The PGPI reflects a compilation of the daily price assessments of physical spot market ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, paraxylene, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene as published by Platts and is weighted by the three regions of Asia, Europe and the United States. Used as a price reference, a gauge of sector activity, and a measure of comparison for determining the profitability of selling a barrel of crude oil intact or refining it into products, the PGPI was first published by Platts in August 2007.

1. © 2015 Platts, McGraw Hill Financial. All rights reserved. 1
April 30, 2015
A Platts.com News & Analysis Feature
Polymers – Aromatics – Olefins – Solvents
Platts Global
Petrochemical Index
Prices rose again in March
after a 6 month decline –
how far will they rebound?

2. Prices in the $3-trillion-plus global petrochemicals market climbed another 9% month over month in March, for a
second month of rebound following six consecutive months of falling prices.
Petrochemical prices, expressed as a monthly average, increased $81 per metric ton (/mt) from February to
$954/mt in March, according to the just-released monthly Platts Global Petrochemical Index (PGPI).
The PGPI is a benchmark basket of seven widely used petrochemicals and is published by Platts, a leading global
energy, petrochemicals and metals information provider and a top source of benchmark price references.
"Even though crude prices were down slightly on average in March, petrochemicals were still responding to the
nearly 20% increase in crude prices in February, and the 24% increase in February naphtha prices," said Jim Foster,
director of petrochemical analysis at Platts. "In February, petrochemicals only advanced 3%, but were able to post
gains of nearly 10% in March."
2
Platts Global Petrochemical Index
PLATTS GLOBAL PETROCHEMICAL INDEX IN DOLLARS PER METRIC TON
The daily price reflected as a monthly average
March
2015
Monthly %
Change
Annual %
change
March
2014
February
2015
January
2015
December
2014
November
2014
$954 9% -30% $1,370 $872 $850 $984 $1,205

3. 3
Platts Global Petrochemical Index
The chart above shows the daily end-of-day Platts Global Petrochemical Index (PGPI) price in red and
also displays the 20-day PGPI moving average (MA) in blue.

4. 4
Platts Global Petrochemical Index
Petrochemicals are used to make plastic, rubber, nylon and other consumer products and are utilized in
manufacturing, construction, pharmaceuticals, aviation, electronics and nearly every commercial industry.
Olefins
Prices of olefins -- a group of hydrocarbon compounds which are the building blocks to many petrochemical
products used to produce everyday goods -- jumped approximately 10% in March as the market reacted to
February's strong naphtha prices.
Ethylene prices gained 10% in March from February to $922/mt and propylene prices were up 9% to $933/mt.
Polyethylene and polypropylene, plastics manufactured from ethylene and propylene respectively, posted
similar month-over-month price gains.
Global polyethylene prices climbed to $1,270/mt, up 9%, while polypropylene prices were up 11% to
$1,284/mt.

5. Aromatics
Prices of aromatics -- a group of scented hydrocarbons with benzene rings used to make a variety of
petrochemicals -- also saw increases in March.
Benzene saw the largest gain of any component in the PGPI, with prices climbing 15% from February to
$727/mt in March.
Toluene prices rose 7% to $690/mt, while paraxylene prices were flat at 788/mt.
Global equity markets were mixed in March. The London Stock Exchange Index (FTSE) posted a 2.5% drop and
the Dow Jones Industrial Average wasn't far behind, falling 2%. However, the opposite was true of the NIKEEI
225, which was up 2% last month.
5
Platts Global Petrochemical Index

6. 6
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7. A key ingredient to styrene, used in packaging, various plastics, nylon and other textiles.
Global benzene prices fell 18% in January to $604 per metric ton (/mt) from $740/mt in December, according to
the just-released PGPI data expressed as a monthly average.
Tumbling crude and naphtha prices continued to drag benzene prices down.
7
Platts Global Benzene Price Index

8. A key ingredient to polyethylene, the most widely used plastic in textiles and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), widely
used in construction for window frames, water pipes, garden furniture and packaging.
Global ethylene prices tumbled 15% in January to $834 per metric ton (/mt), from $977/mt in December,
according to the just-released PGPI data expressed as a monthly average.
Ethylene prices were falling in tandem with decreasing naphtha prices.
8
Platts Global Ethylene Price Index

