Early September 2025 N-Propanol markets in Asia exhibit a stable pattern, underpinned by diverse regional dynamics influenced by supply realities, government regulations, and performance of the end-use sector. China, Japan, and South Korea, the region's pivotal markets, weathered through different economic stresses but ended up with consistent pricing trends.
Meanwhile, in China, N-Propanol spot prices remained stable supported by the largely balanced fundamentals as compared to macroeconomic headwinds. Throughout the period, local production ran at steady rates with ample feedstock propylene supplies. But storm-related delays at big ports such as Shanghai and Ningbo led to congestion, anchored by some 180 vessels at one point, it was reported. This pushed up inland stocks, and some traders were compelled to slash offer prices to boost stalls. Meanwhile, it's government-backed infrastructure and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects provided a floor to demand, although this was counterbalanced by softer residential construction and coatings linked with problems in the real estate sector. But damaging weather such as floods and droughts that interrupted construction activity in the latter part of August weighed on consumption. The result was a timid market balance in abeyance, where balanced offers met modest demand.
During the same period in review, the N-Propanol market in Japan remained stable as domestic production and logistics improved. Port congestion at Nagoya also eased significantly, averting the risk of stock build-ups. Although the broader economy faced pressure from factors like easing inflation and sharply declining construction orders, demand for n-propanol was supported by the personal care, pharmaceutical and coatings industries. Industries targeted the upcoming project resumption, once tropical storms subsided, as a result of restocking. The balance was established between low-scale industrial improvement, steady demand from main downstream industries and efficient logistics in Japan.
In South Korea, prices of N-Propanol were firm, supported by strong local consumption and a buoyant consumer atmosphere. Household loans surged to ?4.2 trillion in August, while consumer sentiment, buoyed by government issued spending coupons and housing optimism, reached a seven-year high. All of these factors, plus demand from the personal care, cosmetics, and household cleaning industries, which are main outlets of N-Propanol, supported sales. However, the industrial demand was weaker. Manufacturing PMI stayed in the contraction territory at 48.3, while exports of petro components, including N-Propanol, declined by almost 19 percent year-on-year amid soft oil-lined product prices and global trade pressures. Amid all of this, steady local production and reliable logistics have helped maintain balance in the N-Propanol market.
According to Chemanalyst, the price of n-propanol is expected to fluctuate from early September 2025 to mid-October 2025, as demand undergoes shifting patterns amidst the surge in pre-festive production across the main sectors like coatings. By mid-to-late October, however, the momentum is much likely to stabilize with inventory build-up and supply chain adjustment, followed by poor demand after the festive period that could bring a marginal price erosion for N-Propanol.
