For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
During the first quarter of 2022, the price of 2-Ethylhexanol surged from USD 2170/ton FOB Texas in January 2022 to USD 2250/ton FOB Texas towards the end of the quarter due to strong demand from downstream throughout the quarter, where paints and coating sector flourished contributing to the US economy. Production levels for all oxo alcohols have been ticking upwards, which has normalized the supply fundamentals. The price was stable in Q1 2022 as compared to Q4 of 2021 with a minute declination of 0.3%. Surging export assistance in US and resolutely high shipping and freight charges make the imports implausible to substitute for domestic production. The downstream construction sector remained robust in this quarter which has been the critical factor in increasing prices.
Asia Pacific
In Asia, the price of 2-Ethylhexanol saw a descending trend in China by the quarter ending March 2022. The price slipped to USD 2030/ton Ex Shandong with a decrement of 1% was observed in Q1 as compared to last quarter due to rising pandemic-related restrictions in the country, influenced by China’s zero-tolerance policy. However, in India, the prices for oxo alcohols towards the start of the quarter were observed to be USD 1751.25/ton Ex Mumbai and observed to be surging for the entire quarter. Prices spiked up in February with a monthly increment of 21.8%. The market fundamentals remained persistent for oxo alcohols in Asian markets because of high demand from the downstream sector, including paints and coating, agricultural products, adhesives, and sealants.
Europe
The price of 2-Ethylhexanol in Q1 2022 saw an upward trajectory due to marginally stable offtakes from the domestic market amid rising input costs which were observed to be around USD 2835/ton in the beginning of the quarter. A price change of 6.2% was seen in Germany in the first quarter of 2022, comparable with Q4 of 2021. Across Europe, rising energy costs remained a major issue for producers due to Russia-Ukraine conflict, as their significant production cost grew exponentially, which compelled them to raise their offers. It was putting inflationary pressure on manufacturers and pressured them to revise their spot offers to sustain margin. Contrary to other regions, 2-EH prices rose effectively in the German market and heard hovering around USD 2920/ton – USD 3030/ton FOB Hamburg by the end of this quarter.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
North American Oxo Alcohol prices witnessed a consistent dullness throughout the final quarter of this year. However, demand fundamentals remained stable to firm in the meantime, taking pressure from high consumption rate from domestic market. Furthermore, plasticizer, which is key driving sector of 2-Ethyl Hexanol showcased bearish sentiments, which also influenced this sharp decline. In addition, previous unforeseen natural events like freezing weather shot up prices of several raw materials including 2-EH in the country, which is now gaining stability. 2- Ethyl Hexanol prices heard hovering around USD 2150/MT FOB during December.
Asia
Dual energy policy-based restrictions forced major plasticizers manufacturers in China to practice production cuts in order to control country’s overall emission. These restrictions were eventually led to a steep decline in production of downstream derivatives despite of stable demand from the domestic market. Indian market witnessed a steep hike in demand for Plasticizers under festivities arrived during November, while limited imports pushed up the price trend of several upstream chemicals including oxo alcohols and its derivatives. Overall demand for DOP and DBP dragged down in China while remained buoyant across other major Asian economies during Q1 2021. 2-EH prices heard hovering around USD 1503/MT CFR during December.
Europe
Marginally stable offtakes from the domestic market amid rising input cost pushed up prices of several commodities in Europe including 2-Ethyl Hexanol. Plasticizer segment remained buoyant during the first half of this quarter, which later declined in effect of declining construction sector. All across Europe, rising energy cost remained a major issue for producers, as their production cost were rising exponentially, which compelled them raise their offers. Conclusively, contrary to other regions, 2-EH prices rose effectively across European market and heard hovering around USD 2770/MT FOB in Germany during December.
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
In the third quarter of 2021, the North American region witnessed high demand for 2-Ethylhexanol propelled by the rising demand from various end-users after the climate calamities disrupted Q1 and Q2 dynamics. In the USA, the chemical sector ramped up their M&A activities in Q3. The prices of 2-EH remained stable to firm from in July due to high raw material pricing and substantially increasing demand from the plasticizer manufacturers. The demand for oxo-alcohols bolstered in North America in Q3 owing to the surging demand for chemicals and solvents across the automotive, paint & coatings, and manufacturing industries. FOB Texas discussions settled at USD 2430 per tonne in September.
Asia Pacific
The market price of 2-EH in the Asia Pacific region witnessed an exponential hike from July to September as many manufacturing units increased their production owing to the surged demand and persistent supply shortage since Q1 and Q2. According to the market experts, 2-Ethylhexanol prices increased by more than 11% within 2 weeks in July. The offers related to 2-EH have risen up to USD 2430 per tonne in China. The lockdown in Indonesia from 3rd to 20th July affected the production of 2 EH at some production facilities including one at Jawa and Bali. Despite the uncertainties caused by the second wave of COVID-19 in India, the prices of 2-Ethyl hexanol stabilized in September due to the presence of ample stocks. In India, the price trend observed a gradual increment as the Ex-Mumbai prices increased from USD 2283 to USD 2457 per MT from July to September. The demand outlook in the China was driven by the increased demand for Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) film plasticizers from the downstream automotive industry.
