LONDON (ICIS)--The European oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have been subdued in December with a focus on managing inventory targets into year-end with destocking already underway.
The winter demand has also been sluggish amid wider challenging economic and geopolitical pressures.
Heading into 2025, the outlook is one for the challenges of 2024 to largely persist, with demand not expected to dramatically improve.
Acryalte ester report editor Mathew Jolin-Beech is joined by glycol ethers report editor Cameron Birch, oxo-alcohols editor Nicole Simpson, and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye to discuss the current market conditions and to look forward into 2025.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's oxo-alcohols market continues to face challenges amid capacity expansions in China.

• Weak demand from downstream plasticisers sector
• Upstream support from propylene unlikely
• Demand recovery to take some time

In this latest podcast, ICIS senior editor Julia Tan speaks with ICIS analyst Lina Xu to share the latest developments and expectations for what lies ahead next year.

BARCELONA (ICIS)—European polyethylene (PE) markets face growing pressure from cheaper imports, highlighting the impact of rising overcapacity driven by China and the US.

- Plants in Europe operating at technical minimum levels

- Minimal stocks held amid plentiful supply

- Demand poor across most end uses, packaging stronger

- Europe will see more PE imports as global overcapacity grows

- More polymer plant closures are likely in Europe and other high-cost regions

- US has more to lose from trade war as it is a major exporter of PE to China

- Trade flows could change dramatically if tariff walls go up

- Supply/demand imbalance may take up to nine years to correct