For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
In North America during Q1 2025, the Liquid Chlorine market exhibited balanced supply and demand dynamics, underpinned by steady chlor-alkali production and consistent downstream consumption.
Key demand drivers included moderate PVC usage supported by government infrastructure projects and stable chemical processing activities. The absence of significant supply disruptions and stable logistics contributed to a well-supplied market environment.
Overall, market sentiment remained cautious yet stable, with inventory levels sufficient to meet ongoing demand, and price fluctuations were minimal throughout the quarter. In the USA, Liquid Chlorine prices increased by 4.36% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging USD 774/MT in the current quarter. Monthly prices remained largely flat, reflecting balanced supply from steady domestic production and stable demand from the PVC and HCl sectors. The market trend is stable, supported by consistent export activity and infrastructure-driven consumption. Near-term outlook anticipates modest price oscillations with a generally steady trajectory.
Asia
In the APAC region during Q1 2025, the Liquid Chlorine market experienced a cautiously balanced environment characterized by stable supply from chlor-alkali producers and steady demand from key downstream sectors such as hydrochloric acid and polyvinyl chloride industries. While seasonal fluctuations impacted construction-related consumption, resilient activity in chemical processing and alumina refining helped sustain overall demand. Supply chain stability was occasionally challenged by upstream cost fluctuations and localized production constraints, yet inventory levels remained adequate, supporting a generally firm market sentiment throughout the quarter. Liquid Chlorine prices in China rose by 5.1% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging USD 34.33/MT in the current quarter. Monthly prices exhibited a relatively flat trend, reflecting stable procurement ahead of the Lunar New Year and consistent demand from chemical and alumina sectors despite subdued construction activity. Supply constraints linked to facility inspections and upstream cost volatility underpinned this price firmness. The overall market stance is stable to mildly bullish, with near-term outlooks anticipating moderate price fluctuations driven by production cost variability and demand from downstream industries.
Europe
In Q1 2025, the European liquid chlorine market experienced notable price fluctuations, influenced by dynamics in the chlor-alkali and caustic soda sectors, as well as downstream demand from the PVC industry.
January saw a modest price increase for liquid chlorine, driven by steady demand from the PVC industry, which utilizes chlorine in the production of polyvinyl chloride. The construction sector's moderate activity supported this demand. However, February witnessed a slight dip in prices as the caustic soda market faced challenges.
March brought renewed price pressures, driven by rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions, particularly affecting feedstock availability. Overall, Europe's liquid chlorine market in Q1 2025 was shaped by fluctuating demand in the PVC industry, challenges in the caustic soda market, and economic factors affecting the chlor-alkali sector, leading to a nuanced pricing landscape.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In North America, Liquid Chlorine prices showed stability during the quarter, driven by a balanced supply and demand situation. Availability increased due to higher caustic soda production, a key co-product in the chlor-alkali process. The robust demand in the upstream chlor-alkali segment, reflected in rising caustic soda prices, bolstered the availability of Liquid Chlorine in the market.
Demand for Liquid Chlorine remained steady in key sectors like water treatment, plastics manufacturing, and industrial processes, preventing significant price fluctuations. Despite the increase in availability, prices remained unchanged, reflecting market stability. However, in November 2024, prices saw a decline of about 3%, influenced by fluctuating co-product caustic soda prices. This decline came amid mixed economic signals, including a modest 0.7% rise in the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final-demand goods.
Although the demand for Liquid Chlorine remained subdued, particularly from PVC manufacturing and water treatment, the market maintained stable supply levels. Despite a slight increase in the PPI for chemicals, declining industrial activity, and weaker demand led to the price reduction.
APAC
During the quarter, Liquid Chlorine prices in the APAC region remained stable, supported by a balanced supply-demand scenario. Increased production of caustic soda, a key co-product in the chlor-alkali process, significantly boosted the availability of Liquid Chlorine, helping maintain consistent supply levels.
This rise in caustic soda production was driven by solid demand within the chlor-alkali segment, as reflected in the upward trend of caustic soda prices. The stable demand for Liquid Chlorine from key end-user sectors, including water treatment, plastics manufacturing, and industrial processes, further contributed to market stability. Despite the higher availability, pricing remained unchanged due to the equilibrium between supply and demand. Manufacturing activity remained steady, with producers maintaining consistent output levels to meet market needs.
