Polypropylene (PP) prices in Europe drifted lower this week as muted demand and ample supply weighed heavily on sentiment, overshadowing an uptick in upstream propylene spot values.
A market participant told Polymerduniya, “The European polypropylene market experienced price decreases in August across every product segment, impacted by weak buyer interest and reduced spot activity as market players awaited the September propylene contract settlement.” Despite expectations of some restocking before September, trading volumes stayed thin as many buyers delayed commitments amid uncertainty over feedstock pricing.
Demand from key downstream sectors, including packaging, automotive, and consumer products, remained weak, leaving converters with little incentive to build inventories. Sources said the plentiful supply of both homopolymer and copolymer grades allowed buyers to adopt a wait-and-see approach. “Converters face no urgency to purchase,” one trader remarked, citing the ongoing supply glut.
Competitive imports from Asia and the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, added further downward pressure. These volumes, readily available at attractive prices, intensified the challenges faced by regional producers, reinforcing negative sentiment in the market.
Spot PP injection molding grade prices were assessed at EUR 935–945/mt FD NWE, down EUR 10/mt week-on-week, while block copolymer fell to EUR 1,035–1,045/mt FD NWE. In contract markets, injection molding prices slipped EUR 10/mt across Germany, France, and Italy, with UK values also trending lower. Block copolymer contracts were stable in continental Europe but edged GBP 5/mt lower in the UK.
FCA Antwerp values mirrored this softness, with homopolymer assessed at EUR 920–960/mt and copolymer at EUR 1,020–1,050/mt, both down EUR 10/mt.
Upstream, propylene spot prices surged EUR 40/mt to EUR 745–755/mt FD NWE, but the strength provided little support to PP markets. The European propylene contract for August settled at EUR 1,005/mt FD NWE, down EUR 10/mt from July.
Looking ahead, market players expressed caution over September. While some suggested a seasonal pickup could lend temporary support, most agreed that persistent downstream weakness and ongoing import competition would cap any meaningful recovery. As one source put it, “Demand is poor, the market is oversaturated, and fundamentals are not expected to change significantly for the rest of 2025.”
