Isopropanol (IPA) prices declined this week, including the spot market and exports to Latin America.
Unlike in the spring, market players said the market was oversupplied. Volume has declined in recent weeks, and in some limited cases, IPA was unloaded at prices below assessed values.
This week, domestic prices fell 2 cents/lb on the low end ($44/lb) and 4 cents/lb on the high end. Prices are assessed at 56-66 cents/lb ($1,235-1,455/tonne) DEL US Gulf.
Spot prices also decreased between 2 and 4 cents/lb and are assessed at 58-64 cents/lb FOB US Gulf.
Although prices remain higher than before the pandemic, the bulk of the gains from late Q1 and early Q2 have disappeared.
This is due to both lower demand and over-production.
Demand for hand sanitizers has declined, and recently, players have heard of newcomers to IPA in the spring exiting the market and re-focusing on their previous products.