For the Quarter Ending June 2023
North America
The price of Fluoropolymers remained an inclining trend in the US market due to demand improvement from the downstream industries throughout this second quarter of 2023. The consumption of PTFE in the automotive industry gradually increased and the demand for the product improved in the market. The freight charges from the Asia to US was fluctuating, further influenced the PTFE market. The automotive industry sales remained increasing trend throughout the second quarter of 2023, indicating the consumption of PTFE was high in this industry. The customer has been able to absorb the increase in transaction prices in the industry along with the rate increase. New vehicle sales in the United States for top global automakers rose in the second quarter on improving supply and strong demand, signaling that rising interest rates have not yet had a meaningful impact on purchases. The ChemAnalyst found the cost of PTFE was USD 12050/MT on a CFR New York at the end of second quarter of 2023.
APAC
The cost of Fluoropolymers witnessed to a declining trend due to slowdown economic activity in the Chinese market throughout the second quarter of 2023. The market value was mainly driven by softer domestic demand and feeble overseas trading activities influenced the negative price pattern of PTFE. The market participant says the delivery time of the material was improved marginally in April without any disruptions. Muted client demand led firms to cut back their production activities at the start of second quarter and companies expressed a reluctance to stock build the product in the market due to the softer environment around the market throughout the quarter. The policymakers in the Chinese market unable to sustain the momentum in second quarter, what they did in first quarter of 2023. The official PMI was still in below 50 threshold limits, indicating the bearish performance of Chinese market. The price of PTFE was hovered around USD 7490/MT on a FOB Shanghai basis at the end of the Second quarter of 2023.
Europe
Throughout the second quarter of 2023, the cost of Fluoropolymers saw an upward trend in German market due to the high-interest rates along with the high consumption of the product in the downstream automotive industry. The freight charges from Asia to Europe was moderately high for the first two months of second quarter of 2023 ultimately pushed the prices of PTFE in the German market. Despite the economic activities slowdown, there was room for average demand for PTFE in the downstream automotive industry. Some automotive manufacturers in Germany saw significant growth in second quarter of 2023, indicating the consumption of PTFE material remained high in this automotive industry. The market participants say the car sales in first half of the year have risen in German market. Compared to previous year, new car registrations are developing positively and significant increase in the entire second quarter. As per ChemAnalyst, the cost of PTFE hovered around USD 11622/MT with quarterly inclination of 6.7% on a CFR Hamburg basis at the end of the second quarter of 2023.
For the Quarter Ending March 2023
North America
The cost of PTFE witnessed an upward trend throughout the first Quarter of 2023 due to high imported cargo from Asian nations. The combination of moderate to high demand and low to moderate supply has created a bullish market for Fluoropolymers (PTFE) Fine Powder. The downstream automotive industry sales were up, and in turn, the demand for PTFE increased in this market. The manufacturing PMI rose gradually in the first Quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. The cost of PTFE hovered around USD 11670/MT on a CFR New York basis during the end of the first quarter.
APAC
The price of PTFE witnessed a mixed trend in Asia-Pacific throughout the first Quarter of 2023. China has reopened its market and introduced new welcoming policies to grow the economy of the country. Further received more orders from the overseas market and saw tight supply in the PTFE market. These factors hiked the cost of the product. Despite the low demand for PTFE, more inquiries from the end-users to stock up on the material in the market led to an increase in the cost of the product. On the other hand, in India, the PTFE market saw an inclined trend throughout the quarter due to high consumption in the downstream industries. The downstream automotive sales rose in the first quarter, which supported the procurement of PTFE material in this market.
Europe
The cost of PTFE witnessed an upward trend throughout the first Quarter of 2023 due to high imported cargo from Asian nations. Additionally, inflation and high-interest rates further provoked the cost of the product. The sluggish global economy affected German exports, but moderate inflation rates were having an adverse impact on consumer spending because of declining buying power and sharply higher interest rates. A wider look at the German automotive sector reveals that production levels are continuing to improve, albeit slowly. The cost of PTFE hovered around USD 11160/MT on a CFR Hamburg basis during the end of the first quarter.
For the Quarter Ending December 2022
North America
The price of Fluoropolymers (PTFE) saw a downward price trajectory throughout the fourth quarter of 2022. The construction and automotive industries had normal demand, and global freight costs also decreased. The high inventories from the traders and typical demand from the downstream industries further decreased the cost of the product. The cheap imported cargo from East Asia, the traders cited low prices for the product. Due to high inflation, the orders from the buyers were reduced, and the product got stockpiled in the market. In the end, as the holidays approached, buying sentiment from the end-use industries declined. The cost of PTFE in December hovered around USD 11040/MT on a CFR New York basis with a declination of 2.6%.
