PTA futures in Zhengzhou, China closed lower on April 23. Contract-1009 opened at 8,526 Yuan / ton and closed at 8,518 Yuan / ton, down 30 Yuan, or 0.35 percent from the previous day.
Naphtha rose US $10 to $763-768 / ton (CFR Japan), heterogeneous class MX gained $7 to touch $932-933 / ton (FOB Korea); Asian PX improved $10 to $1037-1038 / ton (FOB Korea).
European PX rose $5 to $1043-1047 / ton (FOB Rotterdam), while the price in the US stabilized at US $1013-1018 / ton (FOB US Gulf).
At present, some PTA production plants have started maintenance, which could put pressure on supply. Operating rate of most of the PTA plants is about 87 percent.