Mixed xylene rose three cents to be assessed at $4.50/gal FOB US Gulf Coast Monday in the face of tight supply, sources said.
MX assessments have risen steadily, hitting new records daily since surpassing the old record high of $4.40/gal FOB USG nearly two weeks ago.
March MX was heard traded on Friday at $4.46/gal DDP USG and at $4.47/gal FOB USG. No deals were heard done Monday.
One trader said he did not think there was a lot of MX available right now.
Sources said once more product comes onto the market, then prices should fall, but when more MX might hit the market remains uncertain.
Shell's Deer Park, Texas, facility, which can produce 4,900 b/d of MX, has been offline since the end of December, and sources said it should be coming back online soon, but no timetable has been given.
MX prices have been climbing since the end of last year and has risen 65 cents since an assessment of $3.85/gal FOB USG on January 4. MX tied the old record high of $4.40/gal FOB USG on February 28 and surpassed it the next day with an assessment of $4.42/gal FOB USG.
