According to media reports, due to the tight supply of ethylene, ethylene spot prices increased obviously in European, spot ethylene cracking profit has increased by 8% to 666.75 euros per tonne since the beginning of August ($784), up 4% over the same period in 2016.

Cracking profits reflect the major economic benefits of steam cracking, and the major olefins are the cornerstone of most petrochemical products. One producer said: "we saw sustained, healthy ethylene demand, a large supply disruption or a limit on output, which led to a short-term market gain."."