Aniline Prices Fall in the US Market Amid a Decline in Quotations From Asian Exporters

Texas, USA- As the days are becoming colder and temperature is declining in the Northern Hemisphere, Aniline prices are witnessing a downfall in the international market amid limited product consumption from the downstream enterprises.

At the beginning of December 2023, Asian exporters kept their Aniline quotations unchanged amid the moderate availability of supplies. As per the sources, the USA manufacturing sector Purchasing Manager’s Index decreased to slightly below 50 points during November 2023 amidst a decline in demand from the buyers, indicating contraction in the manufacturing sector activities. The Aniline demand sentiments were pessimistic from the buyers amid the decrease in the stocking practices from Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate industries due to the depressed consumption rates of Polyurethane from the end-user Automotive and manufacturing sectors after the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike during the last month. Simultaneously, Aniline procurement activities were reduced by the dye makers with the arrival of winter. In the meantime, the Pharma sector saw consistent order volumes.

The Aniline stocks increased in the international market as the production rates were firm in the exporting country, and product supply rates were consistent in the market amid destocking practices by Asian manufacturers towards the end of the year. On the contrary, the transaction rates declined amid a reduction in offtakes and procurement activities from the end-user industries, especially after the Black Friday sales at the end of November 2023.

Consequently, the Aniline price fell noticeably by almost 10% in the US market during the first half of December 2023.

At the same time, the cost support on Aniline declined from the feedstock Benzene due to reduced offtakes and improved feedstock availability amid a reduction in the Crude Oil prices after the resumed refinery operations and increased refining capacity in the North American region. Meanwhile, the cost support remained firm on feedstock Nitric Acid due to stressed production rates amid a lack of upstream Ammonia supplies.f

At the end of H1 of December 2023, the Aniline CFR Texas quotations hovered at USD 1770/MT.

As per the ChemAnalyst assessment, the Aniline price trend will be revamped at the beginning of the first quarter of 2024. The import rate will increase in the North American region towards the end of the year amid an estimated increase in consumption rates from the end-user industries before the New Year holidays. The destocking practices will end, and the procurement activities of fresh stocks will begin in the Asian region in Q1. Furthermore, the cost support will escalate, production rates will decline during peak winter, and the Aniline quotations will escalate in the international market.