- Market Overview
- Strategic Analysis
- Key Features
Market Overview
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
The North American Light Olefins market is trapped in a structural bind, characterized by persistent oversupply of ethylene and propylene despite historically high cracker operating rates, fundamentally driven by abundant, low-cost ethane feedstock from the booming shale gas sector. This cost advantage has propelled US production, but downstream demand, particularly for key derivatives like Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP), has lagged, preventing producers from realizing meaningful integrated cash margins and keeping polymer grade propylene (PGP) contract prices volatile. With US Gulf Coast (USGC) export channels (now) critically crucial to absorbing the surplus ethylene, including redirecting volumes initially destined for Asia due to trade disputes, the market remains structurally long, demanding aggressive pricing tactics to compete on the global stage. For propylene demand, a weak domestic market is having a similar impact in driving oversupply. Therefore, profitability in this sector is fundamentally reliant on navigating feedstock and energy price volatility, maintaining high production efficiency, and strategically optimizing logistics and global trade flows to capitalize on the low-cost structural advantage and maintain a sustained market leadership position.
Comprehensive monthly market price, supply, demand, and trade data and analysis for:
- Ethylene
- Propylene
Strategic Analysis
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
The North America Light Olefins service offers clients a thorough and targeted perspective on the North American Light Olefins markets. It provides supply and demand balances and analysis, prices and margins forecasts, maintenance schedules, and many other critical information and analysis to help understand market dynamics and get actionable intelligence to mitigate risk and maximize margins. It elucidates the connections between upstream feed sources and downstream markets, providing an analytical insight into the intricate North American ethylene and propylene markets.
Key Features
Duration: Short-term – 2-year price forecast and market outlook
PRICES COVERED
Contract and spot price summary with a detailed review of current market conditions and future trends including price forecasts.
Chemicals covered : Ethylene & Propylene
WEEKLY MARKET SNAPSHOT
The weekly report analyzes key olefins market data, including updates on pricing trends, trading ranges, and supply–demand conditions. It also offers a concise overview of notable market developments and ongoing events across both Europe and Asia.
MONTHLY MARKET REPORT
The monthly report features detailed graphical analyses with expert commentary on monthly and annual price forecasts, feedstock and production cost projections, as well as supply–demand balances and global trade outlooks. It also provides up-to-date pricing data, status updates on new North America olefins projects, operating schedules for steam crackers and on-purpose propylene units, quarterly supply/demand balances, and net equivalent trade flows. All key metrics are presented in a clear, convenient table format to enable rapid reference and informed decision-making.
DATA SUPPLEMENT
This report delivers comprehensive supply–demand data, detailed trade analysis, and operating schedules for steam crackers, on-purpose propylene units, and refinery FCC units, along with a forward-looking price forecast to support strategic market planning.
MONTHLY DATA SUPPLEMENT
This report provides first-half ethylene and propylene monthly prices and economics.
ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
Clients receive direct, one-on-one access to industry experts through phone consultations, email support, or scheduled meetings to discuss the key insights featured in the monthly market report. This personalized advisory service enables subscribers to deepen their understanding of market fundamentals, price drivers, and supply–demand dynamics, while clarifying complex data points and analysis. It also provides tailored perspectives on region-specific market trends, empowering clients to make more informed, strategic decisions across the global petrochemical value chain
MARKET FOCUS REPORT
This report offers deeper research on critical and timely issues shaping the Light Olefins industry. Previous analytical topics have included evaluations of the ethylene and propylene merchant markets, assessments of derivative affordability, analysis of alternatives for refinery-grade propylene, and detailed exploration of the chemical cost curve, providing valuable context for market positioning and strategic decision-making.
SUPPLY & DEMAND
Short-term production updates and statistics, including plant-by-plant operating schedules and long-term structural supply changes across the global chemicals and petrochemicals industry. The report also provides detailed end-use analysis across a broad range of downstream sectors, complemented by macro industry trend analysis to highlight evolving demand patterns, investment cycles, and competitive dynamics along the value chain.
Region covered : North America
Chemicals covered : Ethylene & Propylene
TRADE
Provides regional trade statistics, global olefins and derivatives trade analysis, freight rate estimates, and tracking of tariffs and sanctions affecting cross-border flows. The report also includes evaluation of arbitrage opportunities across key olefins markets, supporting informed decisions on logistics, sourcing, and global market positioning.
OPERATING SCHEDULE
Region
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Gulf Coast
Chemical
- Ethylene
- Fluidized Catalytic Cracker
- Propylene
OLEFINS INVENTORY REPORT
This report covers monthly inventory analysis (5-yr average, min/max range, YTD history, current quarter estimates and forward quarter forecast) along with commentary – twice per month to coincide with Data Supplement publication and Mid-Month Price Page.
GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
Graphical analysis in PowerPoint format is provided online for easy reference and usage for clients.
WEBINAR
Client webinars provide in-depth intelligence on critical chemical market developments, offering timely insights into global economic trends, supply–demand dynamics, trade flows, and other key factors shaping the petrochemical and energy value chain. Each session features expert analysis from industry specialists and delivers actionable perspectives on current market movements. These interactive webinars also enable clients to engage directly with our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) through live Q&A sessions, supporting clearer understanding, stronger strategic planning, and more informed decision-making across the chemical industry.
Related Products
Related Chemicals
- 2-Ethylhexanol (2EH)
- Acetone
- Acrylic Acid – Crude
- Acrylonitrile
- Alpha Olefins
- Butane
- Coal
- Crude C4s (Contained Butadiene)
- Cumene
- Ethane
- Ethanol (Fermentation)
- Ethanol (Synthetic)
- Ethylbenzene (EB)
- Ethylene
- Ethylene Dichloride (EDC)
- Ethylene Oxide (EO)
- Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPDM)
- Gas Oil
- Isobutanol
- Isobutyraldehyde
- Methanol
- Naphtha
- n-Butanol
- n-Butyl Acetate
- n-Butyraldehyde
- Phenol
- Polyethylene Resins, High-Density (HDPE)
- Polyethylene Resins, Linear Low-Density (LLDPE)
- Polyethylene Resins, Low-Density (LDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Propane
- Propylene Oxide (PO)
- Propylene, Polymer/Chemical Grade
- Propylene, Refinery Grade (RGP)
- Pyrolysis Gasoline (Pygas)
- Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM)