Polycarbonate Price Trend and Forecast

Polycarbonate Regionla Price Overview

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

Polycarbonate Price Trend for the Q4 of 2024

Asia

In Q4 of 2024, production in China remained high despite facility shutdowns, leading to a plentiful supply. However, major sectors such as automotive, electronics, and construction did not meet the demand expected by manufacturers.
 

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Buyers prioritized immediate orders and waited for more favorable market conditions, refraining from committing to large purchases. Despite the traditional seasonal increase in demand, it never materialized, contributing to market stagnation. Suppliers lowered prices to stimulate more orders, but high inventory levels hindered the market's growth.

Europe

In Europe, the situation mirrored that of China. Market sentiment was dampened in the construction and automotive sectors due to economic uncertainties, resulting in low demand. Local buyers were cautious, opting to reuse smaller pieces to control costs and avoid price hikes. While raw material prices remained steady, manufacturers struggled with oversupply and slow sales. Prices stayed low as suppliers had difficulty meeting demand. Despite careful planning across the region, there was minimal market growth during the quarter.

North America

In North America, the polycarbonate sector faced challenges during Q4 of 2024. Soft demand from the automotive sector and high inventory levels led to a decrease in prices. Despite some advancements in automotive production, there was no substantial rise in polycarbonate consumption. Raw material costs remained stable, but logistical issues, such as port delays, complicated the market further. To maintain balance, manufacturers focused on inventory management rather than aggressive pricing, approaching the situation with caution. By the end of the quarter, the market remained stagnant, reflecting broader global trends.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the prices of polycarbonate are expected to maintain similar trends moving forward into the next year as the consumer demand remains moderate.
 

Polycarbonate Price Trend for the Q3 of 2024

Asia

In Asia, the polycarbonate market remained largely stable throughout the quarter, with supply and demand maintaining a delicate balance. Despite an increase in production rates, particularly in September, spot prices remained at their lowest levels for the year due to oversupply in the market. Manufacturers, in response to the growing surplus, were forced to lower factory prices, putting further strain on profitability.

While raw material costs, particularly bisphenol A, stayed relatively stable, fluctuations in the prices of key feedstocks such as phenol and acetone provided only moderate cost support for polycarbonate production. The anticipated demand boost during China’s traditional peak season failed to materialize, leaving the market stagnant. The increased production capacity in China, combined with limited maintenance shutdowns, added further pressure on prices, with regional demand remaining weak.

Europe

In Europe, the polycarbonate market experienced a notable decline in prices during the third quarter, particularly in July. This was primarily driven by weak demand from key sectors, especially the automotive industry in Germany, which is a major consumer of polycarbonate. The slowdown in the European automotive market, compounded by supply chain issues and high freight costs, created a challenging environment for domestic producers.

Although freight rates provided an opportunity for local producers to leverage higher prices, competitive imports from Asia mitigated the impact of rising domestic costs, helping buyers secure materials at more favorable prices. Furthermore, the upstream crude oil market experienced a bearish trend, with falling oil prices adding to the downward pressure on polycarbonate costs. Despite a brief uptick in demand towards the end of the quarter, European polycarbonate prices remained under pressure due to the sluggish recovery in key downstream industries.

North America

In North America, the polycarbonate market displayed a more stable price trend throughout the third quarter, though there were signs of potential downward movement. The construction and automotive sectors in the U.S. showed little improvement, with stagnant demand and an oversupplied market creating a challenging pricing environment for polycarbonate manufacturers. Feedstock prices, particularly bisphenol A, remained relatively stable but offered limited cost support. While the U.S. market remained well-supplied, competitive imports from Asia continued to exert downward pressure on domestic prices. Manufacturers faced profitability challenges due to stagnant demand and lower feedstock costs. Toward the end of the quarter, market participants began bracing for potential disruptions from an active hurricane season, which could have impacted production and prices.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of Polycarbonate is expected to be largely dependent on the market sentiments of its feedstock commodities.
 

