aug-11 01:03 US ethyl acetate prices rise as Eastman issues sales control