Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Price Trend and Forecast

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Regional Price Overview

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

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

Asia

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose is a cellulose-based biodegradable polymer that is extensively used in food, beverage, cosmetic, and coating etc. industries. So, its market behavior is greatly determined by the demands posed by these sectors along with the availability and affordability of its feedstock materials, cellulose, methyl chloride, and propylene oxide. The hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose market was observed to be feverish during the given period of H2 of 2023.
 

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Price Chart

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The international orders were lackluster, so the inventories in the Asian regional markets were glutted for the most period. This kept the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose price trends tottering at low levels. However, the later part of the fourth quarter was a little different. As the Houthi issue started unfolding in the Red Sea, the supply chains got disrupted, and the shipping hurdles pushed the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose prices up by hampering the product movement.

Europe

At the beginning of the third quarter, the European hydroxypropyl methylcellulose market was still struggling with feeble stock movement as the regional economic situation was still stabilizing after a long disturbance in the early months of 2023. So, the price trend started weak for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in July and continued on the same trajectory till the middle of the final quarter. The raw material rates, too, could not provide sufficient upstream cost support and further pushed the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose prices down. So, with sufficient supplies and lacking demand, the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose market was mostly muted during the said period.

North America

The North American hydroxypropyl methylcellulose market closely resembled its Asian and European counterparts during the second half of the year 2023. The market continued to rally low here as well. Since both the domestic and international consumption was meek, the suppliers had to cut down the prices in order to maintain the product movement. Overall, weak market sentiments were witnessed.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose price trends are likely to continue to waver in the coming months. Driven primarily by the downstream demands, the market trend is expected to fluctuate going forward as well.
 

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

Fluctuating price trend were observed for Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) in the Asian market during the first half of 2023. Downstream demands were relatively stable, but reduced upstream costs owing to a decline in crude oil prices and freight charges brought the production costs down. At the same time, the inventories were overfilled and were more than capable of catering to existing demands. So, the prices mostly swung low in the first quarter as the suppliers tried to vacate the stocks.

Some momentary oscillations were observed in the second quarter, but overall, the demand stayed flat, and manufacturers actively participated in destocking to initiate positive movement of products in the market. Hence, the HPMC prices kept southward in H1’23.

Europe

The price trend for Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose mostly showed downward wavering patterns in the European market. Prices fell primarily because of feeble demands from the downstream sectors in the face of overflowing inventory levels. Reduced feedstock cellulose and methyl chloride prices also contributed to the falling price trend as the upstream costs were reduced because of easier, faster, and cheaper procurement.

North America

North American Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose market behaved no differently than the global markets. Prices were found to be tottering on the lower levels as a result of low production costs, dull demands, and high inventory levels. Poor market sentiments were observed for HPMC prices.

Analyst Insight

According to the Procurement Resource, the Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose prices are expected to continue fluctuating in the upcoming months, given the bearish demand and falling upstream cost pressures.
 

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Price Trend for the Second Half of 2022

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose market observed fluctuating price trend throughout the second half of 2022. The feedstock cellulose prices wavered on the higher end, but chloromethane prices showed mixed pricing fundamentals. Prices mostly swung high during the third quarter but showed declining sentiments during the fourth quarter.

Q3 was still very much affected by covid 19 lockdown restrictions in China. Supply chains were disturbed, and transport mediums were also disrupted. Uncertainty around the crude oil prices also confused the suppliers. These lockdown after-effects were more prominent in Q3 and subsided slightly in the last quarter but were still influential.

Overall, the prices see-sawed throughout the said period and mostly pendulated high in the third quarter; some rebound was observed in Q4. Overall, the price trend for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose remain unsettled in H2’22, given the market volatilities.

Analyst Insight

According to the Procurement Resource, Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose prices are expected to show downward inclinations in the upcoming months, given the supply and trade normalisations amid falling demands.
 

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Price Trend for the First Half of 2022

Asia

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) prices soared throughout the Asian market due to the raised crude oil prices, trade disruptions, port congestions and robust demand from the downstream food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and polymer industries. The HPMC prices averaged 6015.59 USD/MT during the first quarter in the Indian domestic market.

With the relaxation of the upstream production costs and enhancement of the global supply, the HPMC prices stabilized in the Indian domestic market. The prices declined further in the Chinese domestic arena due to the demand destruction caused by the government’s zero-tolerance covid restrictions.

Europe

The price trend of HPMC remained strengthened throughout the first quarter of the said period. With the European embargo on Russian oil and western sanctions against Russian exports, an acute energy crisis was unleashed across Europe. The surging prices, along with solid demand from the pharma sector, caused the prices of HPMC to inflate. However, the prices stabilized towards the end of the second quarter.

North America

The price trend for HPMC in the US domestic market closely mirrored the global trend. The prices soared during the first quarter owing to high upstream costs. They declined during the second half following the demand destruction and contractionary monetary policy followed by the central bank.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose. 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.