During November 2025, U.S. Nonylphenol showed weakness through continued lower prices due to lack of trade demand from uncertainty of the world economic situation because of trade concerns. The lack of consumer goods use by businesses has led them to reduce their use of Nonylphenol due to decline in overall usage by the chemical industry. Additionally, rising Inflation and depreciating U.S. dollar, coupled with expectations of Federal Reserve Rate Cuts and ease of money will put downward pressures on demand for Nonylphenol through the first part of 2026. As well tariffs have caused disruptions in the supply chain which will result in reduced volumes of imports and exports and because of higher volumes of nonylphenol inventory producing downward pressure on demand for spot prices. As a result of the supply and demand dynamics of sustained excess inventory and continued weak buyer interest, we expect downward pressure on Nonylphenol prices to continue through December 2025.
During November 2025, U.S. Nonylphenol showed weakness through continued lower prices due to lack of trade demand from uncertainty of the world economic situation because of trade concerns. The lack of consumer goods use by businesses has led them to reduce their use of Nonylphenol due to decline in overall usage by the chemical industry. Additionally, rising Inflation and depreciating U.S. dollar, coupled with expectations of Federal Reserve Rate Cuts and ease of money will put downward pressures on demand for Nonylphenol through the first part of 2026. As well tariffs have caused disruptions in the supply chain which will result in reduced volumes of imports and exports and because of higher volumes of nonylphenol inventory producing downward pressure on demand for spot prices. As a result of the supply and demand dynamics of sustained excess inventory and continued weak buyer interest, we expect downward pressure on Nonylphenol prices to continue through December 2025.
Nonylphenol market prices demonstrated a downward trend in the U.S. market up to November 2025, influenced by a lack of demand, trade tensions, and general macroeconomic conditions. Although this chemical is a prime base for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, also referred to as NPEs, which work as surfactants in cleaning agents, laundry detergents, lubricants, and emulsifiers.
The decline in November was driven by many fronts. Downstream demand in consumer products maintained its slow trend, consistent with the slowdown in the chemical industry in general. The world 2025 production forecast was lowered to about 1.9 percent from previous estimates of around 3.5 percent. According to market participants, the year 2025 is a time of uncertainty and turbulence, not stability, reflecting slow economic growth, geopolitical tensions, and changes in policies.
In the U.S., consumer attitudes are influenced by high inflation, as prices are generally higher, pinching budgets. Nonylphenol prices declined for a fourth consecutive month in November 2025, as a weak dollar and poor fundamentals influenced prices. The U.S. dollar touched levels around 98.20 as markets expected further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, with a probability of over 58% that two or more rate cuts would happen by 2026.
President Donald Trump’s call for additional monetary loosening further influenced the dovish sentiments in the market, pushing the dollar even lower. This is because the soft dollar makes imports cheaper, thus putting additional pressure on the domestic values of nonylphenol, which were already being suppressed by the decrease in the sales of consumer products. This means that the price of nonylphenol will remain suppressed.
The dynamics of trade also brought down prices. The 2025 tariffs significantly altered supply chains in the U.S., with a 4.4% and 2% decline in import and export volumes, respectively. The market for specialty chemicals, which encompasses nonylphenol, is quite import-reliant, and a major chunk comes from Europe and Canada. To evade tariffs, there was initial-year stocking, resulting in holding patterns that lessened spot market demand. The impending Supreme Court decision regarding mutual tariffs further clouds the future of chemical trade as we enter 2026.
The energy sector was no haven either. December started with a decline in American crude stocks, though gas and distillates were up significantly, indicating erratic demand. For nonylphenol manufacturers, stable feedstock prices were certainly not an advantage, with overproduction continuing.
As per ChemAnalyst, starting the month of December, the price of nonylphenol in the US market will continue to experience pressure. Demand is low, with the downstream market restricting their purchasing to their needs. Supply levels are constant, with adequate inventory.
