US phthalic anhydride imports stood at 3,340 mt in October, up 17% from September, the latest US International Trade Commission data showed Friday.
Mexico accounted for 35.27% of the total PA imports, at 1,178 mt, up 47.44% month on month.
Mexico was followed by Italy at 29%, Israel 15%, South Korea 10.4%, Russia 10.1% and the remaining 0.06% came from Canada, the ITC data showed.
About 968 mt came from Italy, down 10% on the month, while Israel sent 507 mt, up 77%. South Korea-origin material stood at 346 mt, relative stable during the same period, the data showed.
Russia-origin material was 338 mt, up 119% on the month.
Mexico, Italy and Israel are the top three import players in the US PA market since 2016, USITC data showed. However, year to date, Italy is the main importer of PA at 10,045, followed by Mexico at 7,335 mt and Israel at 3,015 mt.
Phthalic anhydride prices were assessed Thursday stable week on week at 66 cents/lb ($1,455/mt)delivered for molten-grade and at 69 cents/lb ($1,521/mt) for flake delivered contract basis, after a 2-cent drop seen last week.
PA prices typically follow movement in the orthoxylene contract with a one-month lag, per market feedback.
December PA pricing moved lower in tandem with the OX November contract, which came down 2 cents to 46 cents/lb from the October OX contract, as per market feedback. December OX CP settled down 6 cents last week from November's 40 cents/lb, pressured by weakening MX pricing, sources said.
The declines were attributed to lower mixed xylene prices and softening demand in the downstream phthalic anhydride market, sources said.
