Propylene prices in the United States saw no change on Monday, locking in the same assessment as last Friday even as cracks appeared in market alignment. An industry source in the US, speaking under condition of anonymity, informed that the pricing undertone remained largely stable, but trading activity had slowed down sharply. Much of the inertia, the source added, stemmed from a widening divide between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are trying to command.
In the US Gulf region, polymer-grade spot delivered propylene was assessed at 32.50-33.00 cents per pound FD US Gulf, unchanged from the previous week. Refinery-grade propylene also stayed flat, with the FD US Gulf assessment holding at 28.50-29.00 cents per pound. Despite this price firmness, market participants report scant new demand, and many downstream users are sticking to contracts or drawing on inventories instead of engaging in spot transactions.
The lack of momentum in the market reflects growing caution. Sellers may believe their pricing expectations remain justified by cost pressures or concerns about future supply disruptions, while buyers are resisting upward movement in the absence of firm demand signals or clearer margin support. The US market now seems to be in a holding pattern, waiting for an external catalyst, perhaps tighter supply, stronger demand out of key downstream sectors, or major cracker outages, to tip sentiment one way or the other.
Observers are watching closely to see if this standoff breaks. Should major refinery or propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant turnarounds or unexpected disruptions occur, prices could be jolted upward. Conversely, continued weak demand might weigh and force sellers to reconsider pricing. For now, though, propylene markets in the US remain stable, tension lurking beneath the surface but no visible signs yet of movement in either direction.
