Isobutene Price Trend and Forecast

Isobutene Regional Price Overview

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

Isobutene Price Trend for the Q3 of 2024

Asia

The Asian isobutene market demonstrated a strong upward trajectory during Q3'24, though marked by notable fluctuations. The market gained momentum from rising feedstock costs, particularly as Saudi Aramco implemented significant price hikes.
 

Isobutene Price Chart

Please Login or Subscribe to Access the Isobutene Price Chart Data
 

The strengthening LPG market, coupled with seasonal demand patterns, provided substantial support to isobutene prices. However, periodic oscillations were observed due to varying downstream demand and temporary supply gluts in certain sub-regions. The market particularly strengthened towards the quarter-end as winter preparation began, driving demand from the downstream sectors.

Europe

European isobutene prices maintained an overall positive trend throughout Q3'24, albeit with considerable volatility. The market drew support from firm feedstock costs and steady demand from the polymer and fuel additives sectors. Prices oscillated as players adjusted positions in response to changing downstream market dynamics and shifting energy costs. Supply remained relatively tight, with some producers conducting maintenance activities, which helped sustain the upward price momentum despite periodic demand fluctuations.

North America

The US domestic market exhibited an upward trend during Q3'24, characterized by frequent price swings. The market gained strength from robust feedstock costs and healthy demand from the rubber and fuel sectors. Supply constraints emerged periodically due to production issues and logistics challenges, contributing to price volatility. However, the overall trend remained positive as steady industrial demand and strong upstream costs provided consistent support to market fundamentals.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Isobutene market is expected to maintain its bullish momentum, supported by strengthening feedstock prices and seasonal demand patterns.
 

Isobutene Price Trend for the First Half of 2024

Stay updated with the latest Isobutene prices, historical data, and tailored regional analysis
 

Asia

During the first half of the year 2024, isobutene prices showcased an oscillating price performance. The market was being driven by several attributes. In the upstream factors, the variations in the petrochemical sectors influenced the overall pricing outlook. Along with that, the persistent inventory pressure in the Indian market also kept the domestic isobutene market anchored. Initially, with the surge in crude oil prices in the early months, a momentary uptick in isobutene prices was also noticed. However, with the excess stock accumulation, the price graph again pivoted downward.

Moving on in the second quarter, the crude oil prices also observed a downhill trek, which further pushed down the isobutene prices in the Indian domestic and regional markets. The average price, which stood at around 1610 USD/MT (CIF) in January’24, went to approximately 1584 USD/MT (CIF) by June’24. This price shift indicates the range-bound nature of the Indian isobutene market for the given time period.

Europe

In the European markets, too, the price performance of isobutene continued to fluctuate. After a moderate run in the first quarter because of a surge in crude oil prices, the market fell even more in the second quarter of the year 2024. As the upstream dynamics were largely settled down for the majority of the said period, the demand outlook became the primary driver for the isobutene market trend.

Since isobutene inventories were already supportive, the demands remained between low to regular levels throughout the given span. With price drivers exerting forces in both upward and downward directions on isobutene prices, the market mostly remained confined. Overall, the European isobutene market lacked enthusiasm for the majority of H1’24.

North America

In the American isobutene markets, the price performance was not very different from the Asian and European markets. The first quarter was still slightly positive compared to the second quarter. However, the overall market sentiments still remained dull. The chemical and solvent industries were operating with stability and the supply and demand dynamics were also mostly buoyant. Therefore, the prices were mostly tepid for isobutene in the US markets.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Isobutene prices are expected to showcase range-bound oscillations in the coming months. The prices will take some time to improve going ahead.
 

Isobutene Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

Stay updated with the latest Isobutene prices, historical data, and tailored regional analysis
 

Asia

The Isobutene market observed a strong trajectory during the second half of the year 2023. The price curve, however, was slightly more inclined in the third quarter, and the market performance by large was positive. The third quarter was marginally supportive for most of the petrochemicals and allied products since OPEC+ decided to monitor the oil outflow in the global markets. However, the fourth quarter saw some dip in prices, particularly in the Chinese market as the upstream costs started reducing. In the Indian Isobutene market, the monthly average prices went from about 1530 USD/MT in July’23 to about 1620 USD/MT in December’23, registering an overall growth of about 5% at the isobutene price index.

Europe

Isobutene prices in the European market were observed to be varying for both Q3 and Q4 of 2023. The market started to firm at the beginning of the third quarter. The demands from the fuel additive industries were high and pushed the price graph up. However, as the fourth quarter began, the prices started to depreciate despite the domestic consumption remaining steady. The fluctuations in the crude oil markets were reflected in the isobutene price trend as well. Overall, a largely oscillating trend was observed.

