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July 17th, 2025

2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) Prices Index: Trend, Chart, News, Graph

The global 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) market presented a complex and regionally diverse picture in Q1 2025, driven by a confluence of factors including fluctuating raw material costs, dynamic supply-demand balances, logistical challenges, and varying downstream industry performance. This versatile chemical compound, primarily used in the production of plasticizers for PVC, as well as in coatings, adhesives, and solvents, saw its price trajectories diverge significantly across continents, reflecting localized market pressures and broader macroeconomic trends. Understanding these nuanced regional dynamics is crucial for stakeholders navigating the 2-EH landscape.

In North America, the 2-EH market experienced a notable surge, with prices climbing by approximately 7.2% in the first quarter of 2025. This upward trend was underpinned by a gradual recovery in demand coupled with persistent supply constraints. January witnessed a tightening of supply due to maintenance activities at key production facilities, notably Nan Ya Plastics. Simultaneously, rising freight charges and the looming anticipation of a potential port strike contributed to an upward price momentum. While some delays emerged from Iso-Tank shortages, the presence of ample pre-strike inventories helped to mitigate sharper price spikes, providing a degree of market stabilization. February brought further price hikes initiated by major producers like OQ Chemicals and Perstorp, influenced by reduced imports from East Asia, which faced their own ongoing plant outages. Although export demand saw a modest improvement, existing inventories prevented a significant escalation in export prices. By March, the resumption of production at major Asian plants, combined with a significant 6% drop in freight rates, exerted downward pressure on import prices. However, domestic supply remained constrained due to reduced US refinery run rates, keeping domestic pricing firm. A key driver for the bullish trend across the quarter was the sustained restocking activity and seasonal demand recovery from the downstream plasticizer sectors, particularly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP), which saw increased procurement. Furthermore, suppliers increasingly favored domestic 2-EH to mitigate potential impacts from tariffs, contributing to tighter local availability. Overall, despite the availability of more affordable imports, the prevailing domestic shortages and a resilient increase in demand sustained the price momentum throughout Q1, positioning 2-EH as tighter than n-Butanol but more accessible than Iso-Butanol within the broader oxo-alcohol market.

Get Real time Prices for 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH): https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/2-ethyl-hexanol-2-eh-8

Europe’s 2-EH market also witnessed a substantial price increase, with an 8.1% surge in Q1 2025. This escalation was primarily attributed to escalating production costs, reduced operating rates across the region, and persistent supply constraints, even in the face of somewhat sluggish demand from downstream plasticizer and coatings sectors. The beginning of the year, specifically January, saw some downward pressure on prices due to abundant inventories accumulated from year-end destocking activities in countries like Germany and Belgium. Supply remained adequate but comparatively lighter than n-butanol, and logistical bottlenecks at crucial ports, such as Antwerp, further hindered the smooth movement of cargo. February brought a more pronounced price increase, largely driven by a 4.3% rise in Propylene costs, a key feedstock for 2-EH, coupled with multiple outages at upstream plants. Producers maintained deliberately low run rates, with some operating near 60% capacity, reflecting a cautious approach to market conditions. Major manufacturers like OQ Chemicals and Perstorp Oxo-AB implemented price hikes during this period. Nevertheless, weak demand from adhesives, sealants, and construction chemicals persisted, with the construction sector notably in a downturn, leading firms to reduce their procurement volumes. March continued this upward trajectory, marked by a further 8% increase in Propylene prices, significantly amplifying 2-EH production costs. Ongoing supply limitations, constrained cracker operations, and persistent port congestion, including disruptions stemming from the Red Sea, further tightened product availability. While demand showed a marginal improvement due to pre-spring restocking, the overall market sentiment remained weak, with suppliers adopting a cautious stance given the continued underwhelming performance of the construction and automotive sectors.

Conversely, the Asia-Pacific 2-Ethylhexanol market experienced predominantly bearish conditions throughout Q1 2025, primarily due to subdued demand from the critical paints, coatings, and plasticizer sectors. Despite this bearish sentiment, price depreciation was minimal, largely mitigated by a series of production outages and reduced output that helped to prevent steeper declines. January saw limited imports and curtailed domestic production, influenced by maintenance at Nan Ya Plastics’ plant, which offered some support to prices. Declining freight charges partially offset any upward cost pressures during this period. Although propylene prices edged up by 1.1%, weak domestic consumption in many Asian economies restrained any significant price hikes. In February, supply became more abundant, boosted by a surge in post-Lunar New Year Chinese exports, including a substantial 14,500 metric ton parcel from Tianjin. Despite price increases announced by major global producers like OQ Chemicals and Perstorp, intense regional competition and a significant 12% fall in freight rates prevented any substantial market price increases. Additional supply disruptions, such as a force majeure at Nan Ya Plastics and maintenance at Hanwha Solutions, did tighten output but failed to shift the overarching bearish market sentiment. March witnessed a further decline in feedstock prices and an increase in PDH (Propane Dehydrogenation) operating rates, which collectively reduced production costs. Chinese suppliers, in response to these dynamics and ample inventories, further cut their prices, leading to a build-up of low-cost inventories in the region. The persistent slump in Japan’s construction sector, evidenced by declining housing starts, further contributed to subdued demand. The combined effect of ample supply and consistently weak demand sustained the bearish market outlook across the Asia-Pacific region throughout the first quarter. These regional divergences underscore the complex interplay of global supply chains, local economic health, and specific industry performance in shaping the price dynamics of crucial chemicals like 2-Ethylhexanol.

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