According to the news that Asia’s benzene producers could keep operating rates below capacity in the first quarter of 2009 because of the weak downstream demand and the falling prices. Many people say that it will be difficult to find an outlet for benzene, producers will be reluctant to raise operating rates. “The rising supply of benzene was the topmost concern of most producers and traders for next year, as they have already battled through a difficult 2008 with issues like oversupply, poor margins, price crash, credit problems and weak downstream demand in the backdrop of a deepening global economic and financial crisis. “(ICIS).But the demand from downstream maybe unlikely to improve in 2009 and would be even worsen the benzene’s oversupply.