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.
