Track Ethylene Carbonate (EC) Price Trend Historical and Forecast

Executive Summary

Ethylene Carbonate (EC), a critical component for lithium-ion battery electrolytes, plasticizers, lubricants, and surface coatings, experienced varied price movements across global markets in Q3 2025. In APAC, prices softened due to weaker export demand and stable feedstock costs, while North America saw relatively firm pricing supported by battery and industrial lubricant demand. Europe witnessed mild upward pressure amid tightening supply and strong automotive sector consumption.

Global price trends reflect a balance of supply-demand dynamics, just-in-time procurement practices, and the influence of upstream feedstock costs, particularly ethylene oxide and CO2. Despite regional variations, overall market sentiment indicates steady demand underpinned by EV production growth and energy storage deployment, while abundant inventories and competitive market offers limit extreme price volatility.

Forecasts for Q4 2025 suggest moderate upside potential in all regions, with seasonal restocking and tightening supply from planned maintenance turnarounds supporting price stabilization. Production cost trends remain broadly neutral to slightly positive depending on energy and feedstock availability, while downstream procurement remains cautious yet consistent, particularly in the battery sector.

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Introduction

Ethylene Carbonate (EC) plays a pivotal role in modern battery technology and industrial chemical applications. Its importance in lithium-ion battery electrolytes has cemented its demand trajectory amid the global push for electrification and renewable energy storage. EC also finds extensive use in lubricants, plasticizers, and surface coatings, making it sensitive to industrial production trends and chemical supply chains.

Recent quarterly data from Q4 2024 through Q3 2025 highlights the interplay between supply-side factors such as production costs, feedstock availability, and plant operating rates, alongside demand-side drivers including EV adoption, battery production, and industrial consumption. Price volatility has been moderated by ample inventories, smooth logistics, and steady global production capacities. Understanding EC market dynamics requires an analysis of quarterly price trends, regional nuances, procurement behavior, and global trade flows.

Global Price Overview

The global Ethylene Carbonate market experienced both upward and downward pricing pressures over the past three quarters. Prices have been influenced primarily by:

Feedstock costs including ethylene oxide and CO2
Regional supply and import constraints
EV and energy storage demand trends
Inventory management and just-in-time procurement practices
Seasonal maintenance turnarounds at production plants
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Below is a summary of Ethylene Carbonate prices and indices across key regions for Q3 2025:

Region | Quarter Ending | Price Index Movement | Average Price USD/MT | Spot Price Trend | Key Drivers
----------------|----------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------
APAC (China) | Sep 2025 | -10.02% | 601.33 | Range-bound | Weaker exports, steady feedstock
North America | Sep 2025 | Slight decline | TBD* | Relatively firm | Stable battery demand, lower EO cost
Europe | Sep 2025 | Slight increase | TBD* | Stable with uptick | Limited imports, strong automotive demand

*Exact average prices for North America and Europe for Q3 2025 were not explicitly stated in the source content but trends indicate stable to slightly higher pricing.

Regional Analysis

APAC

China led the regional market, with EC prices declining by 10.02% in Q3 2025. The average price for the quarter was approximately USD 601.33/MT. The decline reflects subdued export demand, though domestic procurement for EVs and energy storage systems remained steady. Spot prices were largely range-bound due to stable ethylene oxide feedstock costs, while coastal plant operations maintained comfortable inventory levels.

Production costs were neutral, supported by steady feedstock prices. Downstream buyers continued just-in-time procurement, limiting transactional volumes and suppressing significant upward price pressure. Logistics were smooth, preventing supply bottlenecks despite high plant utilization rates.

Price changes in September 2025 were driven by a balance between robust EV demand and high production runs, stable ethylene oxide and CO2 costs, and subdued export activity, which collectively restrained major price movements.

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North America

North American EC spot prices remained relatively firm in Q3 2025, supported by demand from lithium-ion battery manufacturers and industrial lubricant producers. The Price Index experienced a mild upward trend in July and August but eased slightly in September due to lower ethylene oxide costs and moderate downstream restocking.

Production costs declined marginally, aided by improved plant utilization rates and reduced feedstock prices. Inventory accumulation prompted downstream buyers to restrict procurement to essential volumes, resulting in a temporary softening of the market.

