Contract Purpose
This contract enables market participants to:
- Trade the price spread between Far East Index (FEI) propane and Japan naphtha (MOPJ) directly.
- Hedge exposure to the relative value of propane and naphtha, two of the most important petrochemical feedstocks in Asia.
- Manage risk associated with shifts in supply, demand, and seasonal trends affecting the propane–naphtha relationship.
- Implement trading strategies that reflect the economics of switching between propane and naphtha in Asian steam crackers and other industrial processes.
Market Significance
Feedstock Economics Benchmark:
The C3 FEI/MOPJ spread is a key indicator for Asian petrochemical producers and traders, reflecting the cost-effectiveness of using propane versus naphtha in the region’s steam crackers. This relationship directly impacts margins for ethylene and propylene production.
Arbitrage and Substitution Insight:
The contract captures market dynamics around feedstock substitution, especially when price movements or supply disruptions make one product more attractive than the other. This is particularly relevant during periods of high volatility or when global trade flows shift.
Risk Management Tool:
Petrochemical companies, traders, and financial institutions use this spread to manage their exposure to volatility in propane and naphtha prices, helping to ensure more predictable margins and optimised feedstock selection.
Trading Benefits
- Spread Trading Efficiency: Enables direct trading of the propane–naphtha spread without holding outright positions in both markets.
- Risk Management: Offers an effective hedge for those exposed to inter-product price swings and feedstock arbitrage opportunities.
- Price Discovery: Facilitates transparent valuation of the relative value between propane and naphtha in the Far East.
- Capital Efficiency: Reduces margin requirements compared to trading both legs separately.
This contract is especially valuable for petrochemical producers, trading houses, and financial institutions active in the Asian NGL and naphtha markets. It provides a focused tool for managing exposure to one of the most actively traded and closely watched price spreads in the region’s energy and feedstock sector.