After mid-November 2025, Bisphenol A (BPA) prices remained under pressure globally due to the combined effect of high supply and low demand. The Asian and U.S. markets had low but steady prices, and Europe saw a more significant drop as the situation of demand worsened further.
In China, BPA prices stayed stable at low levels amid low demand and significant supply. BPA market continued to experience a widening mismatch between production and consumption, driving a steady monthly price decline. In October, BPA prices fell by 3.3%, reflecting the imbalance between rising output and muted downstream inquiries.
Supply pressure intensified as previously idle BPA plants in East China completed maintenance and resumed operations, adding fresh volumes into an already saturated market. This compounded manufacturers’ challenges, as inventory accumulation limited their ability to maintain higher offers.
Feedstock fundamentals also weakened. Phenol and acetone prices continued to decline on a monthly basis due to oversupply and softer upstream crude oil costs. Phenol supply expanded notably in China, with Jilin Petrochemical commissioning a 350,000-ton/year phenol-ketone unit in Q3 2025. The additional capacity weighed heavily on phenol prices, reducing BPA cost support.
Upstream crude oil remained under pressure as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East eased and U.S. crude inventories rose. OPEC+’s decision to increase output by 1.65 million barrels per day further raised concerns of a global supply glut, reinforcing weak upstream cost dynamics.
On the demand front, BPA’s major downstream sectors—polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resin—showed little improvement. Purchasing enthusiasm remained low, with most buyers placing small, essential-need orders. Polycarbonate operating rates declined month-on-month, curbing BPA consumption. Meanwhile, the epoxy resin sector continued to struggle, with operating rates hovering around 51%, highlighting limited market momentum.
Further downward pressure came from the end-user construction sector. China’s construction activity contracted to 49.1% in October, down 0.2 points from the previous month, reflecting weak housing demand and slow project execution, which further restricted epoxy and PC demand.
In the U.S., BPA prices followed a similar trend, staying under pressure amid uneven construction activity and sufficient supply. Planned industrial construction grew 2.24%, supported by new manufacturing projects, but residential construction continued its prolonged decline and civil infrastructure activity slowed. Broader economic uncertainties—material cost inflation, labor shortages, energy volatility, and lingering supply chain issues—kept purchasing conservative.
European BPA prices declined after mid-November as low demand and sufficient supply dominated market sentiment. Weak downstream PC and epoxy resin inquiries, combined with construction sector slowdown and reduced business confidence, limited trading activity. Additional pressure stemmed from U.S. tariff effects and increased competition from Chinese suppliers.
As per the ChemAnalyst data, BPA prices may decline further globally in the coming month, as year-end destocking prompts aggressive discounted offers from producers aiming to clear excess inventories.