9. Used in thin film for packaging and coatings for cables and injection moulds.
Prices of low-density polyethylene decreased 12% in January to $1,240 per metric ton (/mt), according to the
just-released PGPI data expressed as a monthly average.
Polyethylene prices fell at a rate slower than feedstock ethylene, which saw prices plunge 15% in January..
9
Platts Global LDPE Price Index

10. 10
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11. An aromatic petrochemical that can be used as a solvent in paint thinner, rubber, glue, lacquers, polyurethane
foam for furniture, and as an octane booster in gasoline. It also can be converted into benzene and xylenes.
Toluene, an aromatic petrochemical included in the PGPI, slid 17% in January to $554 per metric ton (/mt),
according to the just-released PGPI data expressed as a monthly average.
Toluene prices were moving in line with crude oil and naphtha prices, which declined 24% and 15% respectively
in January.
11
Platts Global Toluene Price Index

12. Used in fibers and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for plastic bottles.
Paraxylene prices plummeted 12% to $729 per metric ton (/mt) in January, according to the just-released PGPI
data expressed as a monthly average.
Prices of aromatic petrochemicals were lower across the board as prices of feedstocks naphtha and crude oil
tumbled.
12
Platts Global Paraxylene (PX) Price Index

13. A key ingredient to one of the most versatile plastics used in bottle caps, automotive components, instrument
panels, interior trims.
Prices of propylene, the olefin raw input used in the manufacturing of polypropylene, plunged 10% month over
month in January to $786 per metric ton (/mt), according to the just-released PGPI data expressed as a monthly
average.
13
Platts Global Propylene Price Index

14. Used in reusable containers and automotive components, electric equipment, ropes, carpets and textiles.
Prices for the second polymer component of the PGPI-- polypropylene-- fell 14% from December to $1,165 per
metric ton (/mt) in January, according to the just-released PGPI data expressed as a monthly average.
The fall was in line with feedstock propylene, which fell 10% during the same period.
14
Platts Global Polypropylene Price Index

15. 15
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whenever you need it, in the office or on the move.
Our Petrochemicals Market Reports, providing exclusive content and benchmark price assessments, can now be
accessed online via Platts Market Center and our new mobile app.
Whether you’re interested in Polymers, Aromatics or Olefins, our complete online and mobile package ensures
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16. To access a summary of the May performance of each of the seven key petrochemicals included in the PGPI,
visit: http://www.platts.com/news-feature/2015/petrochemicals/pgpi/index.
The PGPI reflects a compilation of the daily price assessments of physical spot market ethylene, propylene,
benzene, toluene, paraxylene, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene as published by Platts and is
weighted by the three regions of Asia, Europe and the United States.
Used as a price reference, a gauge of sector activity, and a measure of comparison for determining the
profitability of selling a barrel of crude oil intact or refining it into products, the PGPI was first published by
Platts in August 2007.
Published daily in a real-time news service Platts Petrochemical Alert and other Platts publications, the PGPI is
anchored by Platts' robust and long-established price assessment methodology and the firm's 100-year history
of energy price reporting.
Platts petrochemicals experts are available for media interviews. A sample list of experts may be found at the
Platts Media Center. For more information on petrochemicals, visit the Platts website at www.platts.com.
16
About PGPI

17. About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals
and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures
markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make
better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater
transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts’ coverage of
the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear
power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE:
MHFI), Platts is headquartered in New York with approximately 900 employees in more than 15
offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.
About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), a financial intelligence company,
is a leader in credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics for the global capital and commodity
markets. Iconic brands include: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones
Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately
17,000 employees in 29 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.
Platts petrochemicals experts are available for media interviews. A sample list of experts may be
found at the Platts Media Center. For more information on petrochemicals, visit the Platts website
at www.platts.com. Additional media contact: Elizabeth Catalano at elizabeth.catalano@platts.com
or +44 207 176 6024.
17
About Platts

18. © 2015 Platts, McGraw Hill Financial. All rights reserved.
For more information, visit: www.platts.com
Or contact your regional commodity specialist:
ASIA EMEA AMERICAS
Ihsan Rahim Maria Vasari Andrew Aitken
+65.6532.6429 +44.20.1716.6294 +1.713.655.2221
Ihsan.rahim@platts.com maria.vasari@platts.com andrew.aitken@platts.com
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olivier.geleoc@platts.com