For the Quarter Ending March 2026
Anthraquinone Prices in North America
- In United States, the Anthraquinone Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by elevated petrochemical feedstock costs.
- The Anthraquinone Production Cost Trend increased significantly in March 2026 as producer prices rose 4.0 percent year-over-year.
- Consumer prices increased 3.3 percent in March 2026, directly reflecting upstream energy cost spikes during Q1 2026.
- Retail sales grew 4.0 percent in March 2026, strongly supporting the Anthraquinone Demand Outlook for packaging materials.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded and industrial production grew 0.7 percent in March 2026, stimulating industrial chemical consumption.
- Unemployment remained at 4.3 percent while consumer confidence reached 91.8 in March 2026, stabilizing baseline market consumption.
- Bleaching chemical consumption expanded across the pulp and paper sector during Q1 2026, driving robust downstream demand.
- The Anthraquinone Price Forecast indicated upward pressure as global shipping disruptions introduced significant logistics uncertainties in March 2026.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in March 2026 in North America?
- Upstream energy cost spikes intensified production cost pressures for the energy-intensive oxidation process in Q1 2026.
- Rising logistics and freight costs added upward pressure to overall chemical supply chain expenses in March 2026.
- Downstream demand for hydrogen peroxide expanded steadily across pulp and paper manufacturing sectors in Q1 2026.
Anthraquinone Prices in APAC
- In China, the Anthraquinone Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by surging upstream feedstock costs.
- The Anthraquinone Production Cost Trend pointed upward in March 2026 as the Producer Price Index rose 0.5 percent.
- The Anthraquinone Demand Outlook remained mixed in March 2026, despite the Consumer Price Index growing 1.0 percent.
- Industrial production expanded 5.7 percent and the Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, supporting Anthraquinone demand.
- Retail sales grew 1.7 percent and unemployment reached 5.4 percent in March 2026, limiting Anthraquinone consumption.
- Consumer confidence registered at 91.6 in February 2026, negatively impacting downstream consumption of Anthraquinone in textiles.
- Benzene feedstock costs surged throughout Q1 2026, which historically supported an elevated Anthraquinone Price Forecast during March.
- Regional petrochemical inventories tightened and Asian export availability decreased in March 2026 amid upstream supply disruptions.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in March 2026 in APAC?
- Benzene and phthalic anhydride feedstock costs surged in March 2026 due to Middle East conflicts.
- Asian orthoxylene supply tightened significantly in March 2026, directly elevating upstream chemical production cost pressures.
- Middle Eastern petrochemical import volumes faced logistical disruptions in March 2026, prompting forward cargo buying.
Anthraquinone Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Anthraquinone Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by surging energy costs.
- Consumer inflation reached 2.7% in March 2026, as surging industrial energy costs elevated Anthraquinone Production Cost Trend.
- Producer prices declined 0.2% in March 2026, while benzene feedstock costs for anthraquinone production weakened simultaneously.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, firming the Anthraquinone Demand Outlook across specialty chemical manufacturing sectors.
- Industrial production remained stagnant at 0.0% in February 2026, limiting anthraquinone consumption as a pulping catalyst.
- Retail sales grew 0.7% and unemployment stabilized at 4.2% in February 2026, supporting baseline anthraquinone demand.
- Consumer confidence dropped to -24.7 in March 2026, reducing anthraquinone demand for premium textile vat dyes.
- Recoverable anthracene feedstock volumes tightened significantly in Q1 2026, while European petrochemical supply chains experienced disruptions.
- The Anthraquinone Price Forecast indicated upward pressure in March 2026, as the Anthraquinone Price Index climbed.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in March 2026 in Europe?
- Brent crude oil and European industrial energy costs surged in March 2026, increasing production expenses.
- Middle East conflicts disrupted European petrochemical supply chains and spot market trade flows in March 2026.
- Downstream hydrogen peroxide consumption from the paper and textile sectors remained steady throughout Q1 2026.
