Pentaerythritol Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

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

For the Second Quarter of 2022

Asia

Pentaerythritol prices in the Asian market exhibited a consistent price trend, despite some minor fluctuations over the course of time. Moreover, the price decreased by 2% from the previous quarter. The cost of producing PENT dropped quickly over time due to continually falling feedstock costs for acetaldehyde and formaldehyde.

However, as the quarter came to a close, PENT expenses slightly climbed in June as a result of methanol supply difficulties brought on by the region's high raw material costs as well as rising energy and fuel prices. PENT continued to be in high demand from downstream sectors, and product offtakes remained steady in Q2 2022.

Europe

The price trends for Pentaerythritol in the European region remained stable, and the product's prices climbed somewhat over the quarter. The price of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, which are used to make PENT, climbed somewhat in the second quarter.

Cost pressure was brought on by rising energy and gas prices as a result of NG supply constraints. As a specialised chemical, nevertheless, its production rates were minimal and solely based on demand, so both the product demand and offtakes in the area remained modest. In addition, product shipments were hampered by port container constraints, which subsided by the end of Q2.

North America

Throughout Q2, the pentaerythritol price trend in the North American region was steady and firm. Feed formaldehyde prices fluctuated throughout the period, and average acetaldehyde prices and steadily falling natural gas prices raised the cost of producing PENT in the first half of the quarter.

But following the fire event at the LNG port, natural gas costs varied at the end of Q2, and they sharply dropped, stabilising the PENT's production costs. Due to the continued modest demand, production rates were lowered to satisfy the needs of the domestic market, and product offtakes were stable.

For the First Quarter of 2022

Asia

With prices starting at 2616 USD/MT Ex-Mumbai in India during January, market attitudes prepared the way for moderate firmness in the Pentaerythritol (PENT) market in India and China this quarter. Following the festive season in India, prices rebounded in Q1, with a 7% gain in this quarter compared to the previous one and an increase in demand from downstream purchasers.

Monthly changes were noticed, resulting in a steady increase in its pricing in China. The domestic market's demand fundamentals remained constant to robust, impacting this price trend. Furthermore, regular price adjustments for PENT in China were influenced by production halts.

Europe

Pentaerythritol prices in Europe increased in the first quarter of 2022, starting at 2510 USD/MT FOB Hamburg in Germany, due to rising crude oil costs as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As a result of the war's impact on European logistics, export prices from Germany have risen.

High energy values, on the other hand, continued to send shockwaves through the product's manufacturing costs. PENT pricing in the European market was also made easier by consistent ease within and across oceanic trading rates. The market was robust throughout the quarter due to the growing downstream market for adhesives and plasticizers.

North America

In the first quarter of 2022, pentaerythritol prices in North America climbed, starting at 2345 USD/MT FOB Texas in January. Pentaerythritol prices have risen due to increased demand from the downstream synthetic resins, paints, coatings, and varnishes sectors, as well as lower stockpiles and supply rates.

The price increased in the upstream formaldehyde and acetaldehyde markets due to the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, which indirectly influenced the price of crude petroleum. The cost of freight and shipping increased, affecting import costs in the United States and ultimately raising product prices.

For the Fourth Quarter of 2021

Asia

In Q4 2021, PENT pricing in the domestic market was extremely erratic. Following the Indian festival season, prices rose in October due to increased demand from downstream consumers. With lowering supply from the foreign market, prices steadily stabilised in November. Traders were concerned about offtakes from some segments in the midst of the loom in the polymer sector.

After seeing an incredible increase in demand throughout the Christmas season, major manufacturers indicated a dullness in the polymer industry. Market attitude for PENT in India eventually decreased, however small price gains were noted due to inflationary pressure. As a result, during December, pentaerythritol prices were heard hanging around 2170 USD/MT.

Europe

The pentaerythritol market slowed in Q4 2021, owing to sufficient feedstock supply and a reduction in demand. High energy levels, on the other hand, continued to have an impact on the product's manufacturing costs. Pricing on the European market was also made easier by consistent ease in inter and intra oceanic trade rates. Throughout Q4, the holiday season and little trade activity kept the PENT market in the area almost constant.

