Ethylene prices in Asia firmed. Gains were prompted by availability tightness worries which overshadowed declines in crude and naphtha rates and challenged the price falls in downstream PE. CFR North East Asia prices were assessed up at the USD 1045 per ton, a sharp week on week gain of USD 35 per ton. CFR South East Asia prices of ethylene were assessed higher at the USD 960 per ton, a spike of USD 45 per ton from the previous week. In plant news, LG Chem has undertaken a planned shutdown at its naphtha cracker on October 29, 2018 for a maintenance turnaround. The cracker is likely to remain off-line for around one month. Located at Yeosu in South Korea, the cracker has an ethylene capacity of 1 mta, propylene capacity of 500 kta.