Propylene Carbonate Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Trend

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Propylene Carbonate in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Propylene Carbonate Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

The Asia-Pacific region witnessed a rebound that supported the rise in the prices of propylene carbonate. The supply chain in the region got disrupted due to the Lunar holiday season, which led to the constriction in the availability of the product in the market. In addition to this, the demand outlook from the downstream industries also remained positive throughout the quarter while the production rates remained firm. However, in the second quarter, the overall market activities were slow.

The declining prices of propylene carbonate were the direct result of high inflation and declining consumer sentiments. Reduction in the number of inquiries and exports to European nations further fueled the movement of propylene carbonate prices in the southward direction.

Europe

The European region followed the footsteps of Asia Pacific as the prices of propylene carbonate inclined in the first quarter but experienced a mixed trend in the second quarter.

The first quarter was supported by the rise in the market activities of the upstream propylene and downstream automotive industries. But the aftereffects of the Russia-Ukraine war and feeble support from the feedstock cost caused the prices of propylene carbonate to decline in the initial months of the second quarter. The market dynamics improved in the later months of this quarter with support from the improvements in the prices of propylene oxide. However, chemical manufacturing showed a reduction in its market activities that forced the manufacturers to reduce their profit margins.

North America

Propylene carbonate prices in North America fluctuated in both the first and second quarters of 2023. The mixed trend of prices was the result of the slowing down of market activities as the consumers withdrew their support and adopted a wait-and-see approach. In addition to this, stockpiles of propylene carbonate increased in the region due to the low procurement from the electric vehicle and related sectors.

The soaring cost of crude oils also stood as a mountain in front of manufacturers who were already struggling with uncertain market conditions. In the second quarter also, along with these factors, the lowering of feedstock costs and a rise in inflation added their bits to the already falling price trend of propylene carbonate.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of propylene carbonate is expected to witness a fluctuating trend due to the inclining interest and inflation rates and high uncertainties in global demand.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Propylene Carbonate. Each price database is tied to a user-friendly graphing tool dating back to 2014, which provides a range of functionalities: configuration of price series over user defined time period; comparison of product movements across countries; customisation of price currencies and unit; extraction of price data as excel files to be used offline.