Asia
The prices for dipropylene glycol stayed toward the lower end of the range in the third and fourth quarters of 2023. The compound is an essential component of polyurethane foams, lubricants, and personal care products, and thus, the pricing trajectory of dipropylene glycol was highly dependent on demand from these sectors as well as the dynamics of propylene oxide price.
Therefore, the price of dipropylene glycol decreased during the period, as did the price of raw materials. Further, suppliers were forced to lower prices to promote inventory movement due to excess inventory. The dipropylene glycol prices, however, fluctuated in the northward direction on the advent of the holiday season but soon restored to the previous trajectory when consumer interest in this sector declined.
Europe
In European countries, during the third and fourth quarters of 2023, the dipropylene glycol market followed the patterns observed in Asian countries. The demand for the product remained dull in view of the exaggerated geopolitical challenges. The start of the Israel-Hamas war amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crises lowered the rate of exports from European countries, resulting in a robust rise in inventory levels and severely damaging Europe's economy. The period also witnessed fluctuating domestic trade patterns, which led to generally muted market patterns.
North America
Q3 and Q4'23 saw depreciation in the pricing patterns of dipropylene glycol in North America, in accordance with the global trend of the market. The international trading sector of the North American market was disturbed by economic concerns and logistical obstacles, which led to a downward price swing in the dipropylene glycol price trend. Further, the decline in the cost of raw materials and crude oil lowered the production prices and increased the output rates, which eventually led to the southward movement of the dipropylene glycol price trend throughout H2 of 2023.