The European Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) market displayed good stability in March 2025, as price fluctuations were limited to small amounts. Even though there was some modest strength at the start of the month, trading activity slumped which would appear to demonstrate a cautious market sentiment among buyers across Europe who were unsure about future demand and still contemplating trade dynamics. 

According to market participants, while the overall market remains calm, there was a little bit of uptick around demand for MEVA film grades used in agricultural films, which was seasonal due to the farming and horticultural industries gearing up for spring.  Many European buyers adopted a slight wait and see attitude only purchasing their needs, rather than committing to larger volumes of EVA going forward.

The outlook for April indicates that demand for EVA is likely to remain subdued, and supply is unlikely to cause any major issues. Worries about supply were raised when a major production site in France experienced some interruption; however, other manufacturers were able to maintain steady output and any serious shortfall was avoided. This helped to keep the market balanced despite early concerns about the supply of EVA into the European market.

The packaging industry, a key consumer of EVA, experienced lower demand in February, a trend that expanded into March. The winter season traditionally dampens demand for EVA in this sector, and this year was no exception. On top of that, uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. tariffs on European exports added to the cautious sentiment, making buyers hesitant to commit to bulk orders of EVA. 

In the recent times, DOW’s Q4 2024 report echoed these challenges, showing a decline in net sales for its packaging and specialty plastics segment. While there was some improvement in demand for industrial and consumer packaging, lower prices for polyethylene and functional polymers, particularly in Asia-Pacific, weighed on overall sales. 

According to the ChemAnalyst pricing team, with prices staying unchanged in March, the EVA market is expected to continue a steady path in the near term as with demand still weak, any significant price increases seem unlikely for now. The focus remains on how worldwide trade policies and economic developments will evolve, as these factors could impact EVA demand and pricing in the coming months. While seasonal factors—especially in agriculture—could give the market a slight boost, overall activity is likely to remain cautious as both buyers and sellers tread carefully in an uncertain economic climate.