Track 2-Ethylhexanol Price Trend Historical and Forecast

2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) Price Trend and Forecast Report | Global Market Movements, Cost Dynamics, and Procurement Outlook

Executive Summary

The global 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) market experienced significant volatility from late 2024 through Q3 2025, driven by shifting supply-demand fundamentals, feedstock cost movements, logistics disruptions, and region-specific industrial activity. North America saw alternating bullish and bearish cycles influenced by hurricane disruptions, inventory overhangs, trade-war uncertainties, rising propylene costs, and fluctuating domestic operating rates. In Europe, the market moved between cost-driven upswings and prolonged bearishness caused by weak construction activity, export challenges, and persistent logistical bottlenecks. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market demonstrated a predominantly bearish trajectory due to chronic oversupply, inexpensive Chinese-origin cargoes, subdued coatings and plasticizer demand, and evolving intra-Asia trade dynamics.

Across all regions, 2-EH pricing remained closely linked to feedstock propylene and evolving downstream demand conditions-particularly from the plasticizer, coatings, automotive, and construction industries. The market's future trajectory will continue to depend on the interplay between supply availability, operating rates at PDH and oxo-alcohol plants, trade-flow fluidity, and macroeconomic performance in industrial and construction sectors.

This report provides a comprehensive review of price developments, quarterly dynamics, production economics, supply-side behavior, procurement patterns, and forward-looking insights, offering a valuable resource for procurement professionals and industry decision-makers.

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Introduction

2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) remains a vital oxo-alcohol widely utilized in the manufacture of plasticizers-particularly dioctyl phthalate (DOP)-as well as in coatings, adhesives, lubricants, and specialty chemical applications. Price trends for 2-EH are heavily influenced by upstream propylene, refinery operating rates, import-export conditions, logistics costs, and macro-level construction and automotive indicators.

From Q4 2024 to Q3 2025, the global 2-EH market underwent a series of disruptions and corrections shaped by seasonal patterns, maintenance shutdowns, feedstock inflations or declines, and evolving regional trade competitiveness. This period provides a rich historical foundation for understanding price behavior and anticipating future movements.

Global Price Overview

Between December 2024 and September 2025, 2-EH pricing displayed the following global characteristics:

Supply-Dominated Pricing
Oversupply remained the dominant theme, especially across APAC and North America, where elevated operating rates and strong imports inflated inventories and weakened spot markets.

Feedstock Propylene Volatility
Propylene fluctuations-driven by refinery run rate changes, PDH operating intensity, and petrochemical maintenance turnarounds-significantly shaped 2-EH production costs across regions.

Downstream Demand Weakness
Construction and automotive activity in multiple regions remained under pressure throughout the period, limiting offtake and softening price trajectories.

Logistics and Shipping Dynamics
Port congestion in Europe, rising freight rates in Asia across parts of 2024, and intra-Asia freight softening in 2025 all contributed to shifting import economics.

Competitive Global Arbitrage
Asian-origin cargoes consistently pressured European and North American markets, especially after more than 1 million MT of oxo-alcohol capacity came online in China.

Together, these factors shaped a global pricing environment in which cost-push inflation was frequently overridden by demand-side weakness and excess supply.

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Regional Market Analysis

North America Market Analysis (U.S.)

Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

The North American 2-EH market experienced a 22% quarter-over-quarter decline in the Price Index. Key market movements included:

Oversupply pressures from ample Gulf Coast production and steady imports.
High inventories weighed heavily on spot prices, with suppliers moving product at competitive rates.
Average regional price: USD 1405.67/MT.
Rising propylene and logistics costs raised production costs, but competitive pressure prevented effective price pass-through.
Weak exports to Canada and Mexico compounded bearishness.
Hurricane-related caution kept demand subdued and procurement conservative.
Why did the price change in September 2025?

Large inventories from strong domestic production and imports.
Weak downstream demand from coatings, plasticizers, and paints.
Rising production costs but insufficient demand to support increases.
Price competition amid transportation restrictions and cautious buying.

Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

The market saw a 7.9% decline in the Price Index, driven by:

Weak construction and automotive sector demand.
Procurement focused strictly on necessity-based purchasing.
A trade war between China and the U.S., reducing export attractiveness.
Low export volumes to Mexico and Canada due to reduced railcar loadings.
Sellers clearing backlogged inventories at discounted prices.

Why did the price change in July 2025?

Dampened procurement sentiment at the beginning of hurricane season.
Post-4th of July slowdowns encouraged suppliers to offload stock.
Uncertainty in international trade reduced import demand.

Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

The North American market rose 7.2% during Q1 2025 due to:

Supply shortages from U.S. plant maintenance, particularly Nan Ya Plastics.
Rising freight charges and potential port strikes limiting supply.
Limited East Asian imports because of regional outages.
Stronger domestic demand, notably from DOP manufacturing.
A dip in refinery run rates tightened domestic supply.
Overall, tight supply outweighed easing import costs, sustaining price strength.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

The quarter exhibited mixed trends:

Prices rose ~2% in October due to hurricane disruptions and propylene force majeure declarations.
Prices fell 6% later as production normalized.
Port backlogs from the ILA-USMX strike increased inventories.
Construction weakness dampened demand despite automotive gains.
Year-end destocking added downward pressure.
Attractive Asian cargoes entered the market due to new capacity in China.