Polycarbonate Price Trend for the Q2 of 2024

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Asia

In China, the price of polycarbonate saw slight improvement only in the initial phase of the market as the prices climbed from a monthly average of 2243 USD/MT from April to 2274 USD/MT in May, supported by stocking activities before the May holiday season. However, from then the market attained a stagnant stance, primarily driven by continued weakness in the feedstock bisphenol A market. The post-festival period saw little momentum, with limited activity in the upstream phenol market and a poor trading atmosphere for acetone.

This lack of positive market support for bisphenol A impacted the overall cost structure of polycarbonate. Additionally, the consumption of polycarbonate was light, focusing on maintaining production and managing existing inventory. The downstream industries reduced their operational loads, weakening their procurement enthusiasm and leading to reduced overall consumption. Additionally, the early hikes met with buyer resistance, resulting in poor demand for the commodity.

A similar trend was observed in India, too, where prices slightly improved from an average of 2125 USD/MT to 2133 USD/MT during the second quarter of 2024. The market stability was driven by the maintained stabilization of the supply and demand sectors.

Europe

The stagnation of the polycarbonate market in the European countries was driven by the pessimistic approach of consumers and rising uncertainties in the downstream industries. The lower production costs further strained the market and kept the market momentum on the lower end of the spectrum. However, the reduction of ECB’s interest rates towards the end of the quarter gave some hope to the traders and manufacturers of the commodity, but this was not translated into the pricing dynamics of polycarbonate during the second quarter of 2024.

North America

In North America, polycarbonate prices experienced a more significant decrease, driven by lower production costs and a decline in bisphenol A prices. The ongoing drop in crude oil prices added to the cost support. Despite average demand from the automobile and construction sectors, supply levels remained moderate to high, leading to a notable adjustment in Polycarbonate prices. In Mexico, the Polycarbonate market followed the global trend, with prices decreasing due to cheaper imports from the USA, Saudi Arabia, and China.

The price decline of bisphenol A further contributed to the bearish trend, along with the falling crude oil prices providing additional cost support. Demand from downstream industries, including the automobile and construction sectors, remained average, with moderate to high supply levels. As a result, the price of polycarbonate in Mexico reflected these influences.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price of Polycarbonate is expected to trail the momentum of its feedstock commodities in the upcoming quarters.
 

Polycarbonate Price Trend for the Q1 of 2024

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Asia

The polycarbonate market performance was quite mixed in the Asian region during the first quarter of 2024. In the Chinese market, the monthly average prices went from about 2213 USD/MT in January’24 to around 2239 USD/MT in March’24. This introduced a marginal uptick in the Chinese domestic price graph for polycarbonate. A stable and almost equal supply and demand outlook maintained the healthy exchange between the suppliers and consumers.

Since the crude oil and energy prices also picked up in the region after OPEC+ announced a decline in the output volumes, the upstream manufacturing and processing costs increased, exerting upward pressure on the prices. Similarly, in the Indian market, the monthly average prices went from about 2060 USD/MT in January’24 to around 2111 USD/MT in March of 2024.

This imparted a 2% growth on the domestic price trajectory. The rising production costs pushed the prices up, but the humble downstream demands counterbalanced the approach. Because of this, these subtle and marginal increments were seen in the regional price trend.

Europe

Polycarbonate remained on a positively inclined price trajectory in the European markets. Since it is capaciously consumed in the production of various electronic components, automobiles, and construction pieces, the downstream factors and pricing fundamentals also vary greatly as per the market demands. Notable surges in the feedstock bisphenol A prices also raised the price trend. During the discussed span, a swift depreciation in the Euro value was noticed against the US Dollar, which further supported the upstream costs. With both upstream and downstream factors supporting the market fundamentals, the price graph inclined for the entire duration of Q1’24.

North America

The American polycarbonate market could not behave any differently than its Asian and European counterparts as the prices were found to be inclining here as well. Primarily it was the incline in the energy and crude oil prices that raised the production and processing costs. These factors pulled the polycarbonate prices up during the said period of Q1’24. Downstream demands, though, were not equally inclined and were positive enough to support the price trend. Overall, positive market performance was witnessed.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Polycarbonate price trends are likely to continue rising in the coming months since the current supply and demand dynamics project a healthy outlook.
 

