For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
鈥� The n-Propanol Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3, reflecting soft demand and steady supply.
鈥� Demand from coatings, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning agents remained weak, keeping prices under pressure.
鈥� The n-Propanol Price Forecast indicates limited upside in Q4 amid cautious downstream restocking and stable feedstock costs.
鈥� Flat propylene prices moderated the n-Propanol Production Cost Trend, helping producers maintain margin stability.
鈥� The n-Propanol Demand Outlook remains conservative, with seasonal recovery expected to be gradual and uneven.
鈥� Weekly movements in the Price Index were neutral, supported by balanced supply and consistent plant operations.
鈥� High inventories and muted export activity weighed on domestic offers, sustaining a soft pricing environment.
Why did the price of n-Propanol change in September 2025 in North America?
鈥� Prices declined due to low offtake from coatings and pharmaceutical sectors, despite expectations of recovery of seasonal demand.
鈥� Stable feedstock propylene prices and uninterrupted production maintained supply, limiting upward price momentum.
鈥� Sufficient spot availability and cautious buying behavior kept sellers from raising offers, resulting in a soft market tone.
APAC
鈥� In Japan, the n-Propanol Price Index fell by 0.12% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting balanced supply and demand.
鈥� The average n-Propanol price for the quarter was approximately USD 1659.00/MT, based on ex-Nagoya averages.
鈥� n-Propanol Spot Price remained rangebound in September while the Price Index showed volatility and stability.
鈥� n-Propanol Price Forecast anticipates modest near-term upside constrained by subdued demand and ample inventory buffers.
鈥� n-Propanol Production Cost Trend edged higher as feedstock costs firmed, but limited pass-through restrained pricing.
鈥� n-Propanol Demand Outlook remains muted due to construction weakness; pharmaceuticals and personal care sustain consumption.
鈥� Inventories held at moderate levels and improved logistics reduced short-term tightness, supporting Price Index stability.
鈥� Major producers operated steadily, ensuring supply continuity and preventing movement in the n-Propanol Price Index.
Why did the price of n-Propanol change in September 2025 in APAC?
鈥� Balanced domestic output and adequate inventories sustained supply, moderating price movement despite external cost headwinds.
鈥� Firming feedstock costs increased expenses, yet weak construction demand limited pass-through to the Price Index.
鈥� Eased freight rates and improved port operations lowered logistical premiums, stabilizing imports and market sentiment.
Europe
鈥� The n-Propanol Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3, reflecting bearish market sentiment.
鈥� Weak demand from coatings, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning sectors kept prices under pressure throughout the quarter.
鈥� The n-Propanol Price Forecast suggests limited upside in Q4 amid cautious downstream restocking and stable feedstock costs.
鈥� Stable propylene prices moderated the n-Propanol Production Cost Trend, helping producers maintain margins.
鈥� The n-Propanol Demand Outlook remains subdued, with seasonal demand recovery expected to be gradual and conservative.
鈥� Neutral weekly movements in the Price Index reflected steady plant operations and balanced supply.
鈥� High inventories and limited export pull weighed on domestic offers, keeping the market soft.
Why did the price of n-Propanol change in September 2025 in Europe?
鈥� Prices declined due to low offtake from coatings and pharmaceutical sectors, despite expectations of seasonal demand recovery.
鈥� Stable feedstock propylene prices and consistent production rates maintained supply, limiting upward price movement.
鈥� Sufficient spot availability and cautious buying behavior kept sellers from raising offers, sustaining a soft market tone.
For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
鈥� The North American N-Propanol market remained broadly stable throughout Q2 2025, as evidenced by a steady Price Index during the period.
鈥� Demand from major downstream sectors鈥攊ncluding paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, and personal care鈥攔emained moderate. Seasonal delays in construction and renovation activity, particularly in early spring, led to subdued consumption of coatings and related products.
鈥� Supply-side conditions were well balanced, with domestic production aligning closely with consumption requirements. Inventory levels were adequately maintained, and there were no significant disruptions across the supply chain.
鈥� Logistical and infrastructure-related challenges at key export terminals caused intermittent delays, but these disruptions were not substantial enough to materially impact overall market stability.
鈥� Market sentiment remained cautious, with buyers adopting a conservative procurement approach in light of limited cost pressures from upstream raw materials. As a result, restocking activity remained restrained, further supporting overall price stability.
Why did the price of N Propanol change in July 2025 in North America?
鈥� In July 2025, the N-Propanol Price Index in North America remained stable, supported by a continued balance between supply and demand fundamentals.
鈥� Although feedstock and transportation costs remained elevated, their impact on overall production costs was minimal, thanks to steady plant operating rates and manageable inventory levels.
