Ethylene oxide prices hold steady across China as 53.83% capacity utilization and tight supply support stable outlook

1. Key Points

1. Nov 3: The US-Iran situation did not escalate ahead of the US midterm elections, alleviating supply risk concerns and causing international crude oil prices to fall. NYMEX WTI crude futures (December contract) closed at $96.09/bbl, down $0.37/bbl (-0.38%); ICE Brent crude futures (January contract) closed at $103.60/bbl, down $1.17/bbl (-1.12%). China INE crude oil futures (December 2026 contract) fell by 50.3 yuan/barrel to 694.9 yuan/barrel; the night session dropped a further 16.1 yuan/barrel to 678.8 yuan/barrel.
2. Nov 3: Port ethylene USD CFR Northeast Asia price stood at $1,230/ton, unchanged from the previous working day.
3. Nov 3: Daily capacity utilization in China's ethylene oxide industry was 53.83%.

2. Price Table

3. Market Outlook

Ethylene oxide prices are expected to remain stable today. On the supply side, temporary shutdowns and planned maintenance outages are occurring concurrently, limiting spot availability and resulting in an overall contraction in supply. On the demand side, key downstream industries maintain a willingness to support prices, with essential procurement continuing in major downstream markets. Regarding costs, the domestic ethylene market is trending stronger due to tight supply; some external sellers have halted offers or are reluctant to sell, pushing quoted prices higher. Overall, fundamentals show limited volatility, and ethylene oxide prices are expected to remain steady in the short term. Continued monitoring of upstream and downstream developments is advised.

Data Source: Chempricehub Information