据ICIS网站8月12日伦敦报道 尽管欧洲石化行业的活动在夏季趋于放缓，但有人担心今年会有更为紧迫的事件影响市场动态。

对欧洲施加的大部分金融压力仍然是国际贸易紧张局势的结果。从今年年初开始，人们就提到了欧洲经济关键部分正摇摇欲坠地走向衰退的猜测。

一位欧洲聚乙烯（PE）生产商在谈到这场持续的贸易战时表示：“我个人认为，我们正在陷入衰退，但与此同时我们也时刻关注着贸易战的走向。”

尽管第一季度的经济悲观情绪并不普遍，但许多公司第二季度的业绩没有预期的那么乐观，而且人们越来越认为2019年下半年的情况会有所改善。

一位苯乙烯生产商表示：“市场如此的安静，令人难以置信……充足的供应和几乎没有任何现货需求，而且需求不会得到改善……汽车行业的表现也如此糟糕。”

即使是报告第二季度增长的石油化工企业也对信心持谨慎态度。

经济放缓削弱了人们对2019年下半年经济复苏的希望。

一些观察家将需求减弱的程度比作全球金融危机的后果。

一位脂肪酸交易员表示：“从我从竞争对手、买家、卖家等那里收集到的所有信息来看，第一季度表示非常好，第二季度还行，第三季度则是一场灾难。”

他补充到：“以往其他年份对大家来说都相当不错，我上一次看到人们（在提供较低价格方面）如此积极是在2008-2011年。”

王磊 摘译自 ICIS

原文如下：

Europe petchems hopes for Q3 rebound dwindle

Although activity tends to slow down on the European petrochemicals industry over summer, there are concerns that there is something far more pressing affecting market dynamics this year.

Much of the financial pressure weighing down on Europe remains the result of tensions caused by trade war, and speculations that key parts of the European economy are teetering towards a recession have been mentioned from the beginning of the year.

In reference to the ongoing spat a European polyethylene (PE) producer said: “It’s my personal opinion we are running into a recession with our eyes wide open.”

While economic pessimism was not universal in the first quarter, second-quarter results have been less buoyant than expected for many companies, and the belief that conditions will improve in the second half of 2019 is increasingly a fringe perspective.

"It's so quiet, it's unbelievable… ample supply and hardly any spot demand - demand is not going to improve… the automotive industry is doing so badly," said a styrene player.

Even petrochemical players who reported growth in the second quarter are cautious about signalling confidence.

The slowdown undercuts hopes that recovery would be on the horizon for the latter part of 2019.

The extent that demand has softened has been likened by some observers to the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

One fatty acids trader said: "From everything I have heard from competitors, buyers, sellers etc, Q1 was very good, Q2 was okay, Q3 was a disaster.

"Other years have been quite prosperous for everyone, the last time I saw people having to be this aggressive [in offering lower prices] was 2008-2011,” it added.