Asia
In the first half of 2025, DOP prices in Asia experienced a sustained downward trajectory. The market was mainly influenced by weak cost support from feedstocks, particularly 2-Ethylhexanol, and an oversupplied environment. Despite some seasonal support from housing and infrastructure projects in select regions like South Korea, broader market momentum remained subdued.
Throughout H1, demand from the PVC segment stayed stable but lacked strength, especially in Japan and Southeast Asia where housing sales and automotive output remained soft. As production levels remained high post-Lunar New Year and freight rates eased, sellers were compelled to lower prices to remain competitive. Overall, the bearish trend was consistent, with no strong recovery signals in sight during the period.
Europe
In Europe, DOP prices showed a moderate but consistent upward movement over H1’25. The price trend was supported by gradually improving demand from downstream PVC markets and slightly rising feedstock costs. Construction and packaging sectors, especially in infrastructure-related activities, provided steady demand.
Energy costs and tightening inventories added to the upward push on prices. Though March and April saw an increase in imports, they were not sufficient to significantly offset the regional supply tightness. By the end of the half-year, market sentiment remained cautiously optimistic with a stable-to-firm outlook supported by stronger end-user activity and controlled production rates.
North America
North American DOP prices continued their moderate decline throughout the first half of 2025. Weakness in the construction and real estate sectors, driven by persistent economic uncertainty and high interest rates, limited PVC demand. As a result, DOP consumption remained low.
Although feedstock costs showed brief upward movements, they were not strong enough to support prices due to ongoing inventory buildup and tepid international demand, especially after China’s tariff changes. Suppliers had to adopt competitive pricing strategies to retain customers, and the overall market remained bearish, with limited prospects for short-term recovery.