In September 2025, prices for the C9 and C10 solvent witnessed a diverging price trend across the key global markets. This is mainly driven by the gap between supply and demand dynamics, feedstock markets and the seasonal factor, shaping the price trend. Prices for the upstream crude oil prices remained soft due to the high supply and global demand weakness, further influenced the downstream value chain including C9 and C10 solvent.
During the month, prices across the key Asian and MEA market remained soft due to the high supply and weak downstream demand conditions. Shifting trade policies and less than expected across the regional market also weighed down on the prices. In contrast, prices across the European market witnessed significant growth, driven by the positive response from the downstream sectors.
Across the Asian market, prices for the C9 and C10 solvent witnessed a soft market trend coupled with the high supply and the soft demand dynamics.
In the South Korean market, prices for the C9 solvent fell by 3.4%, while the prices for the C10 solvent remained steady and declined only by 0.44%.
The domestic market supported the consumption slight during the month as the offtake from the downstream paints and coating industries improved, supported by the automotive sector. Domestic automotive sales surged in September 2025, driven by the more working days during the month and the Chuseok’ holidays shifted to the next month instead of September 2025. While the demand for the C9 and C10 solvent remained weak across the key export markets as the market insights revealed that the South Korean petrochemical exports declined by 2.8% in September 2025.
However, the supply for the C9 and C10 solvent remained enough driven by the consistent operation conditions and the weak upstream crude oil market. Crude oil prices fell during the month, due to the oversupply and the soft global demand conditions. OPEC+’s decision to increase the output also added to the negative pressure on the market sentiments, exerted notable downward pressure on the prices on its downstream value chain including C9 and C10 solvent.
Likewise, C9 and C10 solvent prices declined across the Singapore market. C9 solvent declined by 3.0% while the prices for the C10 solvent declined by 1.29%.
European market witnessed a bullish price trend, In Germany, C10 solvent prices rose by 1.38%. This is mainly due to the improvement across the downstream markets, especially paints and coating sector, coupled with the positive performance of automotive sector. German Federal Land Transport Authority (KBA) reported that new passenger car registrations went up by 13.65% in September 2025.
Across the MEA market prices remained bearish, primary due to the weak production costs due to the soft upstream crude oil prices and the high supply conditions. As a result, C9 solvent prices in the UAE market declined by 2.84%.
