For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
In Q1 2025, the price trend for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in the USA demonstrated notable fluctuations, influenced by varying supply and demand dynamics. January began with a price decline, primarily due to improved supply conditions amidst input cost challenges. Despite inflationary pressures faced by manufacturers, sufficient market supply allowed pricing adjustments that catered to heightened e-commerce sales and consumer demand in the personal care sector.
February saw continued price reductions exacerbated by subdued market sentiment, leading to cautious pricing strategies from sellers. Although the demand remained steady for personal care products, market participants struggled with excess inventory and competitive pricing, culminating in a further drop in product prices.
In March, a shift occurred as prices rose. This increase was driven by low inventory levels creating a supply crunch, alongside a seasonal uptick in demand as summer approached, leading to aggressive purchasing behaviors among buyers. Overall, while Q1 exhibited initial price declines due to cautious consumer sentiment and inventory build-ups, a late-quarter rebound highlighted the resilience of the personal care sector amidst ongoing economic uncertainty.
APAC
The Q1 2025 price trend for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in the APAC region, particularly in China, revealed a complex interplay of supply and demand dynamics driven by various economic factors.
In January, prices softened due to weak demand from the beauty and personal care sector, negatively impacted by economic uncertainty. As manufacturers faced sluggish consumer spending, with major brands struggling and reporting significant profit declines, a cautious market approach emerged, pushing prices lower.
The bearish trend persisted into February. Supply levels remained high. Despite a slight increase in retail sales, demand remained overall subdued due to ongoing economic instability.
March saw a price increase as low inventory levels created supply tightness, combined with a seasonal surge in demand as summer approached. Increased focus on personal care products bolstered demand, driven by rising consumer incomes and a shift toward premium offerings.
In summary, the quarter experienced initial price declines leading into recovery by March, indicating a potential market rebound amid evolving consumer preferences in the personal care sector.
Europe
In Q1 2025, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates prices in Europe particularly Germany exhibited a bearish trend early in the quarter, driven by weak demand and lower production costs. The prices faced downward pressure as the cosmetics and personal care sectors contended with rising operational costs and regulatory challenges. January saw sluggish sales growth, which contributed to prolonged low buyer activity and excess inventory.
As the quarter progressed into February, a continuation of subdued market sentiment saw prices further decline due to weak demand despite some resilience in specific beauty segments. The influential European beauty sector remained mixed, with only select areas demonstrating growth, indicating a cautious market sentiment.
March, however, marked a shift with prices rising. This rise was fueled by low inventory levels creating supply tightness and seasonal demand increases from the personal care industry. The momentum of summer seasonality and proactive buying behavior from suppliers indicated a tightening market position, suggesting optimism moving forward.
In summary, Q1 2025 price trends for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Germany reflected initial weakness due to economic pressures, followed by a notable recovery in March attributed to supply dynamics and seasonal demand increases.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
North America's Q4 2024 Nonylphenol Ethoxylates market, especially in the US, saw prices fluctuate as a result of multiple factors influencing supply and demand dynamics. October began with price increases due to strong demand from end-user industries like surfactants and detergents, despite ample supply. This upward trend continued late in the month, with a stable phenol-benzene premium offsetting declining ethylene oxide and phenol costs.
November saw price stability, maintained by consistent personal care sector demand and robust supply chains, even with a slight rise in ethylene oxide prices. However, December brought a significant price decline. This was attributed to a typical seasonal slowdown in demand, adjustments to earlier input cost inflation, and weakness in the broader manufacturing sector. Despite lower phenol prices and stable ethylene oxide costs, sufficient supply allowed for price reductions as manufacturers adapted inventory to reflect the market changes. E-commerce growth in December partially offset the overall decline in retail sales.
The market faced challenges stemming from price volatility, managing input cost inflation, and adapting to fluctuating demand patterns. Manufacturers had to balance profitability with competitive pricing strategies within a broader economic context.
