Bisphenol A Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Bisphenol A in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Bisphenol A (BPA) Price Trend for the Q1 of 2024

Asia

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a crucial chemical that is made primarily from phenol and acetone. Thus, the price trends for bisphenol A align very strongly with both the feedstock phenol and acetone. BPA is extensively used in the plastics and resin industries as a major building block. The BPA market in the Asian region was also being driven by the downstream demands from these abovementioned consuming sectors.

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The quarter began with strong inventory support as the existing stocks were able to support the incoming queries and orders. The market offtakes were also very limited as the consuming sectors were struggling with a decline in the end consumer demands. These factors pushed the price trajectory in the reverse direction. However, crude oil prices saw incredible surges during this time. The production and other upstream costs also inclined which provided some cost support to the struggling market. Overall, wavering patterns were observed with positive market sentiments.

Europe

In the European bisphenol A market, the plunging demands were more influential as the prices were mostly observed to be wavering at the lower point of the price curve. Various plants were under maintenance shutdowns, which curtailed the demand perspective for the regional BPA markets.

International trade was also seeing a downtime because of the disturbed supply chains and other logistic related issues. Though the feedstock prices were able to provide some upstream cost support, however, it was not significant enough to completely compensate for the demand deficit. Overall, dull market performance was witnessed throughout the said period.

North America

The American BPA market also behaved in a similar manner to the Asian and European BPA markets. The plastics and polymer industries here were not offering any notable demands to sustain the prices. However, the suppliers were cautious and acquired a wait-and-watch approach. This move provided some counterbalance to the price dynamics. Along with this, the global rise in energy costs also pushed the market up a little. Conclusively, a very average market trajectory was witnessed during the given period.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, considering the current state of supply and demand intertwining, the Bisphenol A prices are expected to behave in a similar way going forward.

Bisphenol A Price Trend for the October - December of 2023

Asia

The Bisphenol A price trend were observed to be ascending swiftly during the final quarter of the year 2023. Since Bisphenol A is heavily utilized by the plastic manufacturing industry, the price trend vary along with these demand patterns.

The variations in feedstock phenol and acetone market trend also influence the Bisphenol A market. During the discussed time period, the Indian Bisphenol A market ascended by around 2%, as the monthly average prices in the market shifted from around 1658 USD/MT (CIF, India) in October 2023 to around 1705 USD/MT in December 2023. Overall, positive market sentiments were observed for Bisphenol A during the said period.

Europe

The European Bisphenol A market was observed to be wavering on the weaker side during the concerned span of Q4’23. The market barely got any cost support from its feedstock materials, acetone, and phenol, as both were observed to be depreciating around this time. The sluggishness in manufacturing activities around the New Year holiday season primarily caused this slump in the Bisphenol A market behavior. Overall, a weak market performance was observed by Bisphenol A in the European market.

North America

Contrary to the European market, the North American Bisphenol A market performed fairly well on the price index. With stable and inclining demands, the prices also grew. The raw materials acetone and phenol were able to provide substantial cost support. Overall, positive market trend were witnessed.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Bisphenol A market projections appear positive for the coming months. Despite some regional variations, the prices are likely to continue rising going forward.

Bisphenol A Price Trend for the July-September of 2023

Asia

Bisphenol A is heavily consumed in plastics and its associated industries. So, the demand patterns from these plastic industries, along with the feedstock phenol and acetone prices, guided the bisphenol A price graphs. The period under discussion saw positive growth in the regional prices of bisphenol A.

With rising demand, the prices inclined on the price graph, but the inclination was not very steep. In the Chinese domestic market, the average spot prices went from around 1300 USD/MT in July’23 to about 1365 USD/MT in September ’23, recording an approximate escalation of around 5%. Similarly, in India, the prices went from around 1552 USD/MT in July’23 to about 1620 USD/MT in September’23 (CIF, India). Overall, a positive market outlook was observed during the said period.

Europe

Following the Asian market trend, the bisphenol A prices in the European region also exhibited escalating price trend in the third quarter of 2023. Since the European manufacturing industries were trying to pick up pace after a long halt because of the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine, the demands rose for bisphenol A, and the prices too followed.

North America

The North American Bisphenol A market behaved in accordance with the global rising trend, as the surge in downstream demands promoted the Bisphenol A price trend as well. Overall, strong pricing fundamentals and a healthy market outlook were observed.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Bisphenol A prices are likely to maintain this rising momentum going forward as well.

Bisphenol A Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

The Bisphenol A market in Asia remained fluctuating in the first half of 2023. Prices started declining in the first quarter because of limited offtakes from downstream industries. Suppliers revised quotations multiple times to clear the inventory stocks, but inquiries were still bearish.

As the quarter changed, a little push was given by the rise in feedstock prices, but the slow demand dynamic pulled the price trend back down. In the Chinese market, the prices of bisphenol A averaged around 9212 RMB/MT (East China) towards the end of June '23. The Indian domestic market mimicked the same outlook as its Chinese counterpart, where the Bisphenol A prices averaged approximately 1585 USD/MT (CIF, India) in June '23.

