For the Quarter Ending June 2026
Wetting Agent Prices in North America
- In the United States, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026, driven by elevated production costs and robust consumer demand.
- Producer Price Index (PPI) year-over-year increased by 5.5% in June 2026, indicating higher input costs for manufacturers.
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) year-over-year rose by 3.5% in June 2026, reflecting persistent inflation impacting raw materials.
- Wetting Agent production costs remained elevated in Q2 2026 due to high ethylene oxide and propylene oxide expenses.
- Retail sales grew by 6.9% in May 2026, and Consumer Confidence was 91.2 in June 2026, supporting demand.
- The unemployment rate was low at 4.2% in June 2026, bolstering consumer spending and demand for end products.
- Industrial production edged up by 0.7% year-over-year in June 2026, indicating slight expansion in manufacturing sectors.
- Wetting Agent Price Forecast in Q2 2026 reflected the impact of elevated production costs and robust demand drivers.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in June 2026 in North America?
- Elevated Producer Price Index (PPI) by 5.5% in June 2026 increased manufacturing input costs.
- Strong retail sales growth of 6.9% in May 2026 boosted demand for consumer products.
- Tightened regional propylene oxide supply in Q2 2026 contributed to higher feedstock costs.
Wetting Agent Prices in APAC
- In China, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026, driven by rising input costs and robust industrial demand.
- Wetting Agent production costs increased in Q2 2026, influenced by a 4.1% PPI rise in June 2026 and higher natural gas prices.
- Wetting Agent demand outlook remained strong in Q2 2026, supported by a 5.3% industrial production growth in June 2026.
- Crude oil prices were highly volatile in Q2 2026, surging in April and May due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
- China's exports of key chemicals remained robust in May 2026, though growth moderated compared to April 2026.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded for a third consecutive month during April-June 2026, indicating strong industrial activity.
- Subdued consumer spending and a low 1.0% retail sales growth in June 2026 impacted consumer-facing Wetting Agent applications.
- Global crude oil inventories experienced substantial draws in Q2 2026, affecting feedstock availability for Wetting Agent production.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in June 2026 in APAC?
- Rising input costs, with a 4.1% PPI increase in June 2026, pressured Wetting Agent prices upward.
- Robust industrial production, growing 5.3% in June 2026, sustained strong Wetting Agent demand.
- Volatile crude oil prices in Q2 2026, surging April-May, contributed to higher feedstock costs.
Wetting Agent Prices in Europe
- In Germany, Wetting Agent Price Index rose in Q2 2026, driven by surging input costs and elevated energy.
- Production costs increased in Q2 2026; producer prices rose 2.2% year-over-year in May 2026.
- Wetting Agent demand weakened in H1 2026 as German chemical and pharmaceutical industry contracted.
- The Manufacturing Index was Contracting in June 2026, indicating reduced industrial activity.
- Industrial production showed 0.0% year-over-year growth in May 2026, reflecting sector stagnation.
- Consumer confidence declined to -14.6 in June 2026, impacting consumer-facing Wetting Agent applications.
- Natural gas prices remained elevated and crude oil rallied in Q2 2026, increasing feedstock costs.
- Overall costs were impacted by consumer prices rising 2.3% year-over-year in June 2026.
- Precautionary inventory building occurred in H1 2026, while purchasing activity scaled back in May 2026.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in June 2026 in Europe?
- German manufacturing input costs surged in May 2026, with elevated inflation continuing into June.
- Natural gas prices remained elevated and crude oil rallied in Q2 2026, increasing production expenses.
- Weakened demand in German chemical industry and contracting industrial activity in Q2 2026 impacted consumption.
For the Quarter Ending March 2026
Wetting Agent Prices in North America
- In the United States, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by costs.
- The Wetting Agent Production Cost Trend rose in March 2026 with CPI 3.3% and PPI 4.0%.
- The Wetting Agent Demand Outlook grew in March 2026 with 0.7% industrial production and an expanding Manufacturing Index.
- Retail sales grew 4.0% and unemployment held at 4.3% in March 2026, supporting Wetting Agent demand.
- Consumer confidence reached 91.8 in March 2026, driving downstream Wetting Agent consumption in home improvement.
- Construction sector demand for Wetting Agent strengthened as overall housing starts surged in January 2026.
- Natural gas and crude oil costs spiked in March 2026, raising the Wetting Agent Price Index.
- The Wetting Agent Price Forecast remained elevated in March 2026 following global petrochemical trade disruptions.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in March 2026 in North America?
- Upstream crude oil and natural gas energy costs surged significantly during February and March 2026.
- Global petrochemical trade flows faced severe logistical disruptions through the Middle Eastern straits in March 2026.