鈥� Demand across key end-use industries鈥攑articularly industrial coatings and personal care鈥攔emained subdued, contributing to limited upward pricing pressure.
鈥� Market forecasts indicate that N-Propanol prices are likely to remain within a narrow range unless a significant rebound in consumption materializes, especially from sectors such as construction, automotive, or pharmaceuticals.
APAC
鈥� The N-Propanol Spot Price in South Korea declined by 1.69% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2025, as indicated by a downward shift in the Price Index.
鈥� Prices trended downward from April to June, primarily driven by subdued demand from downstream sectors such as construction, paints, and coatings, despite stable upstream ethylene costs.
鈥� Sufficient inventories and consistent domestic production helped maintain a balanced supply environment, preventing supply-side disruptions across the quarter.
鈥� High freight costs and fluctuating tariff-related import prices added pressure on margins, leading to conservative procurement behavior among buyers.
鈥� Despite minor improvements in automotive demand and new construction contracts in June, overall market sentiment remained cautious and price-sensitive throughout the quarter.
Why did the price of N-Propanol change in July 2025 in Asia?
鈥� In July 2025, the N-Propanol Price Index in South Korea remained stable due to better alignment between supply and demand, even as feedstock costs like ethylene showed an upward trend.
鈥� The N-Propanol Production Cost Trend saw modest cost pressures from feedstocks and labor, though these were largely offset by steady operating rates and sufficient inventories.
鈥� The N-Propanol Demand Outlook remained subdued, particularly from the construction sector, which continued to struggle with slow project completion and weak investment flows.
鈥� The N-Propanol Price Forecast indicates continued price stability in the near term, with limited upside unless construction and industrial demand rebound meaningfully.
Europe
鈥� The N-Propanol Spot Price in Europe exhibited a slight decline over Q2 2025, as reflected in a modest reduction in the regional Price Index.
鈥� Downstream demand remained tepid, particularly across key sectors such as paints and coatings, industrial cleaning, pharmaceuticals, and chemical intermediates. This was largely driven by sluggish manufacturing activity and continued macroeconomic uncertainty across the region.
鈥� Supply-side conditions were stable, with domestic production broadly aligned with consumption. Despite elevated energy and logistics costs, no major disruptions were reported in the supply chain.
鈥� Upstream cost pressures鈥攕temming from higher prices of feedstocks like ethylene and propylene, as well as rising utility expenses鈥攄id exert some strain on producers, but these were largely offset by steady plant operations and well-managed inventory levels.
鈥� Buyer behavior remained cautious, with many end-users opting to rely on existing inventories rather than placing forward orders. This conservative approach to procurement contributed to a generally subdued trading environment throughout the quarter.
Why did the price of N Propanol change in July 2025 in Europe?
鈥� In July 2025, the N-Propanol Price Index in Europe remained largely range-bound, with stable supply-demand dynamics and no major market disruptions influencing price volatility.
鈥� Production cost pressures stemming from elevated raw material and energy expenses persisted, though their impact on spot pricing was mitigated by steady operating rates and sufficient inventory levels across the region.
鈥� Downstream demand continued to underperform, particularly within the coatings, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors, reflecting ongoing stagnation in industrial activity across key European economies.
鈥� The near-term price outlook remains subdued, with limited upside potential unless a marked recovery is observed in core industrial sectors such as automotive coatings, infrastructure, and construction.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
In Q1 2025, the North American N-Propanol market exhibited largely stable pricing, reflecting steady but restrained demand from the downstream paints and coatings sector. Despite early optimism, the construction and renovation segments, key consumers of coatings faced a slow start to the year due to persistent winter weather across parts of the U.S. and Canada, which delayed outdoor and infrastructure-related activity.
As a result, offtakes of N-Propanol, a primary solvent in coatings formulations, remained moderate. Demand for industrial coatings saw slight improvement in March with seasonal activity beginning to pick up, particularly in the southern U.S., but decorative coatings demand stayed subdued amid cautious consumer spending.
On the supply side, domestic production remained balanced with consumption. Producers maintained stable operating rates, and no major supply disruptions were reported. Inventories were adequately managed, with most suppliers avoiding overstocking. Although energy and logistics costs remained elevated, they had limited impact on N-Propanol pricing. The market heads into Q2 with expectations of gradual demand recovery tied to construction season momentum.
EUROPE
In Q1 2025, the N-Propanol market in Europe experienced stable to slightly declining price trends, reflecting a cautious demand environment in the downstream paints and coatings sector. While the European construction industry showed early but uneven signs of recovery鈥攎ost notably in the UK, Nordics, and select regions of France鈥攇rowth in decorative and industrial coatings demand remained moderate, limiting any significant uptick in N-Propanol consumption.
