European ortho-xylene market is expected to grow substantially after a nine month slowdown of E34/m.t. to E378/m.t. in the second quarter of the year 2006 contract. The previously existing unbalanced situation did not resulted in rising feedstock cost, but a poor supply/demand condition. The tighter ortho-xylene supply caused by a two-week production outrage, resulted in a spot price hike by the Petrogal's plant at Oporto, Portugal, indicating the price hike for other aromatic products. Mixed xylene prices rose on higher crude oil by $5-$10 hiking the ortho-xylene price by $ 25 to $280-$290.