- Producer prices climbed 4.0% in March 2026, forcing manufacturers to pass costs to downstream buyers.
Wetting Agent Prices in APAC
- In China, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by surging upstream naphtha feedstock costs.
- The Wetting Agent Production Cost Trend increased in March 2026 as the PPI grew by 0.5% year-over-year.
- The Wetting Agent Demand Outlook strengthened in March 2026, supported by a 5.7% rise in industrial production year-over-year.
- Sluggish retail sales growth of 1.7% and a 1.0% CPI increase in March 2026 softened consumer end-use demand.
- An unemployment rate of 5.4% in March 2026 and a 91.6 consumer confidence index in February 2026 dampened household spending.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, driving higher consumption of industrial formulations and supporting the broader market.
- Textile exports expanded in Q1 2026, which strengthened the overall consumption of embedded textile chemicals during the quarter.
- The Wetting Agent Price Forecast remained elevated in March 2026 because ethylene oxide availability tightened significantly regionally.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in March 2026 in APAC?
- Naphtha feedstock costs surged in March 2026 following severe global supply tightening and market disruptions.
- Supply of critical ethylene oxide precursor tightened significantly in March 2026 amid regional supply disruptions.
- Refineries reduced chemical output for fuel production in Q1 2026, constraining upstream surfactant feedstock availability.
Wetting Agent Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2026, driven by surging naphtha feedstock costs.
- The Wetting Agent Production Cost Trend increased in March 2026 as inflation reached 2.7%, elevating regional utility expenses.
- Despite producer prices declining 0.2% in March 2026, naphtha feedstock costs for regional wetting agent production surged upward.
- The Wetting Agent Demand Outlook remained flat in February 2026, reflecting stagnant industrial production at 0.0%.
- Retail sales growth of 0.7% and a 4.2% unemployment rate in February 2026 supported consumer-driven consumption.
- Deeply negative consumer confidence at -24.7 in March 2026 pressured the Wetting Agent Price Index in decorative markets.
- The Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, while the automotive industry demand for wetting agents expanded in February 2026.
- The Wetting Agent Price Forecast captured upward momentum in March 2026 as global petrochemical supply tightened significantly.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in March 2026 in Europe?
- Naphtha feedstock costs and European ethylene precursor costs strengthened significantly during March 2026, elevating production expenses.
- Global petrochemical supply tightened considerably due to severe Middle East disruptions observed throughout March 2026.
- The regional Manufacturing Index expanded in March 2026, directly driving higher consumption of industrial processing aids.
For the Quarter Ending December 2025
Wetting Agent Prices in APAC
- In China, the Wetting Agent Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025, influenced by weak producer prices and consumer demand. Meanwhile, prices of Wetting Agent hovered around 1980 USD/MT in Asia on a CFR basis.
- Wetting Agent production costs increased in Q4 2025, driven by fatty alcohol feedstock costs strengthening from Q3 2025.
- Industrial production in China rose 5.2% year-over-year in December 2025, supporting industrial Wetting Agent demand.
- The Producer Price Index fell 1.9% year-over-year in December 2025, indicating broad deflationary pressure.
- Consumer demand remained subdued, with retail sales growing only 0.9% year-over-year in December 2025.
- China's manufacturing activity expanded in December 2025, improving new orders for Wetting Agent after earlier contraction.
- The Consumer Price Index rose 0.8% year-over-year in December 2025, reflecting limited inflationary pressure.
- Raw material inventories for Wetting Agent declined in October 2025, showing a narrowing decline by December 2025.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in December 2025 in APAC?
- Producer Price Index fell 1.9% year-over-year in December 2025, indicating broad deflationary pressures.
- Consumer Price Index rose 0.8% year-over-year in December 2025, reflecting weak end-user demand.
- Fatty alcohol feedstock costs strengthened into Q4 2025, exerting upward pressure on production costs.
Wetting Agent Prices in North America
- In the United States, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q4 2025, driven by persistent cost pressures.
- Wetting Agent production costs increased due to a 2.7% year-over-year CPI in December 2025 and a 3.0% PPI in November 2025.
- Demand for Wetting Agent saw an upward trend, supported by a 2.0% year-over-year industrial production increase in December 2025.
- Robust consumer spending, indicated by a 3.3% year-over-year retail sales increase in November 2025, bolstered Wetting Agent demand.
- Crude oil prices generally weakened throughout Q4 2025, while natural gas prices rallied in late October 2025.
- US industrial production increased in December 2025, recovering from an October 2025 decline.
- Manufacturing output remained tepid during October-November 2025, impacting overall industrial demand for Wetting Agent.
