Chloroform Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

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

For the Second Quarter of 2022

Asia

As the Chinese government announced restrictions, the price of chloroform declined rapidly and only stabilized towards the end of the said quarter. Towards the end of June, the government lifted the covid restrictions breathing new life into the market.

Despite the renewed production, the prices remained weak because of the uncertainties in the market amidst supply chain issues. Chloroform price per ton dipped from 5625 RMB in April to 3120.83 RMB in June 2022. The price trend for the chemical consolidated towards the end of this quarter at 2887.50 RMB/MT.

Europe

Compared to Asia, the prices in the European Union rocketed due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine confrontation. Amid the inflated crude oil and freight prices, the price of important feedstock like methanol increased. Methanol futures were announced at around 555 EUR/MT.

North America

In line with the European trends, the cost in the US domestic market remained strong. The futures of feedstock methanol were traded at around 605 USD/MT.

For the First Quarter of 2022

Asia

In February 2022, the chloroform prices in China dipped to 729 USD/MT FOB Qingdao and 735 USD/MT Spot Ex-Qingdao. In January, chloroform prices had been recorded at 745 USD/MT and had since declined by 1.75% in the following month.

The downstream market of chlorine suffered due to the rise in covid cases which affected the demand dynamics in the region along with other factors like logistical issues caused by the clogging of Yangtze River. Trading activities in the region were affected by the lockdowns as the omicron variant spread.

For the Fourth Quarter of 2021

Asia

In Q4, demand was high in the first half and then fell in the second half. Chloroform prices in India decreased towards the end of the year, reaching CFR JNPT levels of 752 USD/MT.

The market had been performing well since the beginning of the winter season, with only a few R-22 manufacturing inquiries. Sharp drops in both essential raw materials, chlorine and methanol, due to plentiful availability in domestic markets were the key supports of the price trend. The drop in market prices has been aided by lower upstream energy tariffs.

Prices were found to be high in comparison to previous quarters, with low demand from downstream businesses. In China, chloroform prices peaked on October 29th, lingering about 996-1006 USD/MT FOB Qingdao due to strong demand, before dropping to 590 USD/MT FOB Qingdao towards the end of the quarter.

North America

In October, the price in the United States increased due to an increase in the price of feedstocks; crude oil and chlorine. Towards the end of the month, the price was noted to be 590 USD/MT Ex-Texas. The growth in demand and optimistic demand from downstream solvent industries boosted exports from the United States to Mexico and other Asian countries.

In November, the price increased even more due to limited supplies on the market, causing a surge in demand for the new one. The chloroform market in the United States was behind at the end of the year, in the last week, due to the New Year break, which slowed down petrochemical trading and made the market uninteresting. Chloroform prices were reported to be 690 USD/MT ex-Texas in December.

Europe

Due to a shortage of the raw ingredient chlorine in Europe, chloroform prices remained influenced in Q4. Chlorine availability in Europe remained limited due to a drop in caustic soda operating rates as a result of high energy costs and an environmental crisis affecting its manufacturing.

Vinnolit's caustic soda plant's force majeure also slowed the availability of its chlorine in the first half of the quarter, which ended in December. Despite the fact that accessibility began to improve by late November with the restart of plant activities, prices remained high due to high energy expenses. Chloroform prices in Germany were observed to be 870 USD/MT FOB Hamburg at the end of the year.

For First, Second and Third Quarters of 2021

Asia

Due to constrained supply in the Northeast Asian region due to a drop in corporate load and low inventory levels, the chloroform market pricing trend in the Asia Pacific region surged substantially. The supply shortage was exacerbated by the industrial unit's reduced throughput during the Chinese lunar New Year holidays.

In mid-March, the Jinling facility in China's Shandong province claimed a 20-day turnaround. Chloroform prices climbed substantially during the Chinese Lunar New Year Holidays, owing to higher pricing for major feedstocks Methanol and Liquid Chlorine, as well as a jump in downstream refrigerant demand due to the forthcoming peak season.

In the Asia Pacific area, the market saw an uptick in Q3 2021, owing to rising feedstock prices of chlorine and methane, as well as sustained demand from end-user industries. Chloroform prices in India surged in the first quarter, rising to 555.69 USD/MT from 519.09 USD/MT, the highest increase since the beginning of the year.

The optimistic realisations of natural gas in the face of a slew of production delays and skyrocketing freight charges along various trade routes connecting Asia contributed significantly to the remarkable upward increase. In September, however, a minor dip in the value of chloroform was accompanied by a gradual easing in trading activity.

North America

During the first quarter of 2021, the North American regional market was severely disrupted, as low availability of critical feedstocks resulted in reduced the production across the area.

The industrial infrastructure in Texas and the surrounding Gulf region failed because it couldn't withstand the sub-zero temperatures brought on by the polar winter storm. Methanol and liquid chlorine prices skyrocketed, which had a comparable impact on the chemical’s pricing. The downstream refrigerant and pharmaceutical industries saw a spike in demand. In the third quarter of 2021, the market in North America displayed mixed sentiments.

The prices were stable at the start of the quarter due to plentiful supply, but a minor increase was noticed in the second half when the Ida hurricane damaged the region's supply chain. Furthermore, a considerable increase in demand from the end-user refrigerant and solvent market, along with a limited supply of feedstock chlorine, resulted in an increase in pricing in the US.

Europe

Due to production difficulties in the Northwest European region, the European chloroform market was still impacted in the first quarter of 2021. The lack of essential feedstocks was caused by transportation delays and limited imports from the United States.

INOVYN scheduled a planned turnaround in March, while Olin's factory in Stade, Germany, was on a planned turnaround in H1 of the quarter. The demand outlook improved as a result of plentiful offtakes from several downstream areas. During Q3 of 2021, the overall price trend of chloroform in Europe remained robust due to constrained supplies as a result of congestion at many Chinese ports.

In addition, rising raw material prices and high import rates due to high freight charges, as well as logistical challenges, resulted in an increase in the price of chloroform in Q3. However, despite the forthcoming low demand season, demand from the downstream refrigerant market remained weak.

For the Year 2020

Asia

Chloroform prices in China in January 2020 was 288 USD/MT, 225 USD/MT in May, 278 USD/MT in September, 284 USD/MT in October. By the end of quarter 4, the price had risen to 582 USD/MT. By the end of Q3, the supply in Asia had stretched as Chinese inventories had risen by the end of Q2, making it difficult for producers to manage production levels.

After a period of stagnation, price discussions in Northeast Asia progressively picked up. Across Asia, supply looked to meet market expectations. Rising feedstock costs backed the price hikes. CFR India prices were around 385 USD/MT in late September, in line with the regional trend.

North America

There was a demand seen in the pharmaceuticals sector at the end of the year for extracting antibiotics, flavors, and vitamins. The US and Canada represented the largest share of the market in the region during 2020. There was seen a rising focus in medical research and the pharmaceuticals sector. The market price was recorded at 670 USD/MT.

Europe

In Q3 2020, the supply resumed its upward trend. As KEM ONE's Methylene Chloride unit in Lavera, France, reopened after a maintenance shutdown in Q2, production margins improved. The pharmaceutical industry's demand for chloroform as a solvent had been increasing. Players were concerned after lockdowns in some European countries were extended due to fears of a second coronavirus outbreak.

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