Qingdao, China: The global 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate market has been experiencing subdued sentiment this week. In China, while prices showed an upward trend in mid-November, the market returned to a bearish trajectory by the week ending November 29th. Similarly, the German 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate market has continued to reflect a bearish outlook.

In China, the 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate market recorded a 0.72% decline, with prices dropping to USD 1360/MT (FOB-Qingdao) during the week ending November 29th. This downward trend in 2-ethylhexyl Acrylate is primarily linked to reduced production costs driven by lower feedstock prices for 2-ethylhexanol, while the Acrylic Acid market remained stable. Meanwhile, new home prices in China witnessed a quicker increase in November, supported by a series of government measures aimed at revitalizing the struggling property sector. Recent policy initiatives, including tax incentives, reduced down payment requirements, and efforts to improve housing affordability, have been introduced to stimulate demand. Despite these efforts, the prolonged slump in the property market, which contributed about a quarter of economic activity at its 2021 peak, continues to weigh heavily on the world's second-largest economy.

According to Ying Wang, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific Corporate Ratings at Fitch, the real estate policies introduced at the end of September have led to slight improvements in both the new and second-hand housing markets. However, the long-term sustainability of this recovery remains highly uncertain.