For the Quarter Ending December 2025
Anthraquinone Prices in North America
- In United States, the Anthraquinone Price Index remained stable quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025, supported by firm aromatics markets.
- Anthraquinone production costs increased in Q4 2025, influenced by a 3.0% PPI rise year-over-year in November 2025.
- Downstream demand for phthalic anhydride remained structurally weak in Q4 2025, impacting Anthraquinone demand outlook.
- Industrial production expanded by 2.0% year-over-year in December 2025, offering some underlying support for Anthraquinone demand.
- Retail sales grew by 3.3% year-over-year in November 2025, indirectly boosting demand for Anthraquinone-related consumer goods.
- Manufacturing businesses cautiously built inventories in December 2025, reflecting a measured approach to supply management.
- Trade and tariff uncertainty created volatility in Q4 2025, impacting Anthraquinone trade flows and export orders.
- The 2.7% year-over-year CPI increase in December 2025 indicated general inflation, raising Anthraquinone raw material costs.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in December 2025 in North America?
- Rising input costs, with a 3.0% PPI increase in November 2025, supported Anthraquinone prices.
- Firm gasoline and aromatics markets late in 2025 provided cost support, preventing price weakening.
- Weak downstream phthalic anhydride demand in Q4 2025 exerted downward pressure on Anthraquinone prices.
Anthraquinone Prices in APAC
- In China, the Anthraquinone Price Index remained stable in Q4 2025, influenced by mixed macroeconomic signals.
- Anthraquinone production costs increased during Q4 2025, driven by rising raw material costs in December.
- Anthraquinone demand was mixed in Q4 2025, with manufacturing activity fluctuating through December.
- Weak consumer demand, with CPI up 0.8% year-over-year in December 2025, limited Anthraquinone demand.
- Deflationary pressures, a 1.9% PPI decline year-over-year in December 2025, created pricing pressure for Anthraquinone.
- Industrial production grew 5.2% year-over-year in December 2025, supporting Anthraquinone demand in industrial applications.
- China's Manufacturing Index expanded in December 2025, indicating increased new orders and production for industrial inputs.
- A persistent supply surplus in the domestic benzene market in Q4 2025 contributed to an overall aromatics market overhang.
- Anthraquinone feedstock costs rose, with raw material input cost inflation accelerating in December 2025.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in December 2025 in APAC?
- Raw material input costs accelerated in December 2025, increasing Anthraquinone production expenses.
- A persistent benzene supply surplus in Q4 2025 pressured Anthraquinone prices downward.
- Weak consumer demand, with 0.8% CPI growth in December 2025, limited Anthraquinone demand.
Anthraquinone Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Anthraquinone Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025, influenced by contracting industrial activity in December 2025.
- Anthraquinone production costs showed mixed trends in Q4 2025; benzene feedstock costs remained suppressed throughout 2025.
- Electricity prices surged in Germany in late 2025, increasing overall Anthraquinone production expenses during the quarter.
- Anthraquinone demand remained subdued in Q4 2025, with the German pulp and paper sector showing weak demand.
- Industrial production in Germany inched up by 0.8% in October 2025, offering slight support to Anthraquinone demand.
- Consumer confidence registered -17.5 in December 2025, indicating pessimism and dampening demand for end-products.
- Abundant benzene supply in Europe throughout 2025, exacerbated by tariffs, contributed to suppressed feedstock costs.
- The Anthraquinone Price Index is forecast to remain stable to declining, given persistent industrial contraction in December 2025.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in December 2025 in Europe?
- Contracting industrial activity in Germany during December 2025 reduced overall demand.
- Producer Price Index declined by 2.5% in December 2025, indicating lower input costs and pricing pressure.
- Subdued demand from the German pulp and paper sector in Q4 2025 impacted consumption.
For the Quarter Ending September 2025
Anthraquinone Price in North America
- In United States, the Anthraquinone Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, driven by persistent cost inflation.
