For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
During the first quarter of 2022, Toluene prices skyrocketed owing to the rising demand from the downstream paints, adhesives, glues, and so on. In addition, the disruption caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict resulted in the upsurge of upstream Crude prices and feedstock Benzene, impacting the Toluene market. Moreover, the reroute in shipments after the Russian invasion delayed the supplies inflicting the Toluene price trend. Besides, soaring fuel prices and freight charges also affected the Toluene market. Furthermore, the energy crisis has fuelled the prices after US sanctions on Russian gas. Henceforth, the cost of Toluene in the USA settled at USD 1225 per MT in March 2022.
Asia Pacific
Toluene prices witnessed an upward trajectory in the first quarter of 2022. As the upstream crude price witnessed an upsurge due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict resulting in the price hike in the Toluene market. Moreover, the disruption of trade and port congestion in China caused by the resurgence of COVID impacted the Toluene price trend in the regional market. Also, the hike in demand for the downstream paint, ink, and adhesives has severely affected the price of Toluene to grow high. In addition, the rising freight charges have boosted the Toluene market in the region. Thus, the CFR prices of Toluene in India settled at USD 815 per MT by the quarter ending March 2022.
Europe
In the first quarter of 2022, Toluene prices showcased an upward movement as a result of an upsurge in demand from the regional market. The high demand for ink, paints, and adhesives laid the foundation for the price hike. In addition, the geopolitical tension inflicted the upstream crude, which severely affected the petroleum feedstocks impacting rail and road transportation with congestion across black sea. Furthermore, the continuation of Europe's energy crisis following the suspension of Russian gas after their invasion of Ukraine led to a significant price increase. Hence, the FOB prices of Toluene in Germany were assessed at USD 1150 per MT in March 2022.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
In the fourth quarter of 2021, Toluene prices witnessed a downward trajectory backed by the ample supply of the product as the major producers such as Dow and ExxonMobil had resumed their Toluene production in September end. The demand outlook for Toluene and its derivatives remained stable through the quarter. Moreover, reasonable upstream Benzene prices due to dip in the Crude oil values as well as narrow demand also supported the pricing trend of Toluene in the region. Additionally, in December, buyers did not seem interested in stocking piles ahead of year end that further kept the prices low. Hence, FOB Texas average Toluene prices settled at USD 853/MT in December. However, in the upcoming month Toluene market sentiments may improve with the rise in its values.
Asia
In Asia, Toluene market sentiments varies from country to country during the fourth quarter of 2021. In China, Toluene prices witnessed fluctuations in this quarter backed by the volatility in upstream Benzene values and demand dynamics. Thus, Toluene FOB Shanghai prices rose to USD 1022/MT from USD 993/MT from October to November while in December prices tumbled down to USD 915/MT because of lull market activities and dull demand fundamentals. Moreover, In South Korea, Toluene fundamentals have continued to be modest in line with upstream crude oil values, influencing the pricing trend of Toluene in China. In Indian market, Toluene prices showcased a downward trend in Q4 on the back of ample supplies and ease in the feedstock Benzene values. However, the demand outlook was firm in October and November with enough enquiries due to festive season while in December the demand from the downstream manufacturers narrowed down. Thus, Ex Kandla Toluene prices were assessed at USD 855.9/MT in December registering a dip of USD 115.6/MT since October.
Europe
In Q4 2021, Toluene market appeared to be bullish backed by the supply tightness and firm demand from the downstream TDI manufacturers across the region that kept the pricing trend high throughout the quarter. Supply restrictions and lower imports from the Asian countries in effect of surging covid cases also exerted pressure on local traders. Moreover, production cuts as a repercussion of natural gas crisis along with constraint availability on spot basis also supported the inflation in the Toluene prices. Hence, FOB Hamburg Toluene prices were assessed at USD 910/MT in December witnessing a rise of USD 75/MT since October.
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
During the third quarter of 2021, the prices of Toluene remained firm in the North American region. During the last week of September, leading companies like Dow and ExxonMobil resumed their production of Toluene which led to the increment in the supply in the latter stages of Q3. Stagnant demand in Q3 2021 was observed however due to unplanned shutdowns prices remained fairly stable. Demand from the downstream market was still recovering hence prices remained rangebound to downwards during the quarter. The overall market prices of Toluene stabilized towards the end of the quarter FOB Texas offers were assessed at USD 990/MT in September.
Asia Pacific
Toluene prices demand reported positive indications in the domestic demand as industries increased their plant operating rates in the third quarter of 2021. Toluene prices in the domestic market witnessed a marginal climb, reaching USD 824 per MT in the week ending 9th July due to the prominent recovery in the buying interest. However, the hike in prices has been lesser than the expected due to the consistent ease in values of upstream crude. A consistent rise in Toluene prices was observed during the month of July, bolstered by a prominent recovery in industrial activities post decline in pandemic cases in India. It was reported that the consumption of petrochemicals in the country escalated after Indian state governments laid off the movement restrictions from their respective states, which eventually led to the increment in the consumption of Toluene in India.
