Phenol Price Trend Analysis 2026: Price Drivers, Historical Prices, Latest News, Market Insights & Supply Demand Analysis

• Phenol prices weakened in Q2’26 as ample supply, cautious buying, and weak derivative demand outweighed temporary cost support from upstream volatility.
• Feedstock pressure eased early as benzene and propylene softened, though a later benzene rebound gave limited cost-led support.
• Downstream demand stayed weak in bisphenol A, phenolic resin, coatings, construction materials, and durable goods, restricting producer price recovery.

Asia

In China, the prices of Phenol were ~RMB 8.86/kg and ~RMB 7.83/kg, respectively, in the second quarter of 2026. In India, the prices of Phenol were ~INR 127.86/kg in April and ~INR 116.27/kg in May, showing a ~9.1% decrease. Asian phenol declined mainly due to lower benzene and propylene costs, comfortable domestic supply, and weak derivative offtake. Chinese phenol-acetone plant operating rates stayed high at around 82-86% during April-May, keeping inventories available while buyers delayed procurement. Demand from bisphenol A, polycarbonate, phenolic resin remained weak, and China’s property downturn reduced consumption in insulation, coatings, laminates, adhesives, and construction-related plastics.

Europe

European phenol remained cost-supported but demand-capped during Q2’26. Producers faced pressure from higher benzene, propylene, energy, and carbon costs, yet weak downstream activity restricted full cost pass-through. Durable consumer-goods production fell 4.0% year-on-year in April, limiting consumption in polycarbonate, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, and nylon intermediates. Automotive demand gave only partial support, as registration growth did not fully translate into stronger local production. Capacity uncertainty also affected sentiment, with the delayed restart of a major phenol facility reducing immediate supply growth, but not enough to create a strong demand-led rally.

North America

In the United States, the prices of Phenol were ~USD 1,384.39/MT in April and ~USD 1,275.72/MT in the following month, showing a ~7.8% decrease. The decline reflected weak construction and moderate manufacturing demand despite higher benzene replacement costs. Housing starts fell 15.4% month-on-month in May, weakening demand for phenolic insulation, engineered-wood binders, laminates, and construction coatings. Manufacturing was also not strong enough to support sustained derivative buying, even though motor vehicles and construction supplies showed selective improvement.