With the ending of November 2024, Bisphenol A (BPA) prices continued their downward trajectory globally, largely driven by muted demand from the polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resin sectors. The Asian market, particularly China, remained at the center of this bearish trend. Weak consumption patterns, high inventories, and supply-demand mismatches defined the market outlook, creating a challenging environment for BPA manufacturers and downstream industries.

In China, the PC market saw a slight reduction in operating rates, with major producers like Jiaxing Emperor undergoing maintenance. The average industry operating rate declined from 77% to around 75%, and weekly PC production fell below 60,000 tons. However, the market remained oversupplied, with abundant inventory levels stifling any upward momentum in BPA prices. Downstream industries demonstrated conservative procurement behaviors, buying only to maintain minimal inventories as high-priced goods met significant resistance. While some supply reduction occurred due to maintenance at certain facilities, this had limited impact as downstream PC and epoxy resin inventories, offering no significant boost to demand. Feedstock costs for phenol and acetone continued their weak trend, further reducing BPA production costs.

High stockpiles and tepid downstream demand prompted price reductions from suppliers, though the sluggish circulation of goods on-site failed to stimulate significant market activity. The mismatch between supply and terminal demand persisted, with end-users adopting a wait-and-see approach.

In Europe and USA, BPA prices also trended downward, reflecting subdued demand from the construction and automotive sectors. A slowdown in the construction activities across the eurozone reduced PC and epoxy resin consumption, exacerbating the oversupply issue. Seasonal factors and economic uncertainties further compounded the situation, leading to a bearish sentiment in the European BPA market.

The global BPA market faces additional pressure from the continued addition of production capacity, which has outpaced demand growth. Terminal buyers are reluctant to engage in large-scale purchases, further deepening the supply-demand gap. The European construction sector, a significant consumer of BPA-based products, recorded declines in building activities, contributing to weak epoxy resin and PC demand.

Overall, the BPA market remains burdened by oversupply and weak terminal demand. High inventory levels and restrained downstream activity have led to persistent pricing pressure. As per ChemAnalyst, BPA prices are anticipated to decline further in the coming month due to sustained high inventories and subdued demand. The addition of new production capacities has exacerbated the mismatch between supply and demand, and with downstream factories focusing on minimal stocking, BPA prices are expected to fluctuate at low levels in coming month.