Bisphenol A Prices Continue to Fall in Asia Amid Weak Demand and Low Downstream Market Sentiment

Bisphenol A prices in China fell the past week with the prices falling to a low of $3617 per ton which is a $433 down from the levels before September. The declining trend is mainly triggered by two reasons that include bearish demand and low downstream market sentiment. 

The demand for Bisphenol A has been weak in Asia because of increasing environmental regulations regarding the consumption limits of Bisphenol A and usage of substitute materials such as Bisphenol S and Bisphenol F. The overall demand has also been weak from Europe where Bisphenol A is expected to be completely replaced by Bisphenol S. 

The demand from the downstream Polycarbonate (PC) has also been less due to low market sentiment. Most of the merchants in the PC market are in a wait and see mode. 

Bisphenol A is a colorless crystalline solid belonging to the family of organic compounds. It is used primarily as a strengthener in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The major applications of Bisphenol A include polycarbonate resins, epoxy resins, unsaturated polyester resins, flame retardants. The Global Market for Bisphenol A stood at around 8 million tons in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% during the upcoming years. 

As per ChemAnalyst, “the prices of Bisphenol A which are on a downward trend due to twin effects of weak demand and low downstream market sentiment are expected to continue following the downward trajectory until the demand gets a boost from the construction sector which has been suffering from various constraints since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.”