Recent price spreads between Helixtap STR20 and cup lump in Thailand have recently been on an upward trend since the year began. For the three weeks from end-December last year up till mid–January this year, this spread narrowed below US$200/mt for an average of US$151/mt. For those weeks, Helixtap estimated Thai producers were facing negative margins after factoring in processing costs. More recently from mid-January onwards, the spread rose above US$200/mt and registered US$257/mt as of the se