For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
In North America, the Polyethylene Glycol market was stable to weak in the first half of Q1 but soared significantly in the second half of Q1. The US market observes weak demand from downstream industries. Although, the cost support from the feedstock soared due to the Russia-Ukraine war that brought strict sanctions on the upstream supplies from Russia. However, higher freight charges and port congestion kept rising prices as an outcome of the conflict. Demand for durable products increases in the cosmetics and personal care sector, leading to increased inquiries about PEG. In response, the prices of Polyethylene Glycol gained 6% in the producer's quotations during the first quarter of 2022.
Asia Pacific
The Polyethylene Glycol market in the Asia Pacific region observed a mixed sentiment as the external factors impacted the market across the region. The higher values of the upstream energy cycles have levied its impact on the complete value chain, strengthening the producers' will across the region to raise the offered quotations for Polyethylene Glycol. Whereas in China, the market dynamics swindled persistently amidst the Lunar New year holidays and resurgence of COVID that showcased the contradicting trend in the Chinese domestic market. As a ripple effect, the prices in China gained by 4% during the mid-quarter, then observed a steep downtrend during the quarter-end.
Europe
In Europe, the Polyethylene Glycol market declined in the first half of Q1 but then increased due to market instability and the prevailing energy crisis throughout Europe. The worsening situation between the two countries caused a weak demand for PEG in the first quarter, and the supply disruption, combined with high freight charges, resulted in the price surge. In addition, the conflict in the eastern European region further induced inflation in commodity pricing. As a ripple effect, the offers for PEG have surged by 7% during the quarter ending in March 2022.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Polyethylene Glycol market in the North American region witnessed a downward trajectory after the operational rates at the manufacturing facilities in the US restored post-hurricane season. However, despite the adequate cost support from the upstream and feedstock the offers for PEG in the domestic market plunge due to the healthy demand-supply margins. As a ripple effect, the offers for Polyethylene Glycol witnessed a constant plunge amidst the insignificant demand outlook from the downstream sector to kept the offers buoyed and the FOB Texas discussions for the PEG 17cST grade were settled at USD 4110 per tonne, during the quarter ending in December.
Asia Pacific
The PEG market in the Asia Pacific region witnessed a persistent uptrend in the fourth quarter of 2021. This uptrend in the market sentiments was attributed to the tight supply outlook despite the capacity expansion of the upstream in the domestic markets. This development is attributed to the slow down in the operational load at the manufacturing facilities in China due to the power rationing although the situation stabilized in the second half of the quarter. The demand soared from the construction ahead of the falling temperature in the Northeast Asian region. However, the bullish sentiments prevailed throughout the quarter and the Ex-Delhji discussion for PEG 1000 grade was settled at USD 2593 per tonne, during the quarter ending in December.
Europe
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the European Polyethylene Glycol market remained consolidated due to the ongoing energy crisis in the domestic market which proportionally weighed on the manufacturing capabilities due to the higher energy cost. Whereas, the demand remained healthy ahead of the falling temperature in the northwest European region from the downstream construction sector. However, the uncertainties induced by COVID and rebound in the international crude oil market induced adequate cost support, and the producers were forced to raise the offered quotations.
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
In North America, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) prices witnessed an upward trajectory during the third quarter of 2021. Tightened supply and robust demand were witnessed from the downstream industries including medical and pharmaceutical which led to the increment in the prices of PEG during the third quarter. Due to Ida hurricane that made landfall in the gulf coast of the USA, many Ethylene plants were shut down resulting in its scarcity which consequently fumed the prices of PEG in US.
Asia
In Asia, PEG market sentiments varied from country to country during the third quarter of 2021. In India, PEG market experienced mixed sentiments as in the beginning of the quarter, PEG prices shot up due to the robust demand after the resurgence in the industrial and commercial activities. Moreover, supply tightened due to clogging on the trade routes and constraint availability of shipping containers. However, in September PEG prices dropped owing to the ease in supplies. Besides, buyers were witnessed actively restocking which hampered trade activities as margins of downstream Styrene-Butadiene Rubber remained under pressure. Hence, Ex-Delhi NCR, Polyethylene Glycol prices rose from USD 2331.85/MT to 2398.85/MT from July to August and declined to USD 2256.40/MT in September.
Europe
In Europe, PEG prices attained tremendous gains during the third quarter of 2021 backed by the spike in the raw material values. Factors such as lower imports from other regions as an impact of Ida hurricane and congestion on several ports in China also contributed to the hike in the prices of PEG in this timeframe. Moreover, many manufacturers were compelled to curtail their production rates owing to the energy crisis across the Europe. However, the demand from the downstream remained firm throughout the quarter that kept the market sentiments high in Europe.