Europe

The European market price trend for Bisphenol-A remained subdued due to dampened demands. Inventories were already filled with the supplies from the previous year, which easily catered to the limited demands the market posed. Cheaper offers from the Asian market were also available, which further affected the profit margins of domestic suppliers/manufacturers. Overall, the market trend were muted and lacked any serious positive movement.

North America

The American market behaved no differently in terms of Bisphenol-A price trend. The market had ample supplies owing to cheap Asian imports and lowered upstream cost pressure. But the poor demand patterns with bearish offtakes didn't leave room for much product movement. The demand dynamics could not take off even with the supply chain's normalization. Another reason for such bearish sentiments was the failure of two major US banks, and the rise in interest rates directly impacted end consumers' purchasing capacities and behavior.

Analyst Insight

According to the Procurement Resource, the Bisphenol-A market is expected to continue wavering in a similar pattern. The improvement in demand dynamics and purchasing enthusiasm can lift the market, providing the other factors held constant.

Bisphenol A Price Trend for the Second Half of 2022

Asia Pacific

The Asian Pacific market saw a fluctuating trend in the prices of bisphenol A. During the initial months of the third quarter, the prices declined as the feedstock prices declined. The prices increased in the end months of this quarter as some of the production plants underwent construction and the majority of bisphenol-A producing countries reduced their operational costs. In the fourth quarter the rise in inventories, decrease in inquiries from the polymer industries, and dull trend in the international market severely affected the concerned market.

Europe

The European region was also not in favour of the prices of bisphenol-A. The market was majorly affected by the fluctuating costs of feedstock and reduced offtakes from the downstream industries. This led to a decline in the production costs. The prices rose a little in the second month of the third quarter considering the fall in water levels in Germany (required for freight transport) and the high inflation being experienced by the region. However, soon the momentum fizzled out as the offtakes became stagnant. The fourth quarter saw a stable supply of imports from other nations which coupled with the muted demand caused the price trend for Bisphenol A to decline.

North America

The North American region showcased a fluctuating pattern in the price trend for Bisphenol-A. The West issued sanctions on the import of Russian crude oil and the rising inflation along with decreased demand from the end-user industries led to the decline in the prices. Thus, the market uncertainties, rise in inflation, recession, and weak interest of the market buyers negatively affected the market and led to the decline in the price trend of bisphenol-A.

Analyst Insight

The prices of Bisphenol A are estimated to showcase a mixed trend in the upcoming quarter. The market sentiment is expected to turn positive in the long run. As the feedstock prices recover, it will positively impact the Bisphenol A prices.

Bisphenol A Price Tred For the First Half of 2022

Asia

Prices for bisphenol A during the first quarter of 2022 in Asia reflect mixed feelings. In January and February, prices declined owing to the weak demand from the domestic market together with the large inventory levels in the downstream industries. The price dropped from January to February by around 4.4%. As a result, by the quarter ending in 2022, Bisphenol A prices in India averaged 3056 USD/MT in March.

The price trend for Bisphenol A for the quarter ending June 2022 was lowered by the subpar buying sentiments from the Indian domestic market. Due to the low demand for the product, downstream plastic producers saw a decline in Bisphenol A demand. Additionally, the local market's raw material costs demonstrated a downward trend. As a result, the price of phenol feedstock and crude downstream caused a decline in the Bisphenol A market.

Europe

Prices for bisphenol A showed a slight increase in the first quarter of 2022. Due to rising upstream oil, feedstock, and acetone and phenol costs brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Bisphenol A prices increased. Furthermore, the market for Bisphenol A was impacted by the trade interruption brought on by rising gasoline prices.

The cost of bisphenol A in Turkey rose to 1642 USD/MT CFR Izmir in March. Bisphenol A price trend showed an upward tendency during the second quarter of 2022. The rising demand from downstream derivative polycarbonate markets, which influenced the pricing of bisphenol A, supported the price increase. Following the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Bisphenol A demand increased and domestic market spending increased.

North America

Prices for bisphenol A showed a mixed trend and significant price volatility during the first quarter of 2022. Due to the restricted usage of BPA in plastics used in food packaging, as excessive exposure to BPA can be dangerous, the price of bisphenol A increased in January and then decreased in February. BPA prices fell by 3.2% in February, settling at 4060 USD/MT FOC Texas.

During the second quarter of 2022, the price trend for bisphenol A was inconsistent in the US market. The price of the feedstock benzene and phenol increased due to the tight supply of upstream petroleum and the sanctions placed on the import of Russian crude, which also affected the values of bisphenol A. Inflation and concerns about an impending recession drove up the price of bisphenol A in June.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, bisphenol A prices are expected to weaken compared to the previous months. The sufficient availability of feedstock acetone at reduced prices will lead to stockpiling of the product in the market, given the dwindling offtakes.

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