North America

The North American market trend for isobutene showed a very close resemblance with the European price curve of Isobutene. The prices started strong at the beginning of the third quarter here as well. The demands were regular and steady throughout the said period. However, the supplies were a little tight during the third quarter. This situation reversed later on in the later months of the final quarter. When the supplies started exceeding demand, the price trend also started dropping in the fourth quarter.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, after dipping in the global markets in the last quarter, the Isobutene prices will strive for stabilization going forward. Immediate changes are not anticipated; however, market appreciation is very likely after some time.
 

Isobutene Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

Isobutene observed mixed price trends during the first half of the year 2023. The Chinese industries were trying to revive after a standstill brought by the Covid 19 lockdown. So, with a rise in industrial and economic activities, demands also increased for isobutene from the downstream polymer, chemical, resin, fuel, etc. industries. This led to an inclination in prices from the beginning of the first quarter.

These rising trends continued till the middle of the second quarter, and the market witnessed a good period of growth. However, the demands stabilized after a certain point, and the supplies started piling up in inventories; this led to a shift in market momentum as suppliers started discounting the prices to maintain the stock movement. A slight depreciation in the market trends was witnessed in the latter half of the second quarter.

Europe

Following in the Asian footsteps, the Isobutene prices fluctuated in the European markets, too. After a rapid rise with high demands in the first quarter, prices subsided in the second. Reduction in the upstream costs with stabilization in crude oil prices was the biggest reason behind falling trends. Overall, mixed market sentiments were observed for isobutene in H1’23.

North America

The North American Isobutene market followed its Asian and European counterparts as the prices rose for the majority of the first quarter after declining in the second. However, the market sentiments were relatively muted here because a rise in interest rates after the collapse of two major US banks proved detrimental to industrial operations.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the Isobutene price trends will likely be affected by the uncertain downstream demands and will fluctuate further in the upcoming months.
 

Isobutene Price Trend for the Second Half of 2022

Asia

Isobutene price trend in the second half of 2022 showed very oscillating patterns. Asian markets witnessed highs and lows but remained stable and afloat for most of the second half of 2022. Q3 had more fluctuations with highs pertaining to occasional high demands and rises in energy prices, hiking the production costs.

Whereas lows were concerned with easy feedstock availability. Isobutene price trend in Q4 however, were more plateaued compared to Q3 as downstream demands stayed sluggish, covid restrictions in the Chinese market curtailed the production capacities. Overall trend remained adrift.

Europe

The effects and consequences of the global economic slowdown can very clearly be observed in the EU. High inflation affected the production costs in almost all industrial sectors and the hike in energy prices due to hampered energy supplies because of the Russia – Ukraine conflict worsened the situation. Even though cheap imports from Asian markets aided the situation a little bit, the constant sullen demand patterns couldn’t help the domestic market much. Isobutene prices for the European market stayed slow and wavered.

North America

H2 2022 in North America showed a varied, hybrid trend for Isobutene prices. Market demand determined the downing price trend, feedstock prices, and supply chain hindrances that drove the production costs. As the global economic slowdown affected the industrial manufacturing sector. And year-end is accompanied by the holiday season which also accounts for low industrial activities. Overall, the isobutene price trend remained afloat.

Analyst insight

According to Procurement Resource, the isobutene market trend will seemingly remain fluctuating. As global GDP suffers, the manufacturing sector is slowing down. The probability of the Isobutene market regaining momentum seems wavered.
 

Isobutene Price Trend For the First Half of 2022

Asia

The price trend for isobutene showed an upward pattern in the Asia-Pacific region during the said period. The unprecedented market volatility owing to complex geopolitical realities coupled with the reemergence of covid-19 cases caused the manufacturers to raise their quotations for petrochemicals.

The price of isobutene averaged 1666 USD/MT Ex-Mumbai during the first quarter. These higher quotations were supported by the solid downstream demand from elastomers and the gasoline additives market. These higher prices continued in the second quarter despite the lowering of the crude oil prices because the factories started churning out products at much higher rates to meet the growing market demands.

Europe

The European region faced the direct consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The European embargo on Russian oil and western sanctions triggered an acute economic meltdown with repercussions felt worldwide. The high operating and sourcing costs caused the manufacturers to pass the higher prices on to the customers.

The price of isobutene settled at 1115 USD/MT during the first quarter of the said period. Despite the alarming costs, the prices remained afloat in the market owing to inflated freight charges, labour costs and strong market sentiments.

North America

The price trend for isobutene in the American domestic market closely mimicked the global outlook. The inflated costs, labour and transportation shortages, and supply constraints added to the high operating costs for isobutene. The demand for bio-based fuel additives further propelled the prices of isobutene.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Isobutene. 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.