On Monday, CIF Northwest Europe (NWE) ethylene prices were unchanged at USD 800–810/mt, while FD NWE levels held steady at €705–715/mt, both in line with Friday’s assessments. The European market maintained a cautious tone as purchasing activity remained muted, with an anonymous industry source noting, “Purchasing activity in the region remained subdued,” and that buyers were “on the sidelines amid ongoing market uncertainties.”
Across Asia, the story was much the same. CFR Northeast Asia ethylene prices were assessed at USD 815–825/mt, unchanged from Friday’s levels, with market participants exercising caution amid low trading volumes.
Market sentiment in both regions reflected a broader atmosphere of caution, as weak downstream demand and pressure from energy feedstocks limited price movement. Despite supportive production-cost fundamentals, limited buyer engagement kept price momentum subdued in Europe, mirroring Asia’s restrained market stance.
This parallel stability across two major ethylene consuming regions underscores how symmetrical caution, driven by uncertainty and minimal purchasing appetite, can dominate pricing even when upstream factors offer mixed signals.
