In December 2025, the global C9 solvent market experienced contrasting trends within regions, indicating different supply and demand balance, as well as downstream performance. APAC sentiment remained bearish on the back of oversupply and lukewarm demand, while MEA turned constructive on tighter imports and strong downstream demand. At the same time logistics issues and disciplined inventory management gave a slight upward tendency in Europe.
The European market for C9 solvents was slightly up in December 2025, with the German market specifically enhanced, despite a fall in domestic consumption, due to the downturn in end use automotive industry. German new passenger car registrations declined to 246,439 units in December, a decrease of 1.7% from the previous month, according to the German Federal Land Transport Authority (KBA). However, tight availability due to year-end maintenance, strategic inventory reduction, and port congestion at Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven pushed C9 solvent prices up. General logistical chaos throughout Europe – such as labor strikes, inclement weather, and inefficient processes – held back the flow of cargo, increased freight rates, and prolonged delivery times. Although upstream crude oil trends were weaker, German refiners focused on higher-margin products, stricter compliance increased cost pressure. Export demand from Central and Southern Europe was steady on the back of strong coatings and automotive-related applications. Domestic buyers were able to pass on some of the increased costs resulting from higher resin prices since they continued to rely on the C9 solvent, as there were few alternatives available.
The Asia Pacific C9 solvent market saw a downward price trend in December 2025, in South Korea in particular, where the price of C9 solvent fell by 2.78%. Consistent steam-cracker running rates and steady supply turnovers led to a balanced C9 solvent flow, while high inventories at the end of the month hindered sellers’ leverage. Weak upstream energy trends also stripped out more cost support as WTI crude oil prices fell by over 1% for the month—tumbling for the fifth straight month. On the end-user front, demand from resins, printing inks, and automotive coatings was flat and exhibiting no vigour. South Korea’s new vehicle sales edged down 0.1% to 115,815 units, suppressing demand for coatings. Export demand also weakened on account of oversupply in China and plummeting values of feedstock.
On the other hand, a bullish trend was observed in the MEA C9 solvent market. In the UAE market, the price of C9 Solvent increased by 2.67% in December 2025 as compared with the previous month of shipment. Tight supplies in the spot market, sporadic year-end imports due to maintenance shutdowns, and firm demand from downstream users pushed prices up. Although upstream crude support was minimal, smooth port activity and steady inventories bolstered supply confidence. Demand from marine coatings, metal fabrication and construction related coatings hold firm. Boosting C9 solvent consumption, Dubai’s real estate sales hit, rising 30.64% year-on-year. The stable host dirham-to-USD parity also prompted buyers to focus on availability rather than pricing, and the bullish market sentiment strengthened.
