US cumene prices fell 1.9% October 2025 amid continuing bearish sentiment based on upstream cost relief and downstream fatigue. Feedstock, benzene prices dropped month-on-month by 2.9%, whereas upstream crude price with 3% decrease, which squeezed producers’ margins given a lower cost of production. OPEC+ bumped production by 137,000 bpd, while a Gaza ceasefire helped to ease risk premiums, all of which are reinforcing oversupply. Gulf Coast plants were running at 85-90% capacity that was eclipsing offtake and accumulating surplus inventories, with low prospect for exports due to tariff risks and freight impediments. Cumene demand was weak and cumene offtake decreased by 5% on week-on-week basis in weak phenol-acetone and BPA market. The demand for acetone downstream fell as traders had been sending out 1–2% discounts to make tails, while phenol underwent downturn after downstream units reduced their runs. Industry watchers, ChemAnalyst says, are bracing for Q4 volatility with some indication of holiday-driven rallies and/or trade de-escalation to provide some, albeit limited, support.
