Prices for dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) rose in February and March, following increases in the upstream propylene contract price.
However, prices for rival plasticizer diisononyl phthalate (DINP) generally remained stable. DOTP sellers were trying to improve margins after previously adopting aggressive price strategies in order to win market share. DINP sellers countered this by offering competitive prices, and the gap between DINP and DOTP prices disappeared.
Dipropyl heptyl phthalate (DPHP) prices have generally followed the trend for DINP, and this has prevented sellers from achieving margin improvement.
DOP producers said sales were disappointing in March after prices rose by up to €30/tonne, and prices dropped in April and May as upstream costs fell, while demand improved.
A downward trend was also seen for DOTP, DINP and DPHP, with prices falling by up to €60/tonne in May following an €80/tonne fall in the monthly propylene contract price.
On the buy side, players said tough competition between sellers and an abundance of supply means the plasticizers sector is a buyer’s market at the moment.
Updated to mid-May 2013