- Anthraquinone production costs increased due to a 3.0% year-over-year CPI rise in September 2025, impacting raw materials.
- Producer costs for Anthraquinone rose, indicated by a 2.6% year-over-year PPI increase in August 2025, affecting input expenses.
- Anthraquinone demand outlook faced headwinds from a 0.1% year-over-year industrial production increase in September 2025.
- Robust retail sales, up 5.42% year-over-year in September 2025, offered some support for Anthraquinone in consumer applications.
- Weakening consumer confidence, declining to 94.2 in September 2025, suggested reduced discretionary spending, impacting Anthraquinone demand.
- US phthalic anhydride supply tightened in 2025 due to a major producer's exit, increasing Anthraquinone feedstock costs.
- U.S. natural gas prices experienced a year-over-year uptick in September 2025, contributing to higher energy costs for Anthraquinone.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in September 2025 in North America?
- Anthraquinone production costs rose due to a 3.0% CPI increase in September 2025, affecting raw materials.
- Tightened US phthalic anhydride supply in 2025, a key feedstock, increased Anthraquinone production expenses.
- A 2.6% PPI increase in August 2025 indicated rising producer costs, impacting Anthraquinone's selling price.
Anthraquinone Price in APAC
- In China, the Anthraquinone Price Index softened quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, influenced by declining factory gate prices.
- Anthraquinone production costs generally softened in Q3 2025, driven by weaker phthalic anhydride feedstock prices due to oversupply.
- Anthraquinone demand outlook faced headwinds from a contracting Manufacturing Index in September 2025, signaling reduced industrial activity.
- Despite industrial production expanding 6.5% year-on-year in September 2025, overall chemical demand growth slowed.
- Consumer confidence at 89.6 in September 2025 indicated pessimism, impacting discretionary spending and Anthraquinone dye applications.
- Retail sales grew 3.0% year-on-year in September 2025, providing some support for Anthraquinone demand in the textile sector.
- Ample hydrogen peroxide inventories and benzene accumulation in Q3 2025 contributed to easing market prices.
- China's chemical industry continued to experience structural overcapacity in Q3 2025, contributing to a bearish market environment.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in September 2025 in APAC?
- Declining Producer Price Index of -2.3% in September 2025 indicated weak industrial demand and oversupply.
- A contracting Manufacturing Index in September 2025 signaled reduced new orders and overall industrial activity.
- Softening phthalic anhydride feedstock costs in Q3 2025, coupled with ample supply, eased production expenses.
Anthraquinone Price in Europe
- In Germany, the Anthraquinone Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, driven by weak industrial activity.
- Anthraquinone production costs showed a falling trend in Q3 2025, influenced by a -1.7% PPI in September 2025.
- The Anthraquinone demand outlook remained weak due to a Contracting Manufacturing Index in Q3 2025.
- Low European benzene feedstock costs throughout Q3 2025 supported lower Anthraquinone production expenses.
- Industrial production declined by -1.0% year-over-year in September 2025, significantly reducing Anthraquinone consumption.
- European natural gas prices moderated in Q3 2025, softening the energy feedstock context for Anthraquinone.
- Consumer spending faced pressure from a 2.4% CPI year-over-year in September 2025, impacting end-use demand.
- Retail sales grew modestly by 0.2% year-over-year in September 2025, offering slight support for consumer applications.
- The unemployment rate stood at 6.3% in September 2025, reflecting a stable but not strong labor market.
- Stabilizing consumer confidence in Q3 2025 suggests potential future demand uptick for Anthraquinone derivatives.
Why did the price of Anthraquinone change in September 2025 in Europe?
- Weak industrial activity and a Contracting Manufacturing Index reduced Anthraquinone demand.
- Production costs eased from a -1.7% PPI in September 2025 and low European benzene feedstock.
- Industrial production declined -1.0% year-over-year in September 2025, suppressing Anthraquinone consumption.
