What does Europe's chemical downturn mean for propionic acid sourcing and pricing?

What does Europe's chemical downturn mean for propionic acid sourcing and pricing?
Europe accounts for roughly 33.5% of global propionic acid capacity and about 35% of demand, with over half consumed in feed additives. As high energy and labor costs push European producers to retire basic chemical capacity, propionic acid sits among the exposed niche acids, alongside formic and tartaric acid. Because it derives directly from ethylene, its cost base is tied to the stability of Europe's ethylene chain. If European capacity exits over the next three to five years, Chinese producers could capture export share, though buyers should expect price volatility during the transition.