Ethylene prices slipped in Europe on Wednesday as subdued demand and ample regional supply exerted downward pressure, while Northeast Asia bucked the trend with a modest uptick.
A market participant in Europe told Polymerduniya, “Prices came under bearish pressure as weak demand and ample supply weighed on the market.” The sentiment reflects broader weakness in downstream activity, where muted pull from polyethylene and styrene sectors continues to keep consumption levels subdued.
CIF Northwest Europe ethylene was assessed at USD 805–815/mt, down USD 5/mt from Tuesday. Similarly, FD NWE prices fell by EUR 5/mt, settling at EUR 735–745/mt. Market watchers suggest that without a meaningful recovery in end-user demand, particularly from packaging and construction segments, the European market will remain under pressure in the near term.
In contrast, Northeast Asia showed signs of resilience. CFR NEA ethylene prices rose to USD 840–850/mt, up by USD 5/mt from the previous session. Regional sources attributed the gain to improved local purchasing sentiment, alongside slightly firmer crude benchmarks providing cost-side support.
The divergence underscores the contrasting fundamentals across regions—Europe remains supply-heavy with sluggish downstream pull, while Asia is experiencing tentative demand-led stabilization. Traders are expected to closely monitor whether Asia’s momentum can be sustained and if Europe’s weakness could eventually trigger arbitrage flows.