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Europe Market Analysis (Germany)

Q3 2025

The German 2-EH Price Index declined 1.58% QoQ, with:

Weak construction and automotive demand.
Average price: USD 1079.33/MT.
Balanced inventories and limited spot activity.
Declining propylene costs easing production costs.
Port congestion restricting export competitiveness.
Maintenance turnarounds creating brief tightness.
Why did the price change in September 2025?

Poor demand from coatings and construction.
Lower propylene prices reducing cost pressures.
Export challenges due to logistics issues and strong competition.
Producers liquidated inventories to maintain flow.

Q2 2025

Prices fell 10.1% quarter-over-quarter due to:

A 14% drop in propylene costs, reducing production costs significantly.
Weak construction sector demand.
Euro appreciation and port congestion hindering exports.
Competition from Asian and North American suppliers.
Suppliers clearing inventories despite curtailed run rates.

Why did the price change in July 2025?

Seasonally slow summer demand.
Suppliers offloaded backlogged inventories.
Pessimism in construction and coatings sectors.

Q1 2025

Europe saw an 8.1% price rise, driven by:

Higher production costs from rising propylene.
Reduced operating rates at major producers.
Persistent supply constraints from logistics bottlenecks.
Weak but stable demand, boosted briefly by pre-spring restocking.

Q4 2024

Prices fell 15% due to:

Ample supply following OQ Chemicals' return to production.
Prolonged demand weakness in coatings and construction.
Maintenance-related port disruptions across Northwest Europe.
Limited global arbitrage opportunities.
Heavy destocking toward year-end.
APAC Market Analysis (Japan & East Asia)

Q3 2025

The 2-EH Price Index in Japan fell 2.1% QoQ, with:

Average price: USD 997.67/MT.
Range-bound spot prices supported by balanced inventories.
Stable production costs due to flat propylene prices.
Domestic maintenance providing intermittent tightness.
Insufficient export demand to lift prices.

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Why did the price change in September 2025?

Yen appreciation and lower freight reduced import parity, enabling cheaper imports.
Inventory liquidation due to weak construction and plasticizer demand.
Stable propylene costs limiting cost-push pressures.
Q2 2025

Prices declined 0.9% QoQ, shaped by:

Oversupply, particularly in Japan and East Asia.
Delayed cargo arrivals and continuous Chinese inflows.
Falling Asian propylene prices due to strong PDH activity.
Weak construction and automotive demand.
Taiwan and China supply disruptions offset by declining upstream costs.

Why did the price change in July 2025?

Rainy season reduced enquiries across the region.
Cheaper Chinese and Southeast Asian cargoes flooded the market.
Chinese suppliers aggressively discounted inventories.
Formosa Chemicals' return increased supply availability.

Q1 2025

The APAC market remained bearish:

Weak paints, coatings, and plasticizer demand.
Supply disruptions softened declines but could not reverse sentiment.
Chinese exports surged post-Lunar New Year.
Freight rates dropped 12%, reducing import costs.
Japan's construction slump persisted, reflected in lower housing starts.
Q4 2024

Mixed trends were recorded:

Early quarter prices rose 1.2%.
End-quarter prices fell 2.8%.
Propylene costs rose 1.1% in November.
Shipping rates surged 45% across Asia due to holiday demand.
Taiwan and Korea cut output, tightening supply temporarily.
China added over 1 million MT of new capacity, turning the market bearish.
Production and Cost Structure Insights

Across regions, production economics were shaped by:

Refinery run rate fluctuations impacting propylene availability.
PDH plant operating rates, especially in Asia.
Logistics cost shifts, including freight, storage, and port delays.
Plant maintenance cycles (Nan Ya Plastics, Formosa Chemicals, Hanwha Solutions).
Cost declines in propylene during several quarters significantly reduced production costs, influencing supplier pricing strategies-especially in Europe and APAC.

Procurement Behavior and Supply Chain Dynamics

Procurement trends globally included:

Need-based purchasing during bearish periods.
Aggressive destocking at quarter ends or ahead of hurricane seasons.
Preference for domestic cargoes in North America due to tariff concerns.
Shift toward Asian imports in price-sensitive markets.
Soft negotiations and discount-driven spot trade across APAC and Europe.
Supply chain challenges included:

Port congestion in Europe.
Rising freight costs in APAC in late 2024.
Trade war impacts between China and the U.S.
North American hurricane season affecting logistics planning.

Forward Outlook and Price Forecast

The 2-EH market is expected to remain influenced by the following factors:

Propylene cost direction (linked to crude oil, PDH production, and cracker operations).
Operations and maintenance schedules across major oxo-alcohol producers.
Construction and automotive sector performance, especially in Europe and Asia.
Asia's expanding capacity and aggressive export strategies.
Freight volatility and geopolitical impacts on trade routes.
Seasonal buying cycles and restocking behavior.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What caused the major price decline in North America in Q3 2025?
Oversupply, weak downstream demand, and high inventory pressure were the primary drivers.

Why did European prices remain subdued during most of 2025?
Weak demand from construction and coatings, declining propylene costs, and heavy competition from Asian cargoes.

What kept APAC prices range-bound despite supply tightness in some months?
Weak demand and aggressive inventory liquidation offset any potential upward momentum.

What role does propylene play in 2-EH pricing?
As the primary feedstock, propylene directly influences production costs and supplier pricing strategies.

How do logistics conditions affect 2-EH prices?
Port congestion, freight changes, and container shortages can tighten supply and alter import-export economics.

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This release was published on openPR.