Europe
The overall market of Toluene experienced mixed sentiments in the third quarter of 2021 in Europe. In the month of September, prices fell alongside the crude oil market. The downstream demand remained slow and overall trading was subdued in early September, which affected the prices of Toluene during the quarter. In Germany, the prices of Toluene witnessed a downtrend as the FOB Hamburg prices fell from USD 805/MT to USD 755/MT in the third quarter.
For the Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Toluene supplies in the North American region improved considerably compared to the previous quarter with sharp pickup in the production rates as the petrochemical players strategize to make up for the supply gap created by the polar storm Uri. Increased offtakes by the downstream players improved the production rates for Toluene. Demand observed significant growth from the downstream paints and coatings, solvents and several other industries as the region witnessed seasonal hike in building and construction activities in the second quarter. Several spot buyers were observed procuring large orders to replenish the inventories ahead of the upcoming hurricane season in the US. Furthermore, trading sentiments in the Toluene market balanced the supply demand dynamics in the North American region. Hence overall market prices stabilized with FOB Texas offers assessing at USD 845 per tonne in June.
Asia Pacific
Toluene supply witnessed constraints in the Northeast Asian region due to scheduled turnarounds at the Kumho Line 3 in South Korea and Mitsui Chemicals plant in Japan during the second quarter. In China, the government imposed the consumption taxes on the imported heavy aromatic commodities, as a ripple effect the pricing trend in the China’s domestic market measured a significant spike towards H2 of the quarter. FOB Shanghai Toluene prices settled around USD 740 per tonne in June. Demand fundamentals remained strong across major countries in Asia-Pacific as the downstream paints & coatings sector along with construction sector measured increase in consumption levels.
Europe
Toluene supply was tight to balanced in the European region owing to the delay in resumption of operations at BASF Ludwigshafen plant in Germany. However, better inflow of product volumes from the US enhanced the supply outlook. Demand continued to remain in the uptrend due to rising consumption from downstream paints and coating industries amidst the seasonal hype from the building and construction. Toluene pricing trend observed a marginal uptrend on the back of spike in demand throughout the region.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
The supplies were tight during Q1 2021 as various plants remained shut for maintenance related work during the first half of the first quarter. During mid-February, freezing weather conditions disrupted the production lines in the US, which resulted in increased spot prices in the domestic market. The demand surged from the downstream sectors such as TDI and gasoline blending. However, hiked prices and supply disruptions aggravated the domestic buyers which turned more flexible towards the Asian supplies. FOB Texas Toluene prices were recorded at USD 910 per MT, showing a spike of 3% on month-on-month basis in March.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
Toluene supplies surged in the north-eastern region, whereas supplies in southeast Asia remained balanced during the fourth quarter of 2021, as the addition of new capacities in China increased the production. However, major producers in the region turned to meeting the demand from the western hemisphere rather than southeast Asian countries for better netbacks in revenue. The demand in the APAC region remained stable to tight throughout the quarter. Constrained availability and resilient demand surged the FOB Korea price of Toluene to around USD 680/ton in March 2021.
Europe
During Q1 2021, Toluene supplies were balanced in the European region, as the consumption declined in the region due to imposition of fresh lockdowns, restricted mobility and restrained economic activity, leading to the downfall in demand. Due to minimal transporting activities consumption from the gasoline blending sector declined in the region. Surging spot prices of Toluene in the US, widened the arbitrage between US and Europe, hence the trading focus shifted towards the APAC suppliers.
For the Quarter Ending September 2020
Asia
Asian Toluene Market witnessed dented consumption against the backdrop of dull buying momentum amidst lackluster downstream demand as the market in various countries failed to regain the lost momentum after the outbreak of Coronavirus. High inventories of Toluene in China pressured local traders to channelize their material to the export market, thereby directing the supply to Southeast Asia. The situation eased with spate of maintenance turnarounds and resumption delays in several Northeast Asian plants in early September as producers undertook a wait and see approach amid fears of further loss in revenues due to volatile crude prices and market uncertainties. Prices of Toluene averaged around USD 637 per MT in the Southeast Asian market in the period between July to September.
North America
Discussions in US Toluene market remained mixed amid global oversupply concerns from eastern countries in contrast to the forced turnarounds in several Toluene plant in US Gulf Coast due to the series of seasonal hurricanes. Although demand for Toluene witnessed a gradual pick up due to revival in the transportation industry, it was certainly not enough to recover the spreads with its downstream commodities. Reaching the plateau of the pandemic, several producers continued to reduce their operating rates while others relied on the export demand amid a prudent economy recovery.
Europe
Subdued downstream consumption coupled with muted spot activities dwindled the market fundamentals of Toluene in the European region. Producers already hurt by the squeezed profit margins reduced their operating rates in the second half of third quarter in order to balance the overwhelming supply. In addition, several turnarounds at downstream TDI plant further stalled the demand for the product in the region. The quarterly rise coming from favorable seasonal demand had insignificant impact on the petrochemical market struggling with the repercussions of the lockdown implemented in the previous quarter. Throwing light on the tumbling fundamentals, Northwest Europe’s petrochemical index registered a fall of around 5% for Toluene prices between July to August.
