Propylene prices in the United States showed no movement on Thursday, extending a week-long pattern of muted trading and steady assessments. Market participants described an atmosphere of quiet caution, with buyers and sellers content to wait for clearer signals before committing to fresh volumes.
A Gulf Coast trader told a correspondent that sentiment remains subdued across the region. “Demand is flat and there’s no real urgency on either side,” the source said. “Everyone is watching feedstock trends and downstream resin orders, but nothing right now suggests a shift.”
Polymer-grade spot propylene held at 32.50–33.00 cents per pound FD U.S. Gulf, unchanged from mid-week assessments. Refinery-grade spot material was similarly steady at 28.50–29.00 cents per pound FD U.S. Gulf. Market observers pointed to balanced supply, manageable inventories, and the absence of significant disruptions as reasons for the calm.
Downstream polypropylene producers are likewise taking a wait-and-see approach. While global resin markets continue to wrestle with soft demand and competitive imports, U.S. propylene fundamentals remain well supplied. Several analysts suggested that only a pronounced shift in crude oil or refinery operating rates, factors that influence propylene output, would be likely to jolt prices in the near term.
For now, traders expect the market to remain range-bound into next week unless a sudden spike in consumption or an unplanned outage alters the equation. The steadiness follows a summer of mild volatility, reinforcing the view that North American propylene is in equilibrium even as other petrochemical markets show sharper swings.