APAC
In Q4 2024, the Nonylphenol Ethoxylates market in the APAC region experienced price volatility shaped by a complex interplay of factors. October opened with price increases fueled by moderate demand from the personal care sector and anxieties surrounding Middle Eastern oil supply disruptions. This upward trend continued later in the month due to rising ethylene oxide prices, despite stable phenol costs. November maintained price stability, supported by consistent personal care demand, even as phenol prices declined. However, a significant shift occurred in December. A typical seasonal slowdown, coupled with oversupply and weak demand, led to a sharp price decrease. This decline was further exacerbated by a downward trend in both ethylene oxide and phenol prices, easing overall production costs.
The personal care sector, while exhibiting moderate growth throughout the quarter, experienced a significant slowdown during the year-end holidays, directly impacting demand for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates. This created challenges for market participants who had to navigate volatile pricing, manage excess inventory due to oversupply, and contend with intensifying competition.
Europe
In Q4 2024, the Nonylphenol Ethoxylates market in the European region, particularly Germany experienced significant price volatility. October started with price increases driven by strong demand from the detergents and surfactants sector, despite sufficient supply. Late October saw further increases, with a stable phenol-benzene premium offsetting lower ethylene oxide and phenol costs. November maintained price stability due to holiday shopping and consistent personal care demand, even as raw material prices fell. However, December witnessed a sharp price decline. This was due to weak domestic demand, lower raw material (ethylene oxide and phenol) costs, and severe global port congestion impacting deliveries. The quarter ended at USD 2518/MT FOB Hamburg, a substantial decrease from the beginning of the quarter.
Several factors contributed to this volatility: strong early demand, followed by a December slowdown; fluctuating raw material costs; the positive impact of holiday shopping in November, and supply chain disruptions. Weak German manufacturing and sluggish European personal care sales also exerted downward pressure on prices in December. Market participants faced challenges in managing volatile pricing, fluctuating raw material costs, and supply chain disruptions.
For the Quarter Ending September 2024
North America
In Q3 2024, the North American market for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates witnessed a notable increase in prices. This surge can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the demand for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates remained robust across the region, driven by steady procurement from downstream Personal care sector including surfactants and detergents.
Upstream ethylene oxide, which was required for the manufacture of nonylphenol ethoxylates, was sufficiently available. This ensured steady output with little disruption to the supply chain. Moreover, the pricing environment was influenced by fluctuations in crude oil prices, which impacted manufacturing costs.
Moving specifically to the USA, the market experienced significant price changes, with a 1% increase from the previous quarter in 2024. The second half of the quarter saw a 4% price difference compared to the first half, indicating a notable uptrend. Ultimately, the quarter-ending price for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates 9.5 mole FOB Gulf Coast in the USA stood at USD 2505/MT, reflecting a positive and increasing pricing environment in the region.
APAC
In Q3 2024, the pricing of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in the APAC region experienced a notable increase, particularly in China. This quarter has been characterized by a steady rise in market prices, driven by various factors. The demand from industries like personal care and surfactants has played a significant role in influencing prices, with manufacturers operating at reduced capacity levels due to economic uncertainties. Additionally, supply chain disruptions, high freight charges, and limited availability of raw materials have all contributed to the upward pricing trend. In China specifically, the market has seen the most significant price changes, reflecting a consistent increase throughout the quarter. Prices have shown resilience with negligible change from the previous quarter in 2024. The second half of the quarter saw a notable 5% price increase compared to the first half, culminating in a quarter-ending price of USD 1680/MT for Nonylphenol Ethoxylate 9.5 mole FOB Qingdao. Overall, the pricing environment in Q3 2024 has been characterized by a positive and steady upward trajectory.