For the Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) prices fluctuated in a narrow range throughout the quarter across North America region. The demand from the downstream ethoxylates derivatives and pharmaceuticals remained firm, while the overall supply activity was tight. The price of feedstock Ethylene Oxide also fluctuated in USA due to frequent change in availability within the country. However, the demand from the global market was also responsible for the overall buoyancy in the PEG prices. Improved production activities across the gulf of USA, increased the availability of upstream Ethylene in the country, which led to a decline in the prices of most of downstream products including PEG during the month of June. Therefore, under these scenarios, the price of PEG was assessed as USD 1470/MT during the last week of May in USA.
Asia
The Asian market witnessed an overall surge in prices of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) during this quarter, backed by stable offtakes from the end user segments. PEG manufacturers based in China reported firm offtakes from the downstream units, bolstered by rapid economic recovery and rising demand from the international market. While in India, demand was comparatively low with the surge in pandemic in the country. Rising freight cost and global inflation impacted the price of Polyethylene Glycol in India, where traders were trying to protect their margins by raising their product prices. The price of PEG rebounded in India and reached USD 1719/MT and USD 2302/MT for PEG MW 200 and 1000 respectively in India during June 2021.
Europe
The European market also reported firm offtakes for PEG in its major countries, while curtailed supply activities and expensive cargoes led to an effective rise in the regional PEG pricing. During this quarter, demand for Polyethylene Glycol remined firm from the regional market, while due to limited inventory level prices kept on rising. Imported cargoes were also getting expensive in effect of soaring freight cost and lower container availability across major trade routes. In addition, low feedstock EO availability also impacted the downstream derivate PEG across the region during this quarter.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
The North American PEG supply was disrupted in Q1 2021 due to severely low supply of feedstock Ethylene Oxide across the region. It is estimated that more than 65% of the total Ethylene Oxide plants were not running due to extreme climate calamity across the US gulf during mid-February. In addition, major upstream Ethylene plants also remained idle in effect of this climate condition. As the demand for PEG was recorded lower than expectation, shortage of feedstock chemicals remained largely responsible for small rise in its prices. In US, price for PEG rose by 1.65% in first quarter 2021 and settled down at USD 1535/MT in March.
Asia
The Asian market witnessed tight supply for PEG throughout the quarter, though the demand remained stable to firm across the region. In China, after Lunar New Year, as the inventories were running low, it pressurised the overall PEG market of APAC by supporting its prices. On the other hand, Indian market faced difficulties to procure feedstock Ethylene Oxide material due to its skyrocketing prices. Import prices from European countries like Germany were hiked every month and Suez Canal crisis supported this rising trend across the region. Meanwhile PEG prices rose from USD 2172.48 (January 2021) to USD 2255.06 (March 2021) in India.
Europe
The European market witnessed gradual increment in demand for PEG across the region amid tight availability of feedstock chemicals. US gulf storm impacted the product availability across Europe, though the production was majorly impacted by the feedstock Ethylene Oxide. Ethylene Oxide cost fluctuated with handiness of feedstock Ethylene across the region, the demand for Ethylene remained conjointly high from different sectors like PVC which rendered shortage of material across region. Overall price of Ethylene Oxide witnessed an eternal rise, and it is anticipated that it'll come back all the way down to normal as North American country production is restoring itself week over week.
For the Quarter Ending December 2020
Asia
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) supply across the Asia Pacific region remained tight in Q4, impacted by cost pressure on manufacturers due to consistent rise in upstream values. Steep climb in the prices of Ethylene Oxide due to its limited availability supported the surge in prices of derivative PEG in Asian countries in the quarter ending December. Besides, increase in market activities of downstream sectors like skin creams, surfactant, detergent, pharmaceutical formulations, polymer etc. gradually improved the demand for the product throughout Q4 2020.
Europe
Persistent surge in the feedstock supply followed by significant rise in container freight considerably pushed up the PEG pricing in European region during Q4. Traders remained concerned of the snug upstream supply due to the low container availability across several trade routes connecting Europe. A PEG trader revealed that prices of Ethylene Oxide & its Glycol derivatives significantly increased which led to an astonishing rise in its production costs. The demand for PEG considerably improved with rise in export demand from several Asia Pacific countries which led to a positive impact upon its prices.
North America
Demand fundamentals for Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) remained firm in North America backed by the surge in consumption of various downstream industries following the gradual pick up of economies of several countries across the region. Meanwhile, operating rates at the upstream units in the gulf region were improved after resumption in several plant turnaround due to spate of hurricanes in October. Following the strong demand for glycol ethers used in disinfectants and cleaning chemicals, prices for PEG are likely to remain in an uptrend in the next quarter as well.