Polycarbonate (PC) Price Trend for the October - December of 2023

Asia

Polycarbonates are very generously used in the manufacturing of electronic components, construction materials, automobiles, aircraft, etc.; hence, demands from these downstream sectors guide the polycarbonate market trend. During the final quarter of the year 2023, polycarbonate prices fluctuated as per the market demands.

The first half of the quarter witnessed a rise in the pricing trajectory as the monthly average prices in the Indian polycarbonate market grew by approximately 2% from October to November’23. However, the long holiday season pivoted the market trajectory downhill. Prices in the Indian market shifted from about 2065 USD/MT in October to about 2040 USD/MT in December of 2023. Overall, mixed market sentiments were observed.

Europe

Despite the freight disturbances, the European polycarbonate industry was observed to be growing during the given period of Q4’23. A rise in demands from the consumer electronics and automobile sector pushed the price trend positively during the said quarter.

North America

The American polycarbonate market wavered heavily during the last quarter of the year 2023. The market demands took a hit because of the long holiday season in the latter part of the quarter, causing the market trend to waver; however, the prices consolidated by the end of the discussed span. Borderline buoyancy was observed in the polycarbonate price trend.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, given the current inventory and demand conditions, the Polycarbonate price trend are likely to waver in the coming months; narrow-range fluctuations are anticipated.
 

Polycarbonate Price Trend for the July - September of 2023

Asia

The incline in the cost of raw materials and stable pace of demand from the downstream industries supported the rise in the polycarbonate price trend during the initial phase of the third quarter. In addition to this, the rise in the prices of crude oil raised the all over production cost of polycarbonate and helped in the inclination of polycarbonate price graph. Further, the downstream construction and automotive sectors also enjoyed the surge in their sales figures and, in turn, supported the rise in polycarbonate prices.

Europe

In European countries, the polycarbonate price trend remained weak during the first months of the third quarter. During this phase, the market suffered the ill consequences of rising inflationary pressure and the limited appetite of consumers. Further, the number of inquiries and orders from the majority of downstream industries also remained on the lower end, leading to the southward movement of the polycarbonate price graph. However, in September, the market showed some signs of recovery, and even the stockpiles of polycarbonate started to decline with the improvement in the procurement rates of downstream industries.

North America

In North America, the polycarbonate price index depleted gradually in the third quarter of 2023. The major cause of the feeble performance of this sector was the fall in the number of new orders and the decline in the spending appetite of the consumer sector. Consumer sentiments were hurt by the rise in inflation and interest rates charged by banks. The slowed demand for polycarbonate was well countered by sufficient inventories. In addition to this, the fall in construction activities and disruptions in the supply chains also had an adverse effect on the growth of polycarbonate prices.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of Polycarbonate are expected to continue their declining journey due to poor demand and a rise in the level of inventories.
 

Polycarbonate Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

Polycarbonate price trend observed a wavering pattern in the first half of 2023. The spot prices averaged around 17400 RMB/MT in January and went to around 14766 RMB/MT in June’23 in the Chinese domestic market. Despite the bearish demands from the downstream sector, the feedstock Bisphenol A and Acetone prices remained stable. The positive feedstock prices supported the production costs, which helped maintain the market dynamics, yet the overall trend was declining. The feedstock prices provided the necessary support and did not let the market crash.

Europe

The European market witnessed a mixed price trend for Polycarbonate in H1 2023. Initially, the prices inclined but dropped going forward, given the dampened demands. As the inventory stocks overflowed and feedstock prices decreased, polycarbonate prices fell across Europe.

North America

The US domestic market witnessed a declining curve for polycarbonate prices. The over-saturated markets amid feverish demands could not sustain such high prices and subsided. Further, the hiked interest rates and failure of major banks negatively impacted consumer confidence in the market, causing baulking of potential buyers from the market.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, polycarbonate prices are expected to remain volatile in the upcoming quarter. The lowered market offtakes and overstocked inventors will continue to plague the price trend for Polycarbonate in the global markets.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Polycarbonate. 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.