LONDON (GC Intelligence) — Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) prices in Europe decreased from Q4 to Q1 according to GC Intelligence price assessments.
Unfilled PBT saw the biggest decreases of around €100/mt, while GF30 FR rolled over and GF30 decreased €50/mt.
There is a clear difference in prices between Asian imports and European PBT, with the latter at times €200-250/mt more expensive.
Therefore, lately buyers made a big effort to push down European prices and align them with the more competitive imports.
For now there has been a moderate success and the price difference remains.
The GC Intelligence unfilled price was assessed at €1455/mt and imports were heard at around and even below €1300/mt
Meanwhile, costs were going down. Crude oil dropped to $50/bbl and Butanediol (BDO) which is also oversupplied was priced at €1350/mt
BDO prices have fallen too much for Asian imports to still be able to compete in Europe and a reduction in volumes in now expected.
In terms of demand, like all engineering polymers, there has been an ongoing decrease for more than a year.
With the onset of the coronavirus which is now spreading globally and likely to hit growth, a rebound in PBT demand, prices and margins is unlikely in 2020.
The GC Intelligence forecasts show European PBT price decreases for the next three quarters.
NOTE: For price indices, forecasts, and a more in-depth market analysis take a look at the GC INTELLIGENCE® Market Reports…→