Propylene carbonate is a versatile organic compound used as a solvent, electrolyte component, and intermediate in various industries, including lithium-ion batteries, paints and coatings, personal care products, and chemical manufacturing. Tracking the Propylene Carbonate Price Trend is crucial for procurement managers, traders, and manufacturers who need to manage supply contracts and mitigate market volatility. This market profile outlines recent price dynamics, key influencing factors, historical patterns, and forecast expectations for better purchasing strategies.
Latest Price Landscape
The market for propylene carbonate has experienced steady shifts due to fluctuations in propylene oxide feedstock costs, energy pricing, and demand from downstream applications. Producers are adjusting offer levels based on capacity utilization rates and order volumes, with some regions reporting firmer spot sentiment while others remain stable due to long-term contracts. Packaging type (bulk vs drum) and purity grades for battery applications are also shaping price differentials.
Market News and Influencing Factors
Market participants monitor several key indicators that impact pricing:
- Feedstock trends: Propylene oxide availability and cost movements have a direct impact.
- Battery sector demand: Growth in EV battery production is a major pull factor for high-purity grades.
- Energy and freight: Rising transportation and fuel costs influence CFR and DDP prices.
- Regulatory updates: Changes in environmental regulations affecting propylene oxide plants can alter supply availability.
Additionally, seasonal trends in paints, coatings, and cosmetics manufacturing often cause short-term demand spikes, influencing spot market sentiment.
Historical Pattern
Historically, propylene carbonate prices have followed the broader petrochemical market cycle, rising with strong crude oil and feedstock markets and softening during demand lulls. Price peaks have been recorded during times of constrained feedstock availability or rapid growth in battery-grade demand. Over the past five years, increased EV adoption has added a structural layer of demand, tightening availability for industrial users during high battery production periods.
Forecast Outlook
Analysts project a balanced to bullish outlook, driven by:
- Expanding lithium-ion battery capacity worldwide.
- Steady coatings demand in the construction and automotive industries.
- Potential feedstock tightness if propylene oxide markets strengthen.
However, freight normalization and the introduction of alternative solvents could temper aggressive price increases. Procurement planning should account for both short-term market corrections and long-term structural growth in high-purity grades.
Database Coverage
An effective propylene carbonate database should compile:
- Weekly and monthly assessed prices by region and grade.
- Historical price charts covering at least five years.
- FOB, CFR, and DDP benchmarks with normalized currency conversions.
- Demand trends by sector (battery, coatings, personal care, chemical intermediates).
Procurement Resource can structure this data to align with internal purchasing strategies, ensuring visibility into market drivers and price risks.
Charts and Visualization
Well-designed price charts help visualize:
- Long-term pricing trends and seasonality.
- Correlation between feedstock propylene oxide prices and propylene carbonate values.
- Regional spreads for bulk vs packaged grades.
- Price reaction patterns to demand surges in the battery industry.
These visual tools enable procurement teams to identify optimal buying windows and forecast budget impacts.
Historical Data and Forecasts
Maintaining a combined historical and forecast dataset allows stakeholders to:
- Benchmark contract renewals.
- Understand long-term cost trends.
- Simulate procurement scenarios based on feedstock and energy price movements.
For propylene carbonate, a rolling 24-month forecast can highlight possible volatility during peak EV production quarters or when upstream outages occur.
Market Insights
Demand Drivers:
- Lithium-ion batteries (EVs, electronics).
- Industrial coatings and adhesives.
- Cosmetics and personal care formulations.
- Chemical synthesis intermediates.
Supply Structure:
The market is concentrated, with production often tied to integrated propylene oxide facilities. Disruptions in upstream supply can quickly translate into price volatility.
Pricing Mechanisms:
Contracts often reference monthly or quarterly benchmark assessments, with discounts or premiums based on volume, grade, and logistics terms.
Regional Insights and Analysis
North America:
Stable demand from coatings and lubricants, with growing EV battery investment supporting higher battery-grade demand. Freight and inland trucking rates remain key cost factors.
Europe:
Energy prices and environmental regulations affecting propylene oxide plants influence supply and costs. Demand from specialty coatings and cosmetics is steady.
Asia Pacific:
China remains the largest consumer due to its battery manufacturing dominance. Seasonal peaks occur during EV production surges. Southeast Asia is emerging as a growing demand hub for coatings and adhesives.
Middle East & Africa:
Industrial-grade demand is linked to construction and coatings, while battery-grade applications are still in early stages of growth.
Latin America:
Demand is driven mainly by industrial applications, with imports subject to currency fluctuations and port handling efficiency.
Cost Drivers and Methodology Notes
Key cost drivers include:
- Feedstock propylene oxide pricing.
- Energy for production and purification.
- Packaging (drums, IBCs, bulk).
- Ocean freight and inland logistics.
A consistent methodology for data collection—covering producer offers, confirmed transactions, and distributor quotes—is essential for reliable price reporting.
Sourcing and Procurement Strategies
- Secure dual sourcing between battery-grade and industrial-grade suppliers to balance quality and cost.
- Lock in a portion of volumes under fixed-term contracts while retaining flexibility for spot purchasing during price dips.
- Monitor feedstock markets and freight trends as early warning signals for cost changes.
Referencing Procurement Resource price assessments in RFQs helps ensure suppliers quote on a comparable basis.
Quality and Specifications
- Battery-grade purity (>99.9%) is critical for electrolyte applications.
- Industrial-grade specifications vary depending on coatings or cosmetics use.
- Certificates of analysis should be standardized to prevent disputes over moisture, acidity, and color.
How to Use This Page
- Track changes in the Propylene Carbonate Price Trend to time purchases effectively.
- Use historical and forecast charts to guide contract negotiations.
- Align regional market insights with supply chain planning.
- Request live price data for immediate decision-making.
Request for the real time prices:- https://www.procurementresource.com/resource-center/polypropylene-carbonate-price-trends/pricerequest
Contact Information
Company Name: Procurement Resource
Contact Person: Ashish Sharma (Sales Representative)
Email: sales@procurementresource.com
Location: 30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
Phone:
UK: +44 7537171117
USA: +1 307 363 1045
Asia-Pacific (APAC): +91 1203185500
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