Falling New Orders Drive Down Polycarbonate Prices in the US and Europe

The price of general-purpose Polycarbonate declined during May 2023 due to the weak orders received from the downstream construction industry. The recent US manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) deteriorated in May 2023 compared to the previous month. This indicates that General-purpose Polycarbonate consumption declined in the US region's construction and other allied industries.

The sector's health only slightly deteriorated, but this was due to weak demand circumstances, a decreased need to store inputs due to quicker deliveries, and a decrease in new order inflows. Even though output grew in May 2023, the growth rate dropped to a hardly noticeable degree. Production expansion was frequently associated with a larger workforce and prompt input deliveries that enabled businesses to catch up on backlogs of work.

Further, the new orders for Polycarbonate from domestic and overseas markets fell as the firm noted challenges securing new business as customers continued working through their existing stocks. The steady inventory from the manufacturers and sufficient stock availability in the market drove the general-purpose Polycarbonate market toward a downturn in the US.

ChemAnalyst reports that the cost of General-purpose Polycarbonate hovered around USD 3500/MT on a DDP US Gulf basis during the week ending 02nd June 2023.

On the other hand, the German General-Purpose Polycarbonate market remained downturn due to the reduced new orders from the downstream industries. The month saw a dramatic decline in new orders for manufacturers in the largest economy in the Eurozone, driven primarily by falling export sales. The production shrank for the first time in four months due to the decline in demand. Additionally, the manufacturer's outlook for future output became bleak. Market members claim that the new work orders had their greatest dip since last October.

Additionally, a new business in the UK fell once more in May 2023. Because of reduced demand from domestic and international clients, the rate of contraction was the fastest in the previous four months. Destocking Polycarbonate by customers, low market confidence, and a slowing economy hampered the flow of new business.

ChemAnalyst reports that the cost of general-purpose Polycarbonate hovered around USD 3900/MT on an FD Hamburg basis during the week ending 2nd June 2023.

The US manufacturers signaled stronger optimism regarding the outlook for output over the coming 12 months in May 2023. It is expected that the general-purpose Polycarbonate market is likely to be on a bumpy path due to the uncertain global market.