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Home Commodities Chemicals Phenol Phenol prices, markets & analysis

Phenol prices, markets & analysis

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For those looking to keep abreast of the global Phenol market, our independent, unbiased pricing information, news and market analysis is an invaluable resource.

Whether you buy or sell Phenol or related products, you need to know about the prices and the factors driving the prices in the global Phenol market as they happen. Our network of price reporters throughout Asia, Europe and the US provide key local insights. We collate this intelligence into daily and weekly price reports, ensuring you have the up-to-date information you need at all times.

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Market Overview

Updated to Q3 2019

Asia

Asia Phenol supply fell due to Q3’s production cuts. South Korea’s LG Chem cut production to 90% at its Daesan plant. Compatriot Kumho’s Line 2 remained shut while Lines 3 and 4 reduced production to below 70%. Taiwan’s Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp (FCFC) reduced production to below 85%. Compatriot Changchun Plastics and India’s Deepak Phenolics ran at 90%. Mitsui Phenol Singapore (MPS) reduced run rates to 80%. PTT Thailand ran one line at 70%.

Summer heat typically impedes phenol production and downstream plastic and fabric demand. Pre-Golden Week, environmental checks conducted by government bodies at downstream factories became increasingly rampant, causing demand to dip further. Persistent slides in domestic Chinese currency against the US dollar during the China-US trade war clipped importers’ purchasing power. Buying activities picked up in H2 of Q3, following production cuts. Some importers stepped up their trades, expecting prices to rise further in Q4.

Europe

European phenol supply was balanced to tight in the second quarter, which represented a more stable situation since the start of the year when material was difficult to obtain. The increase in availability was partially tied to consumption softening. Although contractual offtake was steady, this drop in demand meant that spot volumes for some were readily available. There was market talk that production did drop on co-product acetone length.

Demand for phenol on a spot and contractual basis weakened in Europe in Q3. An expected seasonal pick up after summer was muted. Demand for downstream products bisphenol-A (BPA) and caprolactam (capro), both used extensively in the automotive sector, continued to slide along with weakening automotive sector performance. Construction demand appeared comparatively resilient, and phenolic resins demand was stable, albeit below 2018 levels.

US

Supply of US phenol in the third quarter increased amid resolved production and logistical issues. One force majeure continued through the quarter, but other issues which had begun in the prior quarter resolved. The closure of a cumene-producing refinery was a headwind to production, but feedstock remained available for production.

Demand for US phenol in the third quarter fell amid weak performance in some end markets. Sales of automobiles, a major phenol outlet, were down globally. The seasonal peak for the construction sector, also a major outlet, was less than typical. Other downstream sectors were affected by weak global economics and trade tensions.

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How we can help

Phenol news and market information products from ICIS

We offer the following regional Phenol analysis and news coverage to keep you informed of factors and developments affecting prices in the Phenol marketplace.

Price reporting

  • More information about the price reports we publish on Phenol
    Independent price assessments and market coverage by region

    • Asia
    • China
    • Europe
    • US

Price history

  • More information about the historical price data we publish on Phenol
    Track historical price data

    • Asia
    • China
    • Europe
    • US

News & analysis

  • News & market analysis specifically relating to Phenol
    Breaking news of latest developments affecting the markets. Insight and analysis of factors driving prices.
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Services

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Pricing Intelligence

Pricing information

Regional price assessments, published daily or weekly, enabling you to keep track of trading prices, understand price drivers/fluctuations and set a benchmark for contract price settl ements. ICIS offers reports on over 180 commodities across the global petrochemical, energy and fertilizer markets. Information covered in our price reports includes:

  • Spot and contract price assessments
  • Market commentary on trends and developments
  • Transactions reported and confirmed
  • Plant and production news

Information is accessed online, via the ICIS dashboard service and is configurable to suit your preferences.

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Price forecast services

Produced by the ICIS Consulting team, these reports give a robust rolling 12-month price forecast, trade balances and in-depth analysis into where markets are heading – providing a valuable tool to support your short- to medium-term plans.

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Dashboard – Easy access to ICIS pricing data

ICIS pricing intelligence is delivered to you online via the ICIS dashboard. Here you can view your reports and also access other useful services including related news, analysis, historical data and market alerts.

ICIS dashboard also makes it easy for you to create pricing charts, download price history and export data to create tailored analytical models.

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Margin reports

ICIS weekly margin reports deliver the detail you need to understand how production costs and prices are affecting margins, enabling you to judge the likely impact on your business and optimise your upstream and downstream business decisions.

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The Supply and Demand Window on the ICIS Dashboard provides a snapshot view of historical and forecast information for supply and demand, production capacity and trade flows – a key tool to help safeguard future investments within the chemicals market.

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24-hour global coverage of breaking news in the petrochemical industry, including updates on production, shutdowns and key transacted deals, keeping you informed of market developments as they happen. The ICIS news service allows you to customise the market alerts delivered to your email inbox, providing the business-critical information you need straightaway.

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ICIS Chemical Business magazine

If you want to keep updated on the factors driving price movements in the global chemical markets, ICIS Chemical Business provides a summary of the information you need to support your business decisions. Every week, our global team of experts digests and summarises the key issues and their potential impact on the market – all in one magazine.

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An expert view of supply and demand comprising four fully-reconciled databases, giving you access to extensive data for more than 100 markets. Information is included on global and regional trade flows, production, capacity and sources of demand in the short-, medium- and long-term. Data can be downloaded, customised and queried to support your planning requirements and your strategic decisions.

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ICIS produces a series of highly informative and timely conferences. Extensive research is carried out to ensure that each programme delivers the information you need and addresses current industry issues. We source speakers who have the appropriate expertise and experience to deliver excellent quality papers.

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China markets

ICIS expert consultants can provide your organisation with the insight, intelligence and data needed to build and grow your business in China. We can help you to gain a clear view on the short and long-term supply and demand picture in the chemicals, energy, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals and paper and pulp markets in China.

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Methodology

ICIS price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters world-wide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyer and seller, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Our in-depth market knowledge drives our specialist focus, as we recognise the importance of individual market dynamics and not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Over 25 years of reporting on key chemicals markets, including Phenol, has brought global recognition of our methodology as being unbiased, authoritative and rigorous in preserving our editorial integrity. Our global network of reporters in Houston, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Perth and Moscow ensures unrivalled coverage of established and emerging markets.

Phenol Methodology

The primary chemical intermediates and derivatives of phenol include phenolic resin, bisphenol-A (BPA), caprolactam, adipic acid and plasticiser.

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About Phenol

Phenol occurs as colourless to yellow crystals, with a characteristic carbolic odour which turns pink on exposure to light and air. It is strongly hydroscopic, liquefying in moist air. It is moderately dissolvable in water, but very soluble in ether, methyl and ethyl alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, acetic acid, glycerol, benzene and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The solution in water is a weak acid.

The main chemical intermediates and derivatives of phenol are bisphenol-A (BPA) used to make polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins, phenolic resins, caprolactam, alkylphenols, aniline and adipic acid. The largest market for phenol is BPA followed by phenolic resins.

Cumene-based technology is the dominant process to produce phenol. Here, benzene and propylene are reacted to form cumene, which is oxidised to the hydroperoxide, followed by acid-catalysed cleavage to yield phenol and acetone.

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Benzene, Propylene

Bisphenol A

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