- Global crude oil and liquid fuels inventories built up significantly during Q4 2025, influencing feedstock availability.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in December 2025 in North America?
- Rising input costs, with CPI increasing 2.7% year-over-year in December 2025, pressured Wetting Agent prices upward.
- Increased industrial production by 2.0% year-over-year in December 2025 boosted demand for Wetting Agent.
- Weakening crude oil prices in December 2025 provided some cost relief, partially offsetting other cost increases.
Wetting Agent Prices in Europe
- In Germany, the Wetting Agent Price Index fell in Q4 2025, driven by competitive pressures and producer-level deflation in December 2025.
- Wetting Agent production costs increased in Q4 2025 due to strengthened fatty alcohol feedstock values from Q3 2025.
- Overall chemical industry demand in Germany remained weak throughout 2025, despite modest retail sales growth of 1.1% in November 2025.
- The Manufacturing Index in Germany was contracting in December 2025, signaling reduced industrial activity and impacting Wetting Agent demand.
- German industrial production grew modestly by 0.8% year-over-year in October 2025, offering slight support for Wetting Agent demand.
- Consumer confidence in Germany was significantly pessimistic at -17.5 in December 2025, dampening consumer-driven Wetting Agent applications.
- A 6.2% unemployment rate in December 2025 indicated a weak labor market, negatively impacting consumer spending and Wetting Agent demand.
- Producer Price Index declined by 2.5% year-over-year in December 2025, reflecting weak pricing power across industrial sectors.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in December 2025 in Europe?
- Increased competitive pressure from abroad compelled German chemical companies to lower prices in October.
- Producer Price Index declined by 2.5% year-over-year in December 2025, reflecting weak industrial pricing power.
- Weak overall chemical industry demand in Germany throughout 2025 contributed to downward price trends.
For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• In United States, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, influenced by firm market sentiment and export activity.
• Wetting Agent production costs increased in Q3 2025, driven by rising palm kernel oil and coconut oil prices.
• Demand for fatty alcohols remained steady in Q3 2025 from detergent, surfactant, and cosmetics industries.
• Construction spending in the United States increased to $2148.0 billion in September 2025, supporting some end-use sectors.
• Natural gas prices averaged $3.81/MMBtu in September 2025, easing due to mild weather and strong shale output.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in September 2025 in North America?
• Rising palm kernel and coconut oil prices increased fatty alcohol production costs in Q3 2025.
• Tight fatty alcohol channel inventories in North America constrained supply throughout Q3 2025.
• Steady fatty alcohol export shipments to Latin America reinforced firm market sentiment in Q3 2025.
APAC
• In China, the Wetting Agent Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, driven by declining feedstock costs.
• Wetting Agent production costs decreased in Q3 2025, as raw chemical materials PPI fell 6.5% in July.
• Demand for Wetting Agents was supported in Q3 2025, with Industrial Production rising 6.5% in September.
• The Wetting Agent Price Forecast suggests stability or slight declines, due to persistent feedstock oversupply.
• Strong retail sales, up 3.0% in September, boosted demand for consumer products using Wetting Agents.
• Ethylene Oxide oversupply in Q3 2025 contributed to lower Wetting Agent production costs in APAC.
• New hazardous chemical standards may influence future operational costs for Wetting Agent producers.
• Natural Gas prices remained competitive at USD 2.72 per MMBtu in Q3 2025, stabilizing energy inputs.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in September 2025 in APAC?
• Declining Ethylene Oxide prices in Q3 2025, a key feedstock, reduced Wetting Agent production costs.
• A 6.5% decrease in raw chemical materials PPI in July 2025 lowered overall input expenses.
• Oversupply and inventory overhang of Ethylene Oxide in Q3 2025 created downward price pressure.
Europe
• In Germany, the Wetting Agent Price Index rose QoQ in Q3 2025, driven by higher feedstock costs.
• Production costs increased in Q3 2025, due to elevated fatty alcohol prices and imported lauric oils.
• Demand for Wetting Agents in detergent, personal care, and paint sectors remained robust in Europe in Q3 2025.
• Consumer confidence remained pessimistic at -23.5 points in September 2025, impacting consumer Wetting Agent demand.
• Limited fatty alcohol imports and logistics delays in Q3 2025 tightened regional Wetting Agent availability.
• Natural gas prices retreated in Q3 2025, offering some relief to Wetting Agent production costs.
Why did the price of Wetting Agent change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Fatty alcohol feedstock prices rose 1.95% QoQ in Q3 2025, increasing production costs.
• Limited imports and logistics delays in Q3 2025 tightened availability, supporting Wetting Agent prices.
• Industrial production declined 0.8% QoQ in Q3 2025, moderating overall Wetting Agent demand.