North America

Pentaerythritol prices in North America dropped significantly, as the prices of the feedstocks Acetaldehyde and Formaldehyde decreased. Furthermore, decreased demand from downstream industries such as paints and coatings led to PENT's negative pricing trend throughout this time period.

The slowdown in market activity and steady reductions in freight charges also helped to lower PENT pricing in Q4. Pentaerythritol prices in the United States were estimated at 2100 USD/MT in December, notwithstanding the lacklustre demand trend.

For First, Second and Third Quarters of 2021

Asia

Prices of its upstream methanol increased as demand increased quickly and supply was hampered. Multiple plant shutdowns in the United States impeded upstream methanol supplies, affecting the availability of feedstock formaldehyde and, as a result, PENT production across the area. During second quarter, the Asian market had strong sentiment for the chemical, which supported prices across the region.

Traders in China reported strong domestic offtakes as a result of improving economic activity, which has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. While in India, prices were buoyant despite weaker demand from the local polymer industry, as dealers predicted a speedy rebound, as offtakes improved week on week in June.

As a result, there was a significant price increase in June, with prices hovering over 1926 USD/MT in India. Pentaerythritol prices ex-Mumbai ended at 2460.97 USD/MT in September, an increase of about 132 USD/MT from July.

Europe

During Q1 2021, demand for PENT in Europe fluctuated from mild to low. Although other industries, such as adhesives and cosmetics, improved over the previous quarter, as several nations began to recover from the second wave of COVID 19 across the region.

Throughout Europe, pentaerythritol costs increased dramatically in the second quarter. This increase in demand was fueled by improved economic activity as a result of post-pandemic recovery in numerous European nations. Furthermore, an exceptional spike in demand for polyols such as PENT boosted market sentiments, with supply being tight during this era.

As a result, big manufacturers were forced to increase product prices. Pentaerythritol prices in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa increased by 354.3 USD/MT, effective July 1, 2021. Prices in Europe continued to rise throughout the third quarter, owing to a scarcity of feedstock and poor production rates due to the energy crisis.

Furthermore, the PENT market saw strong demand from downstream industries, causing ripples in pricing across the area. Furthermore, delivery delays caused by rising freight costs and restricted container availability supported the increase in PENT values this quarter. In September, FOB Hamburg prices increased to 2340 USD/MT.

North America

Significant demand for upstream methanol from the fuel industry, along with a global scarcity, boosted the prices, which lingered above 1560 USD/MT in February 2021, while also raising feedstock formaldehyde costs across the area. During Q2 2021, prices continued to rise, boosted by increased demand from the downstream industry across the area. Prices increased from 1854 USD/MT to 2050 USD/MT due to rising feedstock prices and strong offtakes.

The cost of various feedstock chemicals continued to rise, boosting demand for polyols. Price in North America increased exponentially in Q3, owing to a jump in the pricing of feedstocks acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. Furthermore, increased demand from downstream industries such as paints and varnishes led to the upward trend in PENT price in this time frame.

For the Year 2020

Asia

Due to a supply constraint from Iran in November, China saw a significant increase in the price of the raw material methanol, which led to an increase in the price of all methanol derivatives, including the feedstock formaldehyde. Due to the forced shutdown of many facilities in North India by the Indian government in November, the supply of formaldehyde remained scarce.

Following the discovery of multiple factories operating without environmental clearances, these shutdowns were expected. The abrupt shortage for formaldehyde across Southeast Asia directly impacted the prices of PENT in the region.

Europe

Europe also had a shortfall of upstream methanol in Q4 2020, which resulted in a scarcity of its derivative products such as methanal and pentaerythritol. Furthermore, an incredible fire at Equinor's methanol manufacturing plant rattled the region's upstream methanol supplies.

The occurrence had a direct impact on pentaerythritol market fundamentals in Q4 2020. Although the demand of PENT from the domestic market like paint, varnish and PVC was decent throughout the quarter, market players could not gain much due to limited availability of feedstock.

North America

Due to a series of storms in the Gulf Coast in November 2020, the PENT market in the United States was badly impacted. The supply of downstream derivatives such as feedstock methanal was reduced while output of numerous upstream goods such as methanol remained low.

Because demand for PENT from the domestic market remained high owing to consistent economic recovery after COVID 19, pentaerythritol prices increased in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Pentaerythritol. 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.