In late November 2024, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates prices in the U.S. maintained stability, supported by steady demand from the personal care sector. Despite inflationary pressures, consistent retail sales and a stable market outlook have helped maintain price stability, as reflected in the prices of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates.

As the holiday season began, people spent modestly on personal care products, with more opting to shop online instead of in retail stores. This shift to online shopping boosted demand for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, a key ingredient in many personal care items, which helped maintain market stability, despite changing shopping habits.

Ethylene oxide prices rose modestly by 1.4% during the same period. Despite recent declines in benzene and phenol prices remained stable, unaffected by these changes.

Freight rates in the U.S. remain elevated, partly due to Trump’s presidential victory impacting the ocean freight market ahead of his inauguration. The NRF’s latest estimates show a 13% increase in November volumes and a 6% rise for December, suggesting shippers are frontloading imports to prepare for potential disruptions. Another factor driving higher freight rates is the looming January 15th deadline for a possible port worker strike at East Coast and Gulf ports.

This year, Black Friday retail spending in the U.S. was relatively low, with a marked shift toward online shopping as consumers sought better discounts on their phones and laptops rather than visiting physical stores. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, which kicked off the holiday shopping season, online sales rose by 11.1%, while in-store sales saw a decline of 5.4%. These patterns have played a significant role in the personal care sector, a key downstream market for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPE), where consistent consumer spending has supported ongoing demand for personal care products. This stability in demand has contributed to the price stability of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates. As a result, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates prices at the FOB Gulf Coast were recorded at USD 2563/MT for the week ending November 29th, reflecting the broader retail trends and the steady consumption that was supporting the personal care market.

Despite concerns about price increases from new import tariffs, consumer spending in the U.S. has remained resilient. U.S. economic indicators showed that personal consumption rose by 3.5% compared to last year, reflecting ongoing consumer confidence. Despite inflationary concerns and tariffs, continued consumer spending has helped maintain a steady economic environment. This continued demand, despite rising costs, has contributed to stability as seen in Nonylphenol Ethoxylates prices.

As the year concludes, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates prices are expected to remain within a narrow range. The market is likely to stay in a destocking phase, leading to stable pricing for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in the near term.