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.
