China styrene intercontinental export arbitrage window closes

International styrene prices experienced significant declines across all major regions in the second quarter of 2026, and with narrowed price differentials, styrene export arbitrage opportunities became unavailable.

Intercontinental price differentials of styrene narrowed considerably in the second quarter of the year, in line with falling crude oil prices following U.S.-Iran negotiations. By mid-June, the theoretical arbitrage window between Asia and Europe, as well as between Asia and the U.S., had effectively closed. This will further limit