Home Commodities Chemicals Toluene Toluene prices, markets & analysis

Toluene prices, markets & analysis

Speak to ICIS
Jump to section

Get the latest data, tools and insight for toluene with ICIS pricing and market intelligence.

Our short-to-long-term solutions – from pricing, analytics, industry news and supply and demand data –
ensure that you can evaluate toluene markets from every angle.

  • Decide the best time and price to make the most profitable trade
  • Monitor global and regional trade flows, including supply-demand balances
  • Look for arbitrage opportunities
  • Stay informed on breaking industry news that can move the market instantly
  • Be guided in your long-term planning and investment strategies
  • Make more informed production or commercial decisions

Speak to ICIS

Market Overview

Updated to Q4 2020

Asia

Supply in Asia decreased. At least three producers had turnarounds in succession in southeast Asia and more producers in northeast Asia lowered their operating rates due to poor margins. Thus few spot cargoes were available.

Demand for Asian cargoes in India significantly increased due to few available cargoes from Middle East due to some plant issues in the Middle East region. Buying sentiment stayed boosted and more Asia producers diverted their cargoes to this region, which lead to limited supply in both CFR southeast Asia market and CFR northeast Asia market, and the limited supply, on the other hand, boosted buying sentiment in those regions.

Europe

Supply was moving between balanced and ample at the start of Q4. Production levels were lower due to some turnarounds in Europe which had cut down supplies from the market. This was offset by downstream TDI plants being shut down. There was some tightness in the market with a sudden rise in spot activity which also impacted the truck distributor segment. The situation become balanced towards the end of Q4 due to a slowdown for the holiday period.

Demand from the gasoline blending sector was weak as the economics were not profitable and refiners were not willing to pay high premiums. There was further pressure with the rise in coronavirus infections. Some demand from the chemical sector increased with the restarts from German TDI plants. In November, the spot activity unexpectedly rallied when exports to the US and India surged. The momentum slowed down towards the end of December.

US

Toluene supplies narrowed for the second half of Q4 as the recent surge in derivative benzene demand from styrene production helped stimulate demand for toluene feedstock for toluene disproportionation (TDP) operations. Supply had been steady for most of the calendar year as the pandemic weakened fundamentals, though began constricting in Q4 as downstream economics have strengthened.

Demand for toluene improved during the quarter as refiners were better incentivised to use toluene for on-purpose benzene production for the first time in many months. Better-than-expected holiday travel demand gave a boost to fuel costs, as toluene has been heard trading in larger premiums to RBOB gasoline since mid-November.

Strengthen your negotiation power in the toluene market with ICIS pricing data

Speak to ICIS

How we can help

Whether you are buying or selling toluene, ICIS provides you with the right pricing data, analytics, news and market analysis you need to confidently plan and make your trades, as well as shape future strategies and maintain a competitive advantage.

Speak to ICIS

Services

Find out more about our services
    • Key trading prices: Spot/contract, import/export and domestic toluene on a daily and weekly basis

toluene-data-img

  • Price alerts and market updates: Shifts in prices, breaking news, market developments and supply demand trends
  • Plant data: Production and capacity, plant maintenance and shutdowns
  • Feedstock/downstream information: Prices and market commentary on upstream commodities such as benzene and phenol and downstream markets
  • Weekly market sentiment: Near-term price direction and appetite of buyers and sellers in active trading regions
  • Supply and demand: Analysis of domestic and international supply and demand

Speak to ICIS

ICIS publishes daily and weekly pricing reports for toluene to help you keep track of trading prices, understand price drivers/fluctuations and set a benchmark for contract price settlements. Information covered in our price reports includes:

Asia

  • FOB South Korea
  • CFR NE Asia, SE Asia, India, China
  • Ex-tank E China, Ex-tank India

Europe

  • FOB NWE
  • ROB R’Dam
  • CIF Med

Speak to ICIS

Each ICIS toluene pricing subscription comes with analytics tools that take away the hassle of developing your own analysis. Quickly access data such as:

    • Price Drivers Analytics: An interactive map identifying net price differences between regions, factoring in freight costs and duties, to enrich the global picture of cross-regional competition and import and export opportunities.

toulene-img-3

  • Price Optimisation Analytics: An interactive map identifying net price differences between regions, factoring in freight and duties costs, to enrich the global picture of cross-regional competition and import and export opportunities.
  • Live Disruptions Tracker – Supply: Real-time view of domestic and global supply, plant outages and start-ups for the next 12 months, plus the impact of these changes.
  • Live Disruptions Tracker – Impact: A tool that visualises supply disruptions using live data, as validated by ICIS production news with an impact view connecting downstream shutdowns to show consumption capacity loss in real time.
  • Margin Analytics – Get actionable variable cost margins by feedstock/process type and location, with analyst insight
  • Supply & Demand Outlooks: Quarterly supply and demand outlooks for toluene.

Request a demo

ICIS brings you breaking chemical news as it happens – including market moves, analysis, data and more. The service is reliable, authoritative and always available when you need it most.

Stay on top of toluene markets across all regions with ICIS news.toulene-img-4

  • Market news, data and analysis
  • A global perspective from our worldwide network of reporters
  • Comprehensive coverage, including emerging markets
  • Current and upcoming plants and projects
  • Regional expertise giving you superior market insight
  • Advanced customisation and email alerts
  • Access to 900,000 articles and over 10 years of news archives

Speak to ICIS

Get a long-term view of the market with the ICIS Supply and Demand Data Service, which offers end-to-end perspectives of the toluene markets.

Gain quick access to data on import and export volumes, plant capacities, production, product trade flows, companies and route. With historical data from 1978 and forecasts available up to 2040, this powerful data and analytics service from ICIS helps senior management, strategists, business planners, analysts and risk managers to:

  • Identify, evaluate and optimise opportunities
  • Identify and manage financial or investment risks
  • Validate commercial and growth strategies

Request a free demo now

Working closely with you to understand your strategies, challenges and ambitions, the consulting team at ICIS delivers tailored advice and solutions to suit your unique requirements. With many years of experience in guiding business leadership teams, we show you how market conditions can make a positive or negative impact on your long-term plans.

  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Strategic planning
  • Market advisory
  • Cost and value modelling

Speak to us to find out more

Methodology

Our Pricing 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 worldwide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyers and sellers, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Global Coverage

Our locally based experts provide in-depth regional price reports into specific chemical markets.

Trusted

Our benchmark prices have been trusted by buyers and sellers around the globe for nearly 40 years.

Relevant, Timely Information

Choose ICIS for concise information and easy-to-access formatting, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Innovative Insights

Make better business decisions by using our powerful analytics tools to gain a 360-degree view in today’s toluene markets.

Speak to ICIS

Benzene

News

Japan’s ENEOS shuts Sendai refinery after 13 February earthquake
Mon, 15 Feb 2021 06:32

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japanese refiner ENEOS Corp has shut its 145,000 bbl/day refinery in Sendai following the 13 February earthquake that hit off the coast of eastern Japan, a company spokesperson said...

Read
INSIGHT: Freezing weather in Europe exacerbates tight chemicals supply
Fri, 12 Feb 2021 13:14

LONDON (ICIS)--Cold weather has restricted chemicals production and logistics in Europe, mirroring conditions possible on the US market. Disruptions have already shaped near-term fundamentals for...

Read
PODCAST: Key highlights for Europe toluene and MX optimism in 2021
Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:30

LONDON (ICIS)--Toluene and mixed xylenes (MX) markets reporter Zubair Adam outlines the key supply and demand conditions expected for 2021 in Europe. The main chemical use of toluene is to make...

Read
Mideast chemical supply tight on container shortages, Asian plant shutdowns
Thu, 21 Jan 2021 05:22

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Middle East's petrochemical markets are facing tight supply, mainly due to shortage of containers, with shipment difficulties to last until March. Plant shutdowns in Asia...

Read
We use cookies to improve the performance of our site, to analyse the traffic to our site, and to personalise your experience of the site. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Please find more information on the cookies used on our site here