CCM: Export volume of furfural continues to fall in China in Aug. 2016 10-19-2016

According to China Customs, China only exported 675.74 tonnes of furfural in Aug., down 19.9% MoM and 20.6% YoY. Notably, furfural export volume always remains low in Aug. of a year. In Aug. 2015, the figure was merely 851.53 tonnes, the lowest of that year. Besides, in Jan.-Aug. 2016, export volume of furfural totaled 11,341 tonnes in China, down 27.3% YoY.



Source: Baidu


According to CCM's research, the large decline in furfural export volume in Aug. is mainly because of:


Continuously dropping crude oil price


Phenolic resin, a downstream product of crude oil, is a substitute for furan resin, an end product of furfural. In 2016, the international crude oil price keeps low, boosting the demand for phenolic resin and therefore dragging down the demand for furfural. Data from the New York Mercantile Exchange show that the Brent crude oil price hit USD45/bbl in Aug., vs. USD54/bbl the same period in 2015 and USD103/bbl in 2014.


Continuously depressed global manufacturing


The global manufacturing keeps sluggish in 2016, leading to weak demand for furfural, thus affecting the export of furfural in China.


The export price of furfural also remains low in 2016. In Jan.-Aug., the export price was USD1,078/t, down 23.9% YoY. Although the figure rebounded slightly in June-Aug., it was still lower than the same period in pervious years. The falling price of corn (raw material for furfural) was the major factor. According to CCM's price monitoring, the market price of corn has slid to USD288.24/t in Jan.-Aug. 2016 in China, down 24.9% YoY.

  

China's exports of furfural, Jan. 2014-Aug. 2016


Source: China Customs




Export destination


Belgium, the US and Japan were still the top three export destinations of furfural from China in Jan.-Aug. 2016, with import volume being 3,213 tonnes, 3,080 tonnes and 1,372 tonnes, 28.3%, 27.2% and 12.1% of the total separately. It should be noted that export volumes to some developed countries experienced significant declines when compared to the same period in previous years. In particular, export volume to Belgium in Jan.-Aug. 2016 dropped by 64.8% YoY; the export volume in Jan.-Aug. 2015 accounted for 58% of China's total.


On the contrary, China exported more and more furfural to some developing countries in Africa, such as Egypt and Algeria. Egypt even moved up to the fourth place by import volume this year, vs. 0 tonne in 2015.


Selected export destinations of furfural from China by volume, Jan.-Aug. 2016


Source: China Customs

 

This article comes from Corn Products China News 1610, CCM

 



About CCM:

CCM is the leading market intelligence provider for China’s agriculture, chemicals, food & ingredients and life science markets. Founded in 2001, CCM offers a range of data and content solutions, from price and trade data to industry newsletters and customized market research reports. Our clients include Monsanto, DuPont, Shell, Bayer, and Syngenta. CCM is a brand of Kcomber Inc.

 

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Tag: corn  furfural

 

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