Even as upstream crude prices remain weak, propylene in Europe stood its ground on Tuesday, with prices holding steady thanks to a mix of cautious production cuts and hesitant buying amid tepid demand.
An industry source in Europe, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Polymerduniya team that producers have pulled back output to preserve margins, yet spot prices remained flat amid persistent oversupply, sluggish downstream demand, and ongoing inflationary pressures. Buyers, wary of market turbulence, largely stayed out of the fray.
Spot polymer-grade propylene for the North-West Europe (FD NWE) region was pegged at €705–715/mt, unchanged from Monday, while CIF NWE prices held steady at €750–760/mt. On the other side of the world, Asia showed similar stability, the Korea FOB price stood at USD 740–750/mt, also flat from the previous day.
This lull in price movement underscores the delicate balance the market currently faces: supply remains ample, demand remains uninspired, and both producers and buyers are treading carefully amid broader economic uncertainty.
