Hexene in the USA cooled after a firm April as demand-driven flows that supported prices earlier faced rising merchant availability and headwinds. Early April strength came from packaging and stretch-film demand, tightening the merchant pool, while mid-month condensate disruptions added upside risk. Late-April easing in ethylene and cracker runs broadened FOB availability, and that dynamic carried into early May, shifting sentiment from bullish to cautious across the Gulf Coast market. Packaging and consumer-goods sectors remained the primary demand engine through April, with stretch-film orders and resins prompting Gulf Coast producers to lift run-rates and reduce merchant barrels. In contrast, late-month buyer caution trimmed spot appetite as sanction-related trade-finance risks reappeared. The April assessment rose around eight percent month-on-month, highlighting strong pull, while early May showed a softer tone and a decline amid volatility. The near-term outlook remains mixed and volatile, with upside risks from condensate tightness and continued polyethylene procurement, offset by ethylene moves and higher cracker runs.
