Triethanolamine Prices Start August on a Bearish Note in Asia and Europe Amid Weak Demand

The Triethanolamine Market exhibited a downward trend in the Asian and European markets as the downstream demand in the  Construction Sector Faced Challenges in August 2024 following a bearish market situation at the end of July 2024.

China's Triethanolamine market is projected to remain weak in the third quarter of 2024, influenced by subdued property and infrastructure demand, slower construction activities during the summer season, and production curtailments. The cement sector, a significant consumer of Triethanolamine, experienced a more severe 7% year-on-year decrease in output. This decline is driven by a sustained downturn in property investments and sluggish infrastructure investment growth.

However, some sequential improvement is expected as Triethanolamine producers implement production cuts to prevent further price declines. The cautious approach to production is expected to persist through the third quarter of 2024, attributed to low seasonal demand and ongoing production curtailments in the Triethanolamine market. Additionally, recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China indicates that the manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was assessed at 49.4% in July 2024. This figure reflects a decline in purchasing activity, as Chinese downstream manufacturers reduced their buying amid a period of falling new orders. Consequently, there was a renewed depletion of Triethanolamine purchase stocks.

In the European market, Triethanolamine prices declined due to weak demand in the downstream construction sector. The combination of storms and turmoil in the oil market created the ideal conditions for a decline in downstream cement production in the Eurozone affecting Triethanolamine consumption in the region. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning, and potential hail are anticipated, posing risks of flooding in low-lying areas and landslides on unstable slopes. The strong winds could lead to property damage and power outages, further compounding the region's challenges this month. Meanwhile, Buzzi Unicem, a cement manufacturer,  has announced its financial results for the first half of 2024, revealing a decline in cement sales volumes. Thus, the decrease in the Triethanolamine prices is primarily attributed to weak cement industry demand in Central Europe and higher levels of rainfall in Italy and the United States.

From a supply chain perspective, the report underscored rising labor tensions in ports across Germany, France, and other European countries, driving port congestion to its highest level in 18 months.

As per ChemAnalyst, the Triethanolamine market is expected to remain on a slightly negative side for the coming weeks amid low demand in the European and Chinese markets. Overall, the outlook for the Triethanolamine market in China remains cautious due to the weak demand in the construction sector and broader economic challenges across the globe.