For the Quarter Ending March 2026
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in North America
- In United States, the Carbon Black Feestock Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by surging refinery-derived feedstock costs.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Production Cost Trend increased in March 2026 as producer prices rose 4.0 percent.
- Consumer prices grew 3.3 percent in March 2026, correlating with strengthened crude oil prices impacting feedstock.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Demand Outlook strengthened in March 2026, supported by a 4.0 percent retail sales increase.
- A 4.3 percent unemployment rate and 91.8 consumer confidence index in March 2026 maintained baseline automotive maintenance.
- Industrial production grew 0.7 percent and the Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, driving industrial rubber consumption.
- Tire manufacturing activity expanded in February 2026, while United States vehicle sales strengthened in March 2026.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Price Forecast remained elevated in Q1 2026 due to tightened distillate fuel oil inventories.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feestock change in March 2026 in North America?
- Coal tar and FCC slurry oil input costs surged in Q1 2026, adding production pressure.
- Crude oil prices strengthened in March 2026, driven by global supply tightness and production disruptions.
- United States refinery utilization weakened in March 2026, limiting the availability of refinery-derived feedstock materials.
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in APAC
- In China, the Carbon Black Feestock Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by escalating upstream energy costs.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Production Cost Trend increased during March 2026 as the PPI rose 0.5% year-over-year.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Demand Outlook strengthened in March 2026, supported by a 5.7% year-over-year industrial production increase.
- During March 2026, retail sales grew 1.7% and CPI rose 1.0%, reflecting modest consumer spending on replacement tires.
- In March 2026, a 5.4% unemployment rate and February 2026 consumer confidence of 91.6 limited domestic vehicle purchases.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, driving higher production of industrial rubber goods requiring carbon black reinforcement.
- Chinese passenger car tire export volumes expanded in Q1 2026, sustaining high domestic consumption of carbon black feedstocks.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Price Forecast remained elevated in Q1 2026 because domestic coal tar inventories stayed constrained.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feestock change in March 2026 in APAC?
- Petroleum-derived carbon black oil feedstock costs surged in Q1 2026 alongside global crude oil benchmarks.
- Domestic coking coal availability remained restricted in Q1 2026, elevating baseline extraction energy costs significantly.
- Regional supply availability tightened in Q1 2026 as Middle East conflicts disrupted competing global shipments.
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Carbon Black Feestock Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by surging production costs.
- In March 2026, inflation reached 2.7%, increasing Carbon Black Feestock refining costs, while producer prices declined 0.2%.
- During February 2026, stagnant industrial production at 0.0% and modest 0.7% retail sales growth influenced Carbon Black Feestock consumption.
- In February 2026, unemployment remained at 4.2%, but deeply negative consumer confidence at -24.7 in March 2026 impacted automotive demand.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, supporting the Carbon Black Feestock Demand Outlook for tire manufacturing applications.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Production Cost Trend surged in Q1 2026 due to geopolitical disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Regional availability tightened in Q1 2026, prompting strategic inventory building by downstream rubber compounders during March 2026.
- The Carbon Black Feestock Price Forecast reflected upward pressure in Q1 2026 as high transportation costs impacted European markets.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feestock change in March 2026 in Europe?
- Coal tar and oil-based feedstock costs surged significantly in Q1 2026, elevating regional production expenses.
- Demand from the tire manufacturing and automotive rubber component sectors strengthened considerably during March 2026.
- High transportation costs from primary sourcing regions added upward pressure on markets in March 2026.
For the Quarter Ending December 2025
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in North America
- In the United States, Carbon Black Feedstock prices rose in Q4 2025, influenced by rising input costs and robust industrial activity.
- Carbon Black Feedstock production costs increased, driven by a 3.0% year-over-year PPI rise in November 2025.
- Demand for Carbon Black Feedstock strengthened, supported by a 2.0% year-over-year industrial production increase in December 2025.
- Demand outlook was positive, as retail sales grew 3.3% year-over-year in November 2025, boosting consumption.
- Consumer confidence at 89.1 in December 2025 supported moderate purchasing of goods utilizing Carbon Black Feedstock.
- US crude inventories declined in the week ending December 5, 2025, tightening feedstock availability for Carbon Black Feedstock.
- Global oil supply reduced in November 2025 due to outages, impacting Carbon Black Feedstock markets.
- The Carbon Black Feedstock Price Index reflected upward pressure from a 2.7% year-over-year CPI increase in December 2025.
- The assessed price of Carbon Black Feedstock for Q4 was 354 USD/MT.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feedstock change in December 2025 in North America?
- Rising input costs, with PPI up 3.0% year-over-year in November 2025, elevated production expenses.
- Increased industrial production, up 2.0% year-over-year in December 2025, boosted Carbon Black Feedstock demand.
- Declining US crude inventories in the week ending December 5, 2025, tightened feedstock supply.
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in APAC
- In China, the Carbon Black Feedstock Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025, influenced by easing crude oil prices in November 2025.
- Carbon Black Feedstock production costs declined in Q4 2025, as crude oil prices eased marginally in November 2025.
- Demand for Carbon Black Feedstock strengthened in December 2025, driven by 5.2% industrial production growth year-over-year.
- China's Manufacturing Index expanded in December 2025, indicating growth in the industrial sector supporting feedstock demand.
- Automotive production and sales strengthened significantly in 2025, boosting demand for Carbon Black Feedstock in tire manufacturing.
- China's Carbon exports increased from October to November 2025, while imports decreased during the same period.
- Weak inflationary pressure (CPI 0.8% YoY) and subdued consumer spending (retail sales 0.9% YoY) in December 2025 impacted demand.
- Deflationary pressure (PPI -1.9% YoY) in December 2025 and a 5.1% unemployment rate affected industrial pricing and consumer confidence.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feedstock change in December 2025 in APAC?
- Crude oil prices eased marginally in November 2025, reducing Carbon Black Feedstock production costs.
- China's Carbon exports increased from October to November 2025, while imports decreased, impacting domestic supply.
- Weak consumer demand, indicated by 0.8% CPI year-over-year in December 2025, influenced downstream product demand.
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Carbon Black Feestock Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025, driven by weakened industrial demand.
- Carbon Black Feestock production costs declined in Q4 2025, influenced by weakened Brent crude prices during the period.
- Demand outlook for Carbon Black Feestock was challenged by a contracting Manufacturing Index in December 2025.
- Industrial production in October 2025 increased modestly by 0.8% year-on-year, providing slight demand support.
- Consumer confidence remained significantly pessimistic at -17.5 in December 2025, impacting end-use applications.
- The Producer Price Index declined 2.5% year-on-year in December 2025, reflecting broader industrial price deflation.
- Automotive demand strengthened in November 2025, offering some positive signals for Carbon Black Feestock consumption.
- The unemployment rate stood at 6.2% in December 2025, indicating labor market weakness affecting consumer spending.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feestock change in December 2025 in Europe?
- Weakened Brent crude prices in Q4 2025 reduced heavy petroleum feedstock costs for Carbon Black Feestock production.
- A contracting Manufacturing Index in December 2025 signaled reduced industrial demand for Carbon Black Feestock.
- The Producer Price Index declined 2.5% year-on-year in December 2025, reflecting broader industrial price deflation.
For the Quarter Ending September 2025
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in North America
- In United States, Carbon Black Feestock prices fell in Q3 2025, due to accumulated inventories and import competition.
- Carbon Black Feestock production costs were mixed; crude oil softened, but producer input costs rose 2.6% in August 2025.
- Carbon Black Feestock demand was mixed; automotive sales strengthened, but downstream demand remained sluggish in Q3.
- Industrial production increased 0.1% in September 2025, limiting raw material demand due to near-stagnant activity.
- Consumer confidence declined to 94.2 in September 2025, indicating weakening optimism and reduced durable goods spending.
- Retail sales, excluding auto and gas, rose 5.42% in September 2025, supporting consumer goods demand.
- Carbon Black Feestock inventories accumulated in Q3 2025, increasing downward price pressure from intensified import competition.
- The forecast suggests continued price stability with downward pressure, driven by high inventories and softening feedstock costs.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feestock change in September 2025 in North America?
- Crude oil feedstock costs softened in Q3 2025, easing Carbon Black Feestock production costs.
- Industrial production rose 0.1% in September 2025, indicating weak manufacturing demand.
- Carbon black inventories accumulated in Q3 2025, intensifying low-cost import competition.
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Carbon Black Feedstock Price Index fell in Q3 2025, influenced by contracting industrial activity.
- The Carbon Black Feedstock price forecast indicates continued pressure from subdued downstream demand and inventory buildups.
- Carbon Black Feedstock production costs faced upward pressure from energy costs in Q3 2025, despite lower producer prices.
- Demand for Carbon Black Feedstock was dampened by a 1.0% decline in industrial production in September 2025.
- Automotive demand for Carbon Black Feedstock rebounded sharply in September 2025, offering positive momentum.
- Feedstock oil costs experienced volatility in Q3 2025, with global crude oil markets showing a surplus.
- European Carbon Black Feedstock import patterns shifted, increasing sourcing from Asia after the Russian material ban.
- Industry inventories for Carbon Black Feedstock built up by Q3 2025, reflecting weak downstream demand.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feedstock change in September 2025 in Europe?
- Industrial production declined 1.0% in September 2025, reducing overall demand for Carbon Black Feedstock.
- Producer prices fell 1.7% in September 2025, driven by lower energy costs, easing production expenses.
- Industry inventories built up by Q3 2025 due to subdued downstream demand, impacting pricing.
Carbon Black Feestock Prices in APAC
- In China, the Carbon Black Feedstock Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter, driven by weakening crude oil prices and contracting manufacturing activity.
- Carbon Black Feedstock production costs trended lower due to crude oil prices generally weakening through Q3 2025.
- Global oil inventories continued to build in Q3 2025, exerting downward pressure on feedstock costs.
- Demand for Carbon Black Feedstock faced headwinds from a contracting Manufacturing Index in September 2025.
- China's industrial production increased by 6.5% year-on-year in September 2025, offering some demand support.
- Consumer confidence at 89.6 in September 2025 indicated pessimism, indirectly dampening demand for carbon black end-products.
- Worldwide carbon black market inventories swelled in July, indicating an oversupply and pressuring prices.
- Automotive demand strengthened in Q3 2025, with new energy vehicle production surging, partially offsetting other demand weaknesses.
- China's CPI declined by 0.3% year-on-year in September 2025, reflecting weak consumer demand for finished goods.
- China's PPI declined by 2.3% year-on-year in September 2025, indicating weak industrial demand and lower input costs.
Why did the price of Carbon Black Feedstock change in September 2025 in APAC?
- Crude oil prices generally weakened through Q3 2025, reducing Carbon Black Feedstock production costs.
- China's Manufacturing Index was contracting in September 2025, signaling reduced industrial demand for feedstock.
- Global observed oil stocks surged in September 2025, contributing to an oversupply environment for feedstock.
