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Benzene prices, markets & analysis

Benzene reports are published weekly by Global Chemical Price in Asia, Europe and the US, with contract and spot price assessments, market news and analysis.

Benzene forecast reports for all three regions are published on a monthly basis, covering the market up to one year ahead. Monthly forecast reports are also available for the Styrene market.

Benzene news and market information products from Global Chemical Price

We offer the following regional Benzene analysis and news coverage to keep you informed of factors and developments affecting prices in the Benzene marketplace.

Benzene: Market overview

Updated to Q2 2017

European benzene prices came down towards the end of the first quarter, but have started to recover so far in April. Healthier downstream styrene consumption due to lower prices and the approaching peak season for construction will likely keep some upward pressure on the benzene market, although one major phenol unit will be undergoing a turnaround for most of April as well. The switch to lighter feedstocks among European cracker operators in the second quarter will also put some pressure on feedstock availability for benzene production.

US Gulf benzene spot and contract prices are expected to begin the second quarter in 2017 lower than the first quarter, amid ongoing outages in the downstream styrene sector. Two of the three outages are expected to be resolved early in the second quarter, but a third is expected to continue into summer. However, with import levels expected to remain relatively low, benzene supply could tighten in the second half of the quarter as styrene outages are resolved.

Asia benzene supply will be shortened by three South Korean plants being shut for debottlenecking and Japan plant turnarounds in the second quarter. Meanwhile, lower supply could be counterbalanced by heavy downstream styrene maintenance in South Korea and China. A key development would be the start-up of India’s Reliance 500,000 tonne/year benzene plant, which is slated for the second quarter.

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General Benzene Methodology Consultation

Global Chemical Price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters world-wide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyer and seller, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Our in-depth market knowledge drives our specialist focus, as we recognise the importance of individual market dynamics and not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Over 25 years of reporting on key chemicals markets, including Benzene, has brought global recognition of our methodology as being unbiased, authoritative and rigorous in preserving our editorial integrity. Our global network of reporters in Houston, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Perth and Moscow ensures unrivalled coverage of established and emerging markets.

Benzene Methodology

Benzene is used primarily as a raw material in the synthesis of styrene (polystyrene plastics and synthetic rubber).

About Benzene

Benzene is a colourless, refractive liquid with a characteristic aromatic odour. Its vapour is toxic and highly flammable. In cold weather, benzene solidifies to a white crystalline mass. It is slightly soluble in water, miscible with ethyl alcohol, ether, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulphide, and glacial acetic acid (GAA).

Benzene is the largest volume aromatic petrochemical used to produce a number of petrochemical intermediates.

Ethylbenzene (EB) is the largest chemical outlet for benzene and nearly all is consumed in the production of styrene.

The second largest outlet for benzene is cumene which is nearly all consumed in phenol production with acetone formed as a coproduct.

The third largest outlet for benzene is cyclohexane (CX) which finds its way primarily into the nylon chain via caprolactam and adipic acid.

The fourth main derivative of benzene is nitrobenzene, which can be used to make aniline.

Benzene is used to make a number of other chemical intermediates such as alkylbenzene used in detergents, maleic anhydride(unsaturated polyester resins) and chlorobenzenes (engineering polymers).

The main sources of benzene are from the steam cracking or catalytic reforming of liquid petroleum feedstocks, primarily naphtha, where the benzene is recovered from the aromatics stream. Other processes are hydrodealkylation (HDA) of toluene and toluene disproportionation (TDP).