Asian Ethylene Prices Fell Forty Dollars per Metric Ton
Industrial manufacturers and chemical buyers across Asia are seeing lower raw material costs following a regional dip in ethylene pricing.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Ethylene prices declined by USD 40 per metric ton across all major Asian markets during the week ending October 5, 2026. The shift followed a reduction in regional market participation during the Chinese National Day holiday.
Why it matters
The price drop was driven by softer upstream energy values, which reduced overall support for current ethylene valuations. This decline reflects an immediate softening in feedstock costs that directly impacts margin profiles for regional downstream producers.
Ethylene prices fell by USD 40 per metric ton week-on-week across all assessed Asian regions. Current market assessments place CFR Northeast Asia at USD 1145-1155 per metric ton and CFR Southeast Asia at USD 1095-1105 per metric ton.
The players
Chinese Market
A dominant global industrial manufacturing base whose holiday-driven shifts in consumption consistently influence regional chemical pricing.
The details
The decline in pricing stems from reduced feedstock costs coupled with diminished trading volume due to China's National Day Golden Week holiday. Lower upstream energy values removed the price support that had previously propped up ethylene markets in Korea and Japan. Operations reliant on these regional benchmarks are seeing a shift in input costs, reflecting the lower participation levels seen during the holiday period.
Timeline
Ethylene prices declined across Asia during the week ending October 5, 2026.
The Chinese National Day Golden Week holiday took place throughout October 2026.
Market Landscape
This decline follows the established pattern of regional ethylene sensitivity to cyclical holiday-driven demand lulls. Such volatility is a recurring feature of the Asian chemical market, where feedstock fluctuations often dictate immediate pricing shifts for downstream operators.
Operators in the chemical and plastics sectors should review their short-term procurement contracts to determine if existing supply agreements account for this USD 40 per metric ton price swing. Monitoring upstream energy indices remains critical to navigating further volatility as post-holiday demand resumes.
The takeaway
The recent price dip highlights the influence of regional holiday cycles on global chemical supply chains. Procurement teams should track whether this softening in feedstock costs persists as market participation returns to normal levels post-holiday.
Further reading
For more on market dynamics affecting regional energy and feedstock supplies, see our Oil and Gas coverage.
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