However, as the quarter progressed, demand from certain downstream industries showed signs of softening, particularly in sectors like PVC and alumina refining, which slightly pressured the market sentiment. Overall, while the market was stable throughout the quarter, the end of the period saw more cautious buying behavior, indicating a more subdued outlook in the near term.
Europe
In Europe, Liquid Chlorine prices remained relatively stable during the quarter, supported by a balanced supply and demand situation. Availability of Liquid Chlorine saw an increase due to higher caustic soda production, which is a key co-product in the chlor-alkali process.
The strong demand within the upstream chlor-alkali segment, reflected in rising caustic soda prices, further bolstered the availability of Liquid Chlorine in the market. Demand for Liquid Chlorine in critical sectors, such as water treatment, plastics manufacturing, and industrial processes, remained steady, ensuring that there were no significant fluctuations in prices. Despite the increased availability of Liquid Chlorine, prices stayed unchanged throughout the quarter, reflecting overall market stability.
However, in mid quarter of 2024, prices experienced a decline, primarily driven by fluctuations in co-product caustic soda prices. While demand for Liquid Chlorine remained subdued, especially in PVC manufacturing and water treatment, supply levels were stable. The weaker industrial activity, and reduced demand contributed to the price reduction.
For the Quarter Ending September 2024
North America
In Q3 2024, the North American Liquid Chlorine market witnessed a significant decrease in prices, with the USA experiencing the most notable changes. Various factors influenced the market dynamics, including disruptions like plant shutdowns due to hurricanes and power failures.
These disruptions impacted supply chains, leading to temporary closures and affecting the overall availability of Liquid Chlorine. The quarter saw a -12% decrease from the previous quarter, indicating a challenging pricing environment. Additionally, the price comparison between the first and second half of the quarter revealed a -3% decline, reflecting a consistent downward trend.
The USA market specifically faced multiple plant shutdowns, exacerbating supply constraints and contributing to the negative price trajectory. Despite seasonality and disruptions, the quarter-ending price for Liquid Chlorine (Contract) DEL Texas in the USA settled at USD 685/MT, marking a culmination of the decreasing pricing sentiment observed throughout the quarter. The correlation between disruptions, supply chain challenges, and pricing trends underscored the overall bearish outlook for Liquid Chlorine in North America during Q3 2024.
Asia
In Q3 2024, the APAC region witnessed a significant decline in Liquid Chlorine prices, influenced by a multitude of factors. The market experienced a negative trend due to oversupply and weakened demand across various sectors. Challenges such as reduced industrial output, sluggish economic growth, and supply chain disruptions contributed to the downward pressure on prices. Geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events, and logistical issues further exacerbated the pricing decline. China, in particular, saw the most pronounced price changes, with a substantial -14% decrease from the previous quarter. The second half of the quarter recorded a notable -9% drop compared to the first half. This sharp decline reflects the challenging market conditions and the impact of global economic uncertainties on chemical pricing dynamics. The quarter-ending price of USD 31/MT for Liquid Chlorine in China highlights the prevailing negative sentiment in the market, indicating a bearish outlook for the chemical sector. Disruptions and plant shutdowns like [insert names here] also added to the pricing challenges faced during the quarter, underscoring the overall unfavorable pricing environment in the APAC region.
Europe
As per the data, Liquid Chlorine prices kept on fluctuating in a narrow range in the European market during the third quarter of 2024. The key factor behind these fluctuations were uncertainties hovering around the economy due to ongoing war in the west Asia coupled with prolonged dullness in economic momentum of not Europe but also USA. Europe’s freight market in Q3 2024 was marked by rising costs, container shortages, and logistical challenges. Major carriers like MSC and CMA CGM raised FAK rates to as high as $6,500 per container due to space constraints and operational surcharges. Red Sea disruptions and port congestion in Singapore further delayed shipments. Air freight rates from Northeast Asia to Europe surged due to e-commerce growth and semiconductor demand, with spot rates up 40% year-on-year. Despite increased capacity, imbalances between outbound and return loads persist, complicating logistics. As geopolitical tensions and seasonal demand rise, freight markets are expected to remain volatile into Q4 2024. On the economic perspective, Europe’s economic landscape in Q3 2024 was marked by stagnation and challenges, with Germany, the largest economy in the eurozone, grappling with a prolonged industrial recession. The Bundesbank reported weak industrial output, high energy costs, and declining export demand. Germany’s economy showed little to no growth and might contract again this quarter, negatively impacting the broader eurozone.
