Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices followed divergent trends in the USA and India. While Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices in India declined during the first half of December, prices in the USA continued to rise.

In the first half of December, Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices in India experienced a decline, largely due to weak post-festive demand from end-use industries. The onset of winter brought about a seasonal slowdown, leading to an abundance of inventories in the domestic market. Manufacturers focused on destocking, offering discounts to clear excess inventory and reducing operating rates. Additionally, ethylene oxide prices fell by 1.4%, further exerting downward pressure on Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices.

Tracing back to November, pre-festive season saw enough procurement. Although demand during the festive season was not upto expectations, but it provided modest growth in India’s Personal Care Sector. This was followed by the wedding season which provided transient boost to India’s Personal Care sector.

India’s personal care sector witnessed a robust performance in November 2024, driven by the Black Friday sales event and ongoing wedding season demand. Beauty, wellness, and personal care products experienced a 34% year-on-year growth in gross merchandise value (GMV), with categories such as perfumes, deodorants, and makeup leading the charge. The average order value for these products also surged by 26%, indicating a growing consumer willingness to spend on premium offerings. Black Friday sales, which accounted for 20% of November’s total GMV, have rapidly become a key retail event, bridging the consumption gap between Diwali and year-end festivities.

 With the wedding season coming to an end, the domestic market remained well-supplied with inventories. With the arrival of winter, a seasonal slowdown persisted, resulting in an abundance of inventories in the domestic market. This eventually dragged Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol to the lower side.

As for USA, Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices continued their upward trajectory in the domestic market in the first half of December. The uptick in prices can be attributed to steady demand from the Personal Care. Furthermore, the 1.4% increase in Ethylene oxide prices strengthened the bullish trend observed in Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices.

Demand fundamentals in the domestic market continued to be driven by year-end festivities. With steady procurement activities amid Christmas season, demand for Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol remained buoyant. This helped keep Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices elevated in the domestic market.

The strong demand in the U.S. personal care sector can be linked to the steady performance in November 2024.The U.S. personal care sector saw strong e-commerce growth during the Black Friday period, with online sales surging 14.6% year-over-year, far outpacing the modest 0.7% growth in in-store sales. This highlights consumers' growing preference for online shopping, particularly for deals and promotions supporting holiday budgets.

Looking ahead, Ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol prices in India are likely to remain under pressure due to the ongoing seasonal slowdown. In contrast, prices in the U.S. are expected to stay on an upward trajectory, supported by strong demand from year-end festivities and New Year celebrations.