US fatty alcohol prices eased into early June as sellers faced the continuation of May's soft tone. Market supply remained comfortable amid subdued buying from detergents, home care, and personal care manufacturers, while industrial surfactants stayed cautious. Improved import flows from Southeast Asia and ample domestic output reduced Gulf Coast tightness, increasing competitive pressure among regional suppliers. Downstream demand remained soft through May, pressuring finished-product premiums for the C12-15 grade used in cleaners and detergents. Buyers maintained lean replenishment cycles as inventories were sufficient, contributing to a shift toward hand-to-mouth purchasing. The result is persistent downside pressure on prices, with weekly assessments signaling continued declines into early June. The near-term outlook points to stable to slightly lower values, barring a material shift in feedstock costs or a move from hand-to-mouth buying to forward cover. Participants should watch export interest and any logistics disruptions that could tighten regional availability, while pricing is expected to remain capped in the near term.
