Carbomer Price Trend and Forecast

Carbomer Regional Price Overview

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

Carbomer Price Trend for the First Half of 2024

In the first half of 2024, the pricing outlook for carbomers, key thickeners, and stabilizers used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics was closely tied to the fluctuating dynamics of the acrylic acid market, their primary raw material. The beginning of the year saw muted activity in the acrylic acid market, with weak demand and controlled supply keeping prices stable despite fluctuations in crude oil and feedstock costs. Suppliers in China adopted a cautious approach, limiting bulk purchases to manage market conditions, which led to a slight price improvement by the end of Q1. Moving into Q2'24, the market saw a brief price increase driven by strong downstream demand and tight supply.
 

Carbomer Price Chart

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However, this momentum was short-lived as declining propylene prices, reduced overall production costs, stabilizing carbomer prices. Despite some production shutdowns and supply chain challenges, the market's slow growth led to sellers offering discounts to maintain demand. Carbomers followed a price pattern of initial increases followed by stabilization. As H1'24 progressed, the carbomer market remained cautious, with prices reflecting the broader uncertainties and dynamics of the acrylic acid sector.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Carbomer prices are expected to remain fluctuating in the coming months. Price fluctuations will remain tied to the feedstock acrylic acid markets.
 

Carbomer Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

Carbomer refers to a class of synthetic high-molecular-weight polymers primarily used as thickening, suspending, and stabilizing agents in various industries. In cosmetics and personal care products, carbomers are common ingredients in gels, creams, lotions, and ointments. They also find application in pharmaceuticals, serving as ingredients in topical gels, eye drops, and oral medications. They are basically polymers of acrylic acid, which is the major contributor to determining its price trajectory.

During H2 of 2023, the carbomer market in Asia experienced a downturn due to falling propylene prices, weak downstream demand, and limited inquiries. Unit shutdowns compounded additional challenges for the trader community. However, market dynamics shifted towards the end of the fourth quarter as downstream industries rebounded and raised their interest, swiftly depleting existing inventories and signaling an upward trend. In Europe, rising propylene prices and increased trading activity initially boosted the carbomer market. Throughout Q3 and Q4 of 2023, the market was driven by disruptions in supply chains, depleting inventories, and higher upstream costs.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price of Carbomer is estimated to showcase an appreciation in its quoted prices globally as the cost of feedstock acrylic acid is inching toward an upward trajectory.
 

Carbomer Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Carbomers are polymer emulsions primarily used by the pharma and cosmetic industries for their jellifying properties. Since acrylic acid is their major feedstock substance, the prices depend greatly on the acrylic acid prices.

During the first six months of 2023, due to the rising interest and the growth in the self-care sector, the downstream demands for carbomer bloomed, thereby positively supporting the market. But, the lack of upstream cost support riddled the market fundamentals.

Lowered feedstock prices, along with stabilizing energy and crude oil sectors and restored supply chains and newer trade routes amidst various geopolitical tensions, brought the production costs down substantially. So, the Carbomer prices also kept swinging on the lower end of the price curve throughout the discussed time period.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Carbomer offers positive market projections with supportive demand dynamics from its consuming sectors.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Carbomer. Each price database is tied to a user-friendly graphing tool dating back to 2014, which provides a range of functionalities: configuration of price series over user defined time period; comparison of product movements across countries; customisation of price currencies and unit; extraction of price data as excel files to be used offline.