Europe
During Q3 2021, the demand outlook of 2-Ethylhexanol in the European region was driven by the increased oxo-alcohol demand from paints and coatings sector due to stringent regulations to reduce the C02 emissions caused by light and heavy-duty vehicles. 2-EH market witnessed a major uptrend in the third quarter, due to outstanding offtakes from the downstream sectors including automotive, paints and coatings, etc. By September, demand-side picked up due to strong pull from the construction sector.
For the Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Supplies of 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) in the North American region improved over the previous quarter after the winter storm Uri disrupted Q1 dynamics. Refinery operating rates were ramped up and the production of oxo-alcohols was bolstered as the several regional facilities resumed production to normalize the supply fundamentals. Due to backlog of orders, OQ chemicals surged the prices of 2-Ethylhexanol by USD 665 per MT at the starting of the quarter. Due to the traditional demand season and pick up in the construction activities, offtakes from the paints and coatings sector showed substantial gains. Pricing trend stabilized after observing m-o-m increment of 33.34% in April. FOB Texas discussions settled at USD 2880 per tonne in June.
Asia Pacific
During the second quarter of 2021, oxo-alcohol supply conditions in the Asia Pacific region improved as several major manufacturing plants ramped up production to cope with the recovering demand and persistent supply shortage since the first half of Q1. However, the market outlook in India remained severely impacted due to the devastating second wave of COVID, as the construction activities in several states were halted and offtakes were restricted by the automotive and plasticizers industry. Indian producers reported strong margins due to slackening import volumes. Pricing trend in India observed a gradual increment in June after observing the constant decline in the second quarter with Ex-Works Mumbai discussions settling at USD 1956 per tonne in June. The demand outlook in China was primarily driven by strengthening constructional activities with economic rebound.
Europe
During Q2 2021, 2-EH supplies in the European region were improved as the region’s largest oxo-alcohol producer Oxea resumed operation at Oberhausen (Germany) plant after temporary closure due to fire breakout. As a ripple effect, the prices of 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) prices dropped by USD 24 per tonne to USD 1140 per tonne FD NWE at the starting of the quarter. The demand outlook in the European region showed mixed sentiments as during the start of the quarter, commercial activities were limited due to the pandemic situation. However, with the mass vaccine programme, market sentiments gained pace with the rebound in the construction sector.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
During the first quarter of 2021, 2-EH supplies were tight in the North American region as various manufacturers in mid-February announced force majeures, due to unprecedented severe freeze weather conditions in Texas and nearby US Gulf region. The demand however stood balanced as consumption from the downstream plasticizer sector was tepid. Prices of almost all oxo-alcohols took a big hit during the quarter due to supply crunch. OQ chemicals surged the prices of 2-Ethyl Hexanol in March by USD 630/ton against the limited availability of feedstock.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
2-Ethyl Hexanol supplies were tight in the Asia Pacific region, during Q1 2021, due to persistent market tightness due to plant turnarounds heard in China. The global supply shortage and reduction in Propylene supplies dented the supply dynamics. Demand witnessed mixed results in Q1 2021 as offtakes from the downstream Plasticizers sector were balanced. The prices of 2-Ethyl Hexanol in the southeast Asian market in March remained around USD 2090/MT. In March, Ex-factory prices in India gained by over 30% growth on month-on-month basis taking strong cues from the international markets. Even higher crude oil lent strong support to the price curve.
Europe
2-EH supplies were tight in the first quarter of 2021, as several plants were shut down and reduced production rates in the northwest European region amid cold weather. US oxo-alcohol supplies to the region declined by 50% as the bad weather-related disruptions hit the gulf coast. However, demand witnessed a marked uptrend in the first quarter, due to better offtakes from the downstream sectors. As the supply-demand gap widened, there was an abrupt surge in the prices of 2-Ethyl Hexanol during the first quarter.
For the Quarter Ending September 2020
Asia
The Asian 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) market moved steadily in Q3 2020 as economies took a road to recovery from the pandemic blows. China and most of the Southeast Asian countries reported a strong price increase buoyed by hike in the feedstock Propylene Oxide as they entered the September month. Chinese players registered incredible gains in the downstream plasticizers demand. However, Chinese 2-EH players are expecting restricted supplies in the October month and further price rise due to scheduled plant turnarounds
North America
The third quarter showed mixed results in the North American 2-EH market while the players continued to navigate the impact of double whammy due to COVID-19 and Hurricane Laura across major economies. Outlook remained pressured owing to hurt sentiments in the United States while major players like Eastman announced price increase for the 2-EH amid an increase in the upstream Propylene values. Regional demand for the plasticizers picked up from the downstream construction and automobile-manufacturing sectors making 2-EH manufacturers go along with the crests and trough on the path of recovery.
Europe
2-EH availability seemed better in Q3 2020 after planned and unplanned production outages in the region in the previous quarter. However, impacted derivative markets are yet to respond to the good news. The European 2-EH players reported better exports, thereby limiting the local availability. Demand outlook is projected to remain quite healthy for the October month from the paints and coatings sector, as well as from the fuel additives as players stand cautious amid uneven economic situation due to rising coronavirus cases.