Q4 2025 forecasts point to a rebound driven by seasonal restocking and potential supply tightening from planned maintenance turnarounds. Overall, the demand outlook remains positive, underpinned by sustained EV sales growth and expanding energy storage projects.

Europe

European EC spot prices remained stable through most of Q3 2025, with a minor uptick in September due to tightening supply and strong automotive sector demand. Imports from Asia were limited, placing upward pressure on the regional Price Index. Production costs increased marginally because of higher energy costs and constrained feedstock availability.

Demand remains robust, driven by EU electrification targets and increased battery manufacturing. Q4 2025 price forecasts suggest continued firmness, with potential bottlenecks in supply and sustained demand from battery and industrial sectors supporting upward momentum.

Historical Quarterly Review

Quarter | APAC Trend | North America Trend | Europe Trend | Key Influences
-----------|-------------|-------------------|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------
Q4 2024 | Mixed | Declining | Mixed | EV demand growth, oversupply from Asia, upstream cost fluctuations
Q1 2025 | Softening | Modest decline | Muted | Inventory adjustments, cautious downstream buying, global oversupply
Q2 2025 | Slight rise | Stable | Stable | Steady EV production, feedstock cost softening, moderate restocking
Q3 2025 | Decline | Mild downward | Slight increase | Export weakness, feedstock cost changes, battery sector demand

Production and Cost Structure Insights

Ethylene Carbonate production primarily relies on ethylene oxide and CO2 as feedstocks. Cost trends in Q3 2025 were broadly neutral in APAC, modestly easing in North America, and slightly rising in Europe. Plant operating rates were high across major producing regions, with coastal plants in China maintaining steady output levels. Energy costs influenced European production expenses, while feedstock pricing stability supported APAC producers in maintaining margins.

Procurement Outlook

Procurement patterns have largely followed just-in-time principles, particularly in APAC, where downstream buyers minimized inventory holdings. In North America, firms limited purchases to essential quantities due to prior inventory accumulation, while Europe saw increased procurement from battery manufacturers to mitigate constrained import availability. The trend toward cautious yet consistent procurement is expected to continue into Q4 2025, aligning with anticipated restocking cycles and seasonal demand upticks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What drives Ethylene Carbonate price changes globally
Price fluctuations are influenced by feedstock costs, supply-demand dynamics, plant utilization rates, and global EV and energy storage demand. Seasonal maintenance and trade flows also affect regional pricing.

Why did APAC EC prices decline in Q3 2025
Declines were driven by weaker export demand, ample domestic production, and stable feedstock costs, with just-in-time procurement limiting transactional volumes.

Why did North American EC prices remain firm yet slightly decline in September 2025
Lower ethylene oxide prices reduced production costs, and downstream buyers restricted procurement due to inventory buildup, causing a minor softening.

Why did European EC prices rise slightly
Limited imports from Asia, higher energy costs, constrained feedstock availability, and robust automotive demand led to a modest price uptick.

What is the Q4 2025 outlook for EC prices
Across all regions, modest upside is anticipated from seasonal restocking, tight supply from maintenance turnarounds, and sustained EV and industrial demand.

How ChemAnalyst Supports Buyers

ChemAnalyst provides actionable intelligence for buyers seeking to navigate the complex EC market. The platform delivers:

Real-time global pricing updates and spot market tracking
Expert analysis explaining the reasons behind price movements
Forecasting tools for anticipating market trends and optimizing procurement strategies
Alerts on plant shutdowns and supply disruptions to mitigate risks
Regional insights covering North America, APAC, and Europe
Ground-level reporting from major trading hubs, including Houston, Shanghai, Busan, Rotterdam, and more
With a team of chemical engineers and market experts, ChemAnalyst empowers buyers to make informed purchasing decisions, optimize costs, and maintain resilient supply chains in volatile market conditions.

This report provides a comprehensive view of Ethylene Carbonate market dynamics from Q4 2024 through Q3 2025, combining historical data, regional analyses, cost trends, and procurement insights to guide stakeholders across the chemical, battery, and industrial sectors.

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This release was published on openPR.