For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
In the first quarter of 2022, the prices of Dimethyl carbonate remained firm to increase in the North American market. The feedstock Methanol values increased in the domestic market during Q1, which increased the production cost of Di- Methyl Carbonate. The demand remained consistent from cleaning agent industries in Q1 2022. After the cop 26 Glassgow conference, the cleaner energy initiatives rose the demand for EV vehicles, which increased Di – Methyl carbonate demand in the US market. The values rose further in the second half of the quarter after inflation in Crude Oil prices, impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Asia Pacific
The price trend of Di-Methyl Carbonate fluctuated in the Asian market along with shifting feedstock Methanol values during the first quarter of 2022. The prices decreased in the Chinese market due to China’s zero covid policy, but demand from the Automotives sector was consistent. However, the values of Di-Methyl carbonate rose in the Indian market due to increased EV vehicles demand in the automotive sector, especially in the H2 of the first quarter. Disruption in the supply chain and inflation in crude oil prices impacted the raw material supplies and production cost of Di-Methyl Carbonate in the region more significantly.
Europe
The values increased in the European market amid the high demand for downstream EV vehicles, which elevated the demand for Di-Methyl Carbonate in these industries, impacting the prices during the first quarter of 2022. High energy values throughout the quarter impacted the production rates in the region. However, feedstock Methanol prices were stable in the market. Due to this, uncertainties in the product supplies to the market escalated the prices in Q1. Also, disruption in the supply chain, significantly in March after the war in the East-European region, further added numbers to the values of Di- Methyl carbonate in the domestic market.
Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Di-Methyl Carbonate market witnessed a mixed trend despite that the sentiments in the US domestic market remained high throughout the quarter. Since the COP 26 Glasgow conference, the demand witnessed a huge spike as the players were invested in the cleaner energy initiatives of the EV sector. Therefore the demand outlook outstrips the domestic supply potential. However, the deficit was cleared after the Chinese cargoes resumed, although the high freight charges induced adequate cost support to the imported materials. Whereas, driven by the exceptional demand the offers for Dimethyl Carbonate remained buoyed in the US domestic market.
Asia Pacific
The Dimethyl Carbonate sentiments in the Asia Pacific market witnessed a mixed trend due to the strict implementation of environmental protection policy in China coupled with the high charges and limited availability of freight vessels in the region. In the first half due to the dual control on energy consumption and power rationing, the operational rates at the Chinese manufacturing plants dropped drastically led to the supply glut and higher raw material costs. Whereas, in the second half after the power rationing the offers for DMC separated its dependence on the prices of raw material and the offers in the domestic market plunge. As a ripple effect, the offers plunge and FOB Shenzhen discussions for DMC settled at USD USD 1570 per tonne, during the quarter ending.
Europe
in the fourth quarter of 2021, the DMC market in the European domestic market witnessed mixed sentiments throughout the quarter. The offers eased after soaring to the all-time high due to the high freight charges and limited availability of freight vessels. Whereas the domestic operational loads were curtailed amidst the ongoing energy crisis in Europe. The demand side support remained buoyed especially after the COP 26 conference the players were rushed to ensure the long-term supplies of electrolytes for EV batteries.