For the Quarter Ending June 2024
North America
In the second quarter of 2024, the North American Liquid Chlorine market experienced price stability driven by several key factors. One pivotal reason was the lower output of chlor-alkali chemicals, exacerbated by supply chain disruptions, notably the force majeure incidents at HF Chlor-Alkali LLC and Westlake Chemical Corporation in Kentucky due to power outages. Additionally, heightened logistical challenges, particularly in shipping routes from Asia, contributed to supply tightness, placing upward pressure on prices since April 2024.
Focusing on the USA, the country observed substantial price hikes, reflecting a bullish market sentiment. The USA saw a continuous increase in Liquid Chlorine prices throughout Q2, primarily influenced by seasonally high demand coupled with fluctuating performance in downstream industries, such as construction, which exhibited a mixed trend. Furthermore, the market was impacted by external economic factors like high interest rates and reduced consumer spending, adding complexity to the demand-supply dynamics.
The consistent price escalation, despite moderate demand fluctuations, underscored the prevailing supply constraints and the overall firmness in market sentiment. By the end of Q2 2024, Liquid Chlorine prices in the USA reached USD 760/MT (Contract) DEL Texas, reflecting the ongoing challenges and tight supply conditions that characterized this period, resulting in a largely positive pricing environment.
APAC
In Q2 2024, the Liquid Chlorine market in the APAC Region experienced a phase of price surge, driven by consistent demand from downstream industries, including PVC and construction, alongside steady production rates. Notably, intermittent supply disruptions due to temporary plant shutdowns, such as those announced by Tata Chemicals Ltd for production optimization, played a role in maintaining price levels. The fluctuations in global freight rates and regional logistical challenges led to the availability of Liquid Chlorine remaining insufficient to meet market needs. Focusing on China, the country witnessed the maximum price changes during this quarter. The Chinese market reflected overall stability, shaped by a blend of seasonality and strategic production adjustments. The onset of scheduled maintenance by key producers meant that while there was a temporary strain on supply, it did not significantly disrupt the market due to pre-existing stockpiles. This period saw China’s trend towards cautious procurement, aligning with a slower recovery in downstream sectors such as PVC, which had a direct impact on maintaining price equilibrium. Conclusively, the latest quarter-ending price for Liquid Chlorine in China stood at USD 36/MT, reflecting a surge in the pricing environment. Overall, the pricing environment for Liquid Chlorine in Q2 2024 has been marked by stability, underpinned by balanced supply-demand conditions and strategic production management, indicating a neutral to positive market sentiment.
Europe
In Q2 2024, European Liquid Chlorine prices rose due to supply chain challenges, including logistics disruptions and rerouted paths resulting from the Red Sea turmoil. The industry faced decreased production rates and supply interruptions, leading to significant reductions in the availability in Germany. Fluctuations in global upstream Natural Gas prices over the first half of Q2 have increased operational costs, further pressuring prices. Contributing factors include tighter physical markets, prolonged production cuts, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Inflation across German states also impacted short-term pricing, while Germany’s push for tighter global energy cooperation positively influenced prices. Consequently, market players raised prices to sustain margins in the European market. European Liquid Chlorine Suppliers faced challenges, resulting in reduced stock availability. Additionally, port operations were disrupted as the Verdi trade union initiated a warning strike affecting major ports, including Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Brake, and Emden, starting in June 2024. Workers at HHLA and Eurogate terminals in Hamburg ceased operations amid stalled wage negotiations for a new collective labor agreement, causing significant port activity disruptions as reported by German media. As the high season approaches, market players are closely monitoring demand trends. However, minimal inventory procurement sentiments in the Eurozone could hinder significant margin recovery efforts, complicating price hikes to offset upstream cost pressures.