Europe
In Q3 2024, the pricing environment for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in the Europe region has been characterized by a steady increase in prices. This upward trend has been primarily influenced by a combination of factors. Firstly, the surge in crude oil prices globally has raised manufacturing costs for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, contributing to the price escalation. Additionally, the availability of upstream materials, such as Ethylene Oxide, has been sufficient, ensuring consistent production levels but also supporting the price hike. Furthermore, demand from end-user industries like surfactants and detergents has shown a moderate increase, further bolstering prices. Specifically focusing on Germany, which has experienced the most significant price changes in the region, the overall trend has been one of consistent price growth. Seasonal factors and market dynamics have played a crucial role in driving prices upwards. The quarter-on-quarter increase of 3% highlights the sustained upward movement in prices. The comparison between the first and second half of the quarter, which saw a 3% price difference, further underscored the steady price appreciation. As of the latest quarter-ending, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates 9.5 mole FOB Hamburg in Germany was priced at USD 2570/MT, reflecting a stable and positive pricing environment.
For the Quarter Ending June 2024
North America
In North America, the prices of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates have demonstrated a volatile trend. In the first half of Q2, the prices have increased owing to demand from downstream personal care industries has increased, boosting overall market sentiment.
As per the market sources, Reduced manufacturing activities in the USA have led to limited availability of finished goods, further driving up prices. However, with the progress of the second quarter of 2024, the prices have started to plummet amidst ease of production challenges and a slowdown in inquiries from the downstream Personal Care industries.
Focusing on the USA, which observed the most substantial price changes, the overall trend in Q2 has been decidedly negative. Seasonality played a crucial role, with the second half of the quarter witnessing a price drop of 3% compared to the first half. The interplay between consistent supply and subdued demand created a bearish pricing environment. The culmination of these factors led to the quarter-ending price of USD 2400/MT for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates 9.5 mole FOB Gulf Coast in the USA. This quarter's pricing environment has thus been predominantly negative, reflecting a market decline.
APAC
In Q2 2024, the Nonylphenol Ethoxylates market in the APAC region experienced mixed market fundamentals. At the start of the second quarter, the demand from the personal care industries surged, leading to higher costs for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates. To maintain market stability, existing inventories have been depleted, and new production has been initiated. Furthermore, toward the quarter-end, the reduction in procurement from downstream personal care industries significantly contributed to lower price realizations. High production levels and sufficient supply of raw materials, such as Ethylene Oxide and Palm Oil, met with lackluster demand, compounded the price decline. Focusing on China, the region witnessed the maximum price volatility. The overall trend exhibited a substantial price decrease, attributed to the seasonality effect, subdued market activities post-holiday periods, and the digestion of pre-existing inventories. The economic slowdown and reduced consumer spending also played a critical role in the declining demand for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates. Conclusively, the quarter ended with Nonylphenol Ethoxylate 9.5 mole FOB Qingdao prices at USD 1600/MT, marking a subdued market environment. The persistent downward pressure reflects a negative pricing sentiment, driven by weak demand, overstocked inventories, and minimal upward cost influences. This quarter has been challenging, with limited optimism for immediate recovery, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments to balance supply and demand dynamics.
Europe
In the second quarter of 2024, the prices of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates demonstrated varied market dynamics. The quarter was characterized by limited demand from downstream industries, particularly in the personal care sector, which compounded the market sentiment. Additionally, heightened wage demands exacerbated tight labor conditions domestically, affecting production costs and potentially influencing prices. On the other hand, the escalating Crude Oil prices following OPEC+'s production cut decision added to market challenges for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates. These conditions were further dampened by tight monetary policies across Europe, which curbed economic activity and purchasing power. The availability of upstream Nonylphenol was sufficient to meet the demand from the downstream industries. The operating rates of the downstream manufacturing firms have not returned to their regular levels. Focusing on Germany, the market saw the most significant fluctuations in Nonylphenol Ethoxylates prices. Compared to the same quarter last year, prices dropped by 4%, indicating a negative pricing environment. However, there was a slight recovery from the previous quarter in 2024, with a 4% increase, suggesting some market stabilization. The quarter-ending price for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates 9.5 mole FOB Hamburg in Germany settled at USD 2470/MT.