Supply across Europe remained steady, though some producers faced logistical challenges and elevated energy costs, particularly in January and February. These factors contributed to restrained inventory movement, though there was no widespread disruption in availability.
By March, construction and refurbishment activities began to recover modestly as temperatures rose. However, downstream purchasing behaviour remained conservative, with buyers avoiding bulk procurement due to uncertain near-term market direction. Despite stable demand for eco-friendly and fast-drying coatings, price pressure persisted due to balanced supply and soft market sentiment. The outlook heading into Q2 remains neutral, with hopes pinned on broader construction sector momentum.
APAC
In the first quarter of 2025, the APAC n-propanol market witnessed a 2.26% decline in prices, largely attributed to softened downstream demand and buyer caution across the region. In key markets like South Korea, buyers in the chemical and paints sectors adopted conservative procurement strategies, favouring existing inventories over new purchases. This cautious stance created a surplus in supply and limited the pricing power of producers.
Manufacturers maintained steady production amid stable raw material availability and uninterrupted logistics but declining new order intakes forced firms to rely on finished stockpiles, contributing to oversupply. Additionally, lower shipping costs due to a 6% drop in Drewry鈥檚 Intra-Asia Container Index improved import affordability, adding further pressure on regional prices.
The lack of strong restocking activity and subdued client sentiment reflected broader economic caution, leading to reduced output and employment levels across the manufacturing sector. These dynamics collectively contributed to the downward pressure on Formic Acid prices across the APAC region during the first quarter.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In the fourth quarter of 2024, N-Propanol prices in North America moderated, reflecting a balance between stable supply and more cautious demand from downstream industries. As the year came to a close, many sectors that rely on N-Propanol, such as pharmaceuticals, coatings, and personal care products, adopted a more conservative approach to inventory management in anticipation of the holiday season and New Year. While there was some seasonal demand in preparation for year-end sales, overall activity in these industries slowed, which contributed to a stabilization in prices.
New Year sales did not have a substantial impact on N-Propanol prices in the final quarter. Instead, businesses focused more on adjusting their stock levels rather than making significant purchases. This cautious approach to buying, combined with limited production increases, led to more moderate pricing throughout the period.
On the supply side, production levels remained stable, with both domestic manufacturers and international suppliers ensuring steady availability. The stable supply, along with reduced purchasing activity from downstream industries, helped keep prices relatively flat. As a result, N-Propanol prices in North America experienced a period of moderation in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by steady supply and tempered demand from key sectors.
APAC
In the fourth quarter of 2024, N-Propanol prices in Asia showed a mixed trend, with notable regional variations. In China, N-Propanol prices increased in November, driven by a combination of rising demand from downstream industries and supply chain adjustments. The demand spike was particularly noticeable in the coatings, pharmaceuticals, and personal care sectors, which tend to experience increased activity before the New Year. The preparation for year-end sales and holiday demand led to more significant purchasing, contributing to the price increase in November.
On the other hand, South Korea saw a slight decrease in N-Propanol prices throughout the quarter. This trend was largely due to more subdued demand from key downstream industries, as many businesses focused on inventory management and reducing stockpiles in anticipation of slower activity during the New Year period. Additionally, some production slowdowns in sectors like automotive and consumer goods, which are significant consumers of N-Propanol, kept demand relatively stable but not high enough to support price hikes.
The supply side remained balanced, with steady production from local suppliers and continued imports meeting regional demand. Overall, while China saw an uptick in prices due to strong downstream activity in November, South Korea鈥檚 prices trended downward due to weaker demand, leading to a mixed pricing trend for N-Propanol in Asia during the fourth quarter of 2024.
Europe
In the fourth quarter of 2024, N-Propanol prices in Europe experienced a slight decrease, influenced by a mix of demand trends and supply conditions. As the year came to a close, many downstream industries, such as coatings, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, began to scale back production in preparation for the holiday season and New Year. This seasonal slowdown typically results in lower demand for raw materials like N-Propanol, contributing to a softening of prices.
New Year sales did not lead to significant changes in the N-Propanol market. While there was some increase in consumer demand for products like personal care items and cleaning agents, businesses in the downstream industries were more focused on managing inventory rather than making large purchases of raw materials. This cautious purchasing behavior kept demand for N-Propanol relatively stable, but not enough to push prices higher.
On the supply side, production levels in Europe remained steady, and imports from key global suppliers were consistent, ensuring a balanced market. The availability of N-Propanol was adequate to meet the reduced demand, preventing any significant price fluctuations. As a result, N-Propanol prices in Europe saw a slight decrease in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by tempered demand from downstream industries and stable supply conditions.