APAC
The price of PTFE in APAC experienced mixed price trends throughout the fourth Quarter of 2022. In China, the demand for the PTFE market declined due to the weak demand from the downstream industries. Some manufacturers have cut off the production rate due to the low buying sentiments from the end-use industries. The government imposed the zero COVID restriction in China during Q4, which affected the trading activities in the domestic and overseas markets. At the same time, In India, the price of PTFE saw a stable price trend for the H1 of Q4 and fell in the last month of Q4 due to the destocking of the material at a low price. The cost of PTFE in December hovered around USD 8713/MT on a FOB Shanghai basis, with a decline of 5%.
Europe
The price of PTFE saw a mixed price trend throughout the fourth Quarter of 2022. The demand from the downstream automotive, construction and other key driving sectors were weakened in the region. Due to the high inflation and volatile natural gas prices, consumers were pessimistic about the European economy. The availability of the material was abundant, and the port congestions declined in the region. With the high imported cost from East Asia, the traders quoted a high price trend in December. The cost of PTFE in December hovered around USD 40446/MT CFR Hamburg basis with an inclination of 7%.
For the Quarter Ending September 2022
North America
Towards the third Quarter of 2022, the price of Fluoropolymers fluctuated in the North American region. In the first two months of the Quarter, the price declined because the domestic market for downstream industries weakened, and the suppliers stockpiled the product, constraining Fluoropolymers' cost. In the last month of Q3, the price of Fluoropolymers saw an upward trajectory owing to the market rebounding slightly and the moderate demand from the downstream automotive and electronic & electrical sectors in the region. The supply chain has been disrupted due to some ports in the USA being congested and delayed in delivering the materials to their destination.
Asia Pacific
During the third Quarter of 2022, the price of Fluoropolymers fell in July due to a price decline from feedstock fluorspar and the weak demand from the downstream electronics & electrical sectors. Further high inventory from the manufacturers has pushed down the price of Fluoropolymers in the Asian market. Last two months, the price saw an upward trajectory due to increased consumption from the automobile industry, bolstered by arriving off the festive season in India. With the high demand from the downstream sectors, the manufacturers have raised their quotation in the Asian market
Europe
In Europe, in the first half of the third Quarter of 2022, the Fluoropolymers decreased slightly due to weak market sentiments from the downstream electricals and electronics. The automotive sector supported the downward trend of PTFE in the German market. During the last month of the third Quarter of 2022, the price of PTFE rose, bolstered by the high operating cost to produce the product owing to the price increase in natural gas. Due to the port congestions in several German ports, the supply chain was disrupted in the country, and the product's inventory level declined in major exporting countries like Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium.
For the Quarter Ending June 2022
The North American market saw a surge in the prices of Polytetrafluoroethylene during Q2,2022, with prices ranging from USD 11675.00/ton Fluoropolymers (PTFE) CFR New York and a quarterly escalation of 1.1%, as recorded by Chem Analyst pricing team data. Higher energy prices transfer value in the economy from energy consumers to energy producers. The combination of a rebound in economic activity, and continued strain from supply chain disruptions, is increasing upward pressure on prices. Rising inflation in the region, contributed by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, causes prices to surge.
Polytetrafluoroethylene prices vary in the Asian market, with prices rising in China and falling in the Indian market in the second quarter of 2022. China, a major exporter to South Korea and Italy, sees demand for the product. This is increasing due to the expansion of the coatings sector. Whereas importing countries like Germany and the USA started using more of their own made products, reduced PTFE imports from the Indian market. This demand change from the countries caused the fluctuations in the Asian region. The prices ranged from INR 766500/ton PTFE General Moulding 610 Ex-Vadodara in India and USD 10,453/ton PTFE Fine Cut-EXW Dongying in China during June.
Polytetrafluoroethylene prices surged in the European market during the second quarter of 2022, with prices ranging at USD 9440/ton PTFE Powder form CFR Hamburg in Germany during May and a quarterly escalation of 1% as per recorded by Chem Analyst pricing team data. Escalating demand for cost-effective solutions in the region is pushing the prices in an upward direction. Surging prices of upstream feedstock Fluorspar and Ethylene due to the ongoing war between Russia caused fluctuations in the petrochemical market. Increasing freight charges was also one of the major causes for the prices to rise. Inclination in the imports from the importing countries like Italy, France, and the USA supported the market.
