Asia Propylene Oxide Market Sees Modest Sentiment Gains but Fundamentals Stay Weak

Key Highlights 

• PO prices in China rose slightly to USD ***/MT CFR Qingdao, supported by tighter supply and rising feedstock costs.
• Plant shutdowns and reduced propylene output added pressure to availability across the region.
• Demand stayed soft in key sectors like construction, coatings, and polyurethane, with buyers avoiding bulk purchases.
• Market sentiment improved modestly, but overall fundamentals remained weak and uneven.

China 

Supply: PO prices in China edged up to USD ***/MT CFR Qingdao during the first week of September, supported by tighter supply and rising feedstock costs. Shida Shenghua’s PO unit went offline for maintenance, while Hebei Haiwei’s PDH plant closure added uncertainty to propylene availability.

Demand: Demand from downstream sectors like polyether polyols and polyurethane remained weak. Buyers focused on clearing earlier stock, and new orders were limited. A brief pickup in mid-August faded quickly, with most purchases made on a...