Calcium Carbide Market Remains Stable Despite Regional Downturns

The global Calcium Carbide market exhibited stability during the early weeks of November 2024, with prices largely unaltered due to moderate demand from the downstream PVC industries. Despite this stability, regional markets faced challenges due to slow construction activity and cautious procurement behavior. While supply-side factors were steady, the broader economic environment and sector-specific conditions continued to shape market dynamics across key regions, including China, India, the U.S., and Europe.

In China, Calcium Carbide market held steady after a gradual rise in prices over the past two months. Consistent operating rates across production units and stable feedstock costs, mainly Coke, helped maintain market equilibrium. However, Calcium Carbide market sentiment remained cautious, given the ample supply and slowing domestic construction activity, which constrained broader consumption. Despite temporary support from export spillovers in Q3 2024 caused by typhoon-related disruptions, the PVC sector’s mixed performance continued to influence Calcium Carbide demand. Cumulative PVC exports grew by 4.6% year-on-year from Q1 to Q3 2024, driven by robust demand in overseas markets, providing a measure of stability.

In India, Calcium Carbide prices saw a modest uptick due to steady feedstock costs and consistent production, but the expected post-festival demand surge failed to materialize, highlighting sluggishness in the construction sector. Elevated inventories and limited infrastructure investments further hindered market growth, reducing the consumption of PVC and other construction materials. Additionally, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended anti-dumping duties on PVC resin imports from China, the U.S., and Korea, which could increase domestic Calcium Carbide inventories by limiting export opportunities and shifting market balances, with the final decision pending from the finance ministry.

The U.S. Calcium Carbide market remained stable, supported by sufficient supply levels and balanced procurement activities in the PVC sector. Although feedstock Coke prices remained favorable, weak downstream demand and subdued housing construction projects limited significant price movements. Public infrastructure projects provided some support, but overall economic uncertainties and high interest rates hindered broader market recovery.

In Europe, the Calcium Carbide market remained stable with minimal price fluctuations. However, weak demand from the construction sector and reduced activity in the downstream PVC market led to increased stockpiles at production facilities. Despite stable feedstock costs, oversupply in the polymer markets and muted manufacturing activity continued to weigh on the market. Without a substantial recovery in PVC demand from the downstream sector, Calcium Carbide prices are expected to face sustained downward pressure in the near term.

As per ChemAnalyst, the Calcium Carbide market is expected to remain stable throughout November, with limited demand in China due to slow construction and mixed PVC performance, sluggish recovery in India driven by weak construction activity and high inventories, and ongoing price pressure in the U.S. and Europe due to subdued housing construction, economic uncertainties, and weak PVC demand.