For the Quarter Ending December 2025
North America
• In North America, the Butyraldehyde Price Index softened during Q4 2025, reflecting subdued downstream demand and ample regional supply.
• The Butyraldehyde Spot Price remained under pressure as cautious buying and sufficient producer availability limited any upward momentum.
• The Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend eased as feedstock propylene and crude weakness reduced raw material expenses, capping price support.
• The Butyraldehyde Demand Outlook remained subdued, weighed down by construction contraction and conservative procurement across downstream sectors.
• Weak demand from key derivative chains such as plasticizers, and coatings limited volume pull-through.
• Producers maintained steady operating rates, keeping supply balanced and the Price Index biased toward the downside.
• The Butyraldehyde Forecast indicates limited near-term recovery, with downstream restocking unlikely until clearer demand signals emerge.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in December 2025 in North America?
• Softer propylene feedstock and crude prices reduced production costs, weakening cost-based price support for Butyraldehyde.
• Subdued downstream demand from construction-linked plasticizers and coatings limited spot buying interest.
• Energy and utility cost pressures constrained producer margins but were insufficient to offset weak demand, keeping the Price Index under pressure.
APAC
• In India, the Butyraldehyde Price Index fell by 11.37% quarter-over-quarter, driven by weak demand domestically.
• The average Butyraldehyde price for the quarter was approximately USD 1366.75/MT, reflecting subdued market conditions.
• Butyraldehyde Spot Price remained pressured by ample inventories and competitive Chinese offers, limiting upward adjustments.
• The Butyraldehyde Price Forecast expects mild volatility with end year destocking followed by seasonal restocking.
• Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend eased as propylene softened in exporters, enabling lower landed import pricing.
• Butyraldehyde Demand Outlook remained muted with hand to mouth purchasing from coatings and plasticizers buyers.
• Higher intra Asia freight marginally lifted landed costs but the Butyraldehyde Price Index remained neutral.
• Planned maintenance at select PDH units intermittently tightened supply, supporting spot offers and price support.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in December 2025 in APAC?
• Oversupply from expanded Asian capacity and consistent imports maintained pressure, preventing any meaningful price recovery.
• Weaker feedstock propylene and lower crude reduced production costs, enabling competitive export offers to India.
• Elevated domestic inventories, cautious downstream procurement and logistical freight pressures combined to mute upside momentum.
Europe
• In Germany, the Butyraldehyde Price Index fell by 7.79% quarter-over-quarter, pressured by weak downstream demand.
• The average Butyraldehyde price for the quarter was approximately USD 1321.67/MT, reported across FOB Hamburg assessments.
• Butyraldehyde Spot Price weakened amid elevated inventories and muted buying, prompting sellers to offer discounts.
• Butyraldehyde Price Forecast shows sequential declines early in the year, constrained by weak global demand.
• Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend eased with lower propylene and crude, while high energy costs constrained margins.
• Butyraldehyde Demand Outlook remains subdued due to construction contraction and cautious downstream procurement across Europe.
• Butyraldehyde Price Index volatility persists as port congestion and weak exports amplify inventory-driven downward pressure.
• Large European producers operated steadily, prioritizing cost control while inventories accumulated, limiting upward price momentum.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in December 2025 in Europe?
• Steady production with weak export demand caused inventory buildup, undermining pricing power and prompting discounts.
• Propylene and crude weakness reduced production costs, but energy and utility expenses continued to constrain competitiveness.
• Port congestion and year-end seasonal slowdowns delayed shipments, amplifying on-site stocks and depressing market activity.
For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• In the USA, the Butyraldehyde Price Index declined quarter-over-quarter, due to soft demand and inventory buildup.
• Butyraldehyde Spot Price eased amid ample regional propylene feedstock and high stock levels, squeezing seller margins.
• Butyraldehyde Price Forecast suggests mild monthly fluctuations, with spot transactions leading and offers remaining cautious.
• Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend faced minimal upward pressure as steady propylene availability lowered manufacturing costs.
• Butyraldehyde Demand Outlook stayed subdued, with construction and coatings sectors quiet, slowing restocking and prompting inventory reduction.
• Consistent high run rates at regional units-maintained feedstock supply, supporting stable output and capping price recovery.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in September 2025 in the North America?
• Sluggish downstream demand from construction and coatings reduced consumption, lowering order intake and driving supplier destocking.
• Soft propylene feedstock and muted crude trends decreased production costs, eliminating support for higher regional butyraldehyde prices.
APAC
• In India, the Butyraldehyde Price Index fell by 15.98% quarter-over-quarter, driven by persistent oversupply and weak demand.
• The average Butyraldehyde price for the quarter was approximately INR 136829/MT, per compiled transactional data.
• Butyraldehyde Spot Price weakened due to aggressive Chinese offers, high distributor inventories, and limited restocking by buyers.
• Butyraldehyde Price Forecast expects modest near-term declines before seasonal restocking, with volatility tied to feedstock shifts.
• Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend remained weak as propylene feedstock prices stayed low, limiting upstream price support.
• Butyraldehyde Demand Outlook is subdued with plasticizer, PVC, and coatings sectors operating at reduced rate during monsoon.
• Butyraldehyde Price Index volatility was intensified by competitive exports and logistics noise despite falling intra-Asia freight rates.
• Major regional producers maintained operations, but merchant destocking and cautious procurement capped any meaningful spot price recovery.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in September 2025 in APAC?
• Elevated imports and prior restocking left high inventory levels, suppressing buying interest and downward price pressure.
• Weak propylene feedstock support and softer crude reduced cost pressures, keeping export offers competitive and domestic prices subdued.
• Monsoon-related demand weakness and logistical disruptions constrained coatings and construction procurement, delaying significant restocking activity.
Europe
• In Germany, the Butyraldehyde Price Index fell by 17.15% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting weak demand, inventory accumulation.
• The average Butyraldehyde price for the quarter was approximately USD 1433.33/MT across FOB Hamburg trades.
• Butyraldehyde Spot Price weakened amid abundant regional feedstock propylene and elevated inventories, compressing seller margins.
• Butyraldehyde Price Forecast points to modest monthly oscillations, with spot-led deals dominating and cautious offers.
• Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend showed limited upward pressure as stable propylene supply reduced production costs.
• Butyraldehyde Demand Outlook remains weak with construction and coatings sectors subdued, limiting replenishment and destocking.
• Butyraldehyde Price Index volatility increased due to port congestion and export disruption, pressuring regional competitiveness.
• High operating rates at regional PDH plants ensured feedstock availability, keeping production steady, limiting rebounds.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Weak downstream demand from construction and coatings depressed consumption, reducing order volumes, encouraging destocking across suppliers.
• Soft feedstock propylene and subdued crude trends lowered production costs, removing upward price support for regional butyraldehyde.
• Port congestion and export disruption limited outbound shipments, accumulated onsite inventory, and constrained spot market transactional activity.
For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• Butyraldehyde prices in April 2025 declined as weak downstream demand from coatings and plasticizers, tied to a sluggish construction sector and soft builder sentiment, outweighed moderate automotive-linked usage. Low feedstock propylene values—pressured by global crude oversupply—reduced production costs, further limiting price support.
• In May, prices continued easing with construction activity remaining subdued as elevated borrowing costs discouraged new housing starts. Downstream consumption stayed muted, and most distributors prioritized drawing down inventories. Soft feedstock propylene values persisted, reducing upstream costs and putting additional downward pressure on offers.
• June saw prices edge higher as a surge in feedstock propylene prices, driven by firmer energy markets and tighter availability, lifted production costs. While automotive-linked offtake remained steady, construction-related demand stayed soft due to restrained project launches and high financing costs, capping the market’s recovery momentum.
• Throughout this period, market sentiment stayed subdued, with traders and buyers maintaining short-term procurement strategies while monitoring slow-moving demand trends.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in July 2025 in North America?
• In July, the Butyraldehyde Price Index in North America declined as softer feedstock costs and weak construction-linked demand, pressured by high interest rates and slowing housing activity, weighed on market sentiment.
• The Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend eased, with lower upstream input prices allowing producers to issue more competitive offers amid sluggish offtakes.
• Persistent weakness in construction and subdued downstream plasticizer demand kept spot activity light, reinforcing the downward trend in prices.
Asia
• Butyraldehyde prices in April 2025 rose as higher freight costs and congestion at Chinese ports pushed landed costs upward, even as upstream propylene stayed weak. Construction-linked demand lagged, but automotive coatings and plasticizer usage offered moderate stability.
• In May, prices climbed further as shipment delays and container shortages from Ningbo and Qingdao tightened supply. Seasonal construction deceleration from monsoon rains and labor migration capped downstream offtake, though steady automotive production and packaging sectors lent some demand support.
• By June, prices declined sharply as earlier restocking left Indian inventories bloated while imports from China stayed strong. Weak propylene costs, full PDH plant operations, and heavy export offers from Chinese producers weighed on pricing despite firmer freight rates.
• Market sentiment stayed bearish entering July, with subdued demand from coatings and plasticizers, minimal forward bookings, and traders relying on existing stocks as construction and industrial consumption remained soft.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in July 2025 in Asia?
• In July, the Butyraldehyde Price Index in Asia declined as monsoon-driven construction slowdowns curbed infrastructure-linked consumption while inventories across distribution hubs remained elevated.
• The Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend stayed steady, but weak end-user demand limited spot activity, prompting sellers to adjust offers downward to maintain liquidity.
• The Butyraldehyde Price Forecast for August signals continued under downward pressure, as persistent inventory overhang and subdued buying interest are expected to keep trade volumes muted.
Europe
• Butyraldehyde prices increased in April 2025 as tight inventories and persistently high energy costs supported the market despite soft downstream demand. Producers ran at reduced rates, focusing on balancing output with weak coatings and plasticizer consumption, while port congestion at Hamburg added further strain to trade flows.
• In May, prices edged higher again, supported by sustained logistical delays, tight stock, and marginal demand improvement from the automotive sector. Passenger car sales rose modestly, aiding plasticizer and coatings consumption, but construction-linked demand across residential and commercial segments remained subdued, curbing any broader recovery.
• By June, prices dropped sharply as downstream demand faltered, and inventories accumulated amid extended port congestion and weak export activity. With steady feedstock availability and low operating costs, sellers faced pressure to clear excess volumes despite margin concerns.
• Market sentiment turned bearish heading into summer, with coatings and plasticizer demand stagnant, construction still in decline, and buyers restricting procurement to short-term spot needs.
Why did the price of Butyraldehyde change in July 2025 in Europe?
• In July, the Butyraldehyde Price Index in Europe declined as persistent inventory pressure and subdued downstream demand outweighed stable feedstock costs.
• The Butyraldehyde Production Cost Trend stayed steady, but export movement remained constrained by ongoing congestion at Hamburg, amplifying stock accumulation across distributors.
• The Butyraldehyde Price Forecast for August points to continued softness, as coatings and plasticizer demand is expected to remain weak with no immediate recovery in the Eurozone construction sector.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
Throughout Q1 2025, the butyraldehyde market in North America followed a mixed trajectory, shaped largely by fluctuating feedstock propylene prices and variable downstream activity. In January, prices rose amid supply-side constraints and storm-related shutdowns, including plant outages and port disruptions, which tightened regional propylene availability. Despite subdued demand from coatings and adhesives, strong cost push from propylene supported the upward momentum.
February saw continued firmness early on, with force majeures at several U.S. propylene plants briefly restricting availability. However, as production normalized and downstream demand remained soft, prices began easing toward the end of the month.
By March, butyraldehyde prices declined further as propylene values dropped due to increased inventories and weak offtake from the polypropylene sector. The slowdown in U.S. construction and industrial packaging demand further curbed consumption. With ample domestic butyraldehyde supply and buyers maintaining cautious, need-based procurement strategies, the market settled into a cost-driven but oversupplied environment. The overall sentiment remained bearish, with production aligned with a low downstream pull and subdued trading activity prevailing throughout the quarter.
APAC
Throughout Q1 2025, the butyraldehyde market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region followed a mixed trend, shaped by fluctuating upstream dynamics and cautious downstream demand. In January, prices edged upward, supported by pre-Lunar New Year stocking activity and increased import volumes into India. While automotive sector demand provided limited support, overall consumption across coatings, adhesives, and plasticizers remained moderate, constrained by oversupply and cautious procurement. February sustained the upward trend, with tight inventories in key exporting nations driving modest price gains. Improved industrial output and policy-driven optimism in real estate and infrastructure sectors lent further stability. However, in March, butyraldehyde prices reversed course amid weaker cost support from feedstock propylene and subdued regional demand. Competitive offers from exporting countries such as China pressured import values, while sufficient inventory levels in India kept domestic markets well supplied. Despite minor disruptions at Qingdao Port, local availability remained unaffected. Demand stayed muted across construction-linked sectors, with only modest support from automotive applications, leading to subdued trading sentiment and softening prices.
Europe
Throughout Q1 2025, the butyraldehyde market in Europe saw consistent price increases, primarily supported by high feedstock costs and energy-driven production challenges, despite persistently weak demand. In January, prices edged up amid rising raw material and utility expenses, with producers like QC chemical announcing global price hikes. However, muted consumption from downstream industries such as coatings, adhesives, and plasticizers, combined with subdued construction activity, limited overall market momentum. February maintained this upward trend as tight inventory conditions and continued cost pressures outweighed sluggish industrial demand. Germany’s chemical producers operated cautiously, managing output in response to reduced industrial orders and weakening eurozone manufacturing. By March, prices climbed again, driven by constrained propylene availability due to refinery outages and scheduled maintenance, though downstream demand failed to rebound meaningfully. Construction-related sectors remained under pressure, with housing and commercial activity contracting further. Additionally, new U.S. tariffs on EU chemical imports and persistent port congestion at Hamburg complicated export operations, amplifying logistical challenges. Overall, the European butyraldehyde market remained cost-driven, with sluggish end-use demand and trade uncertainty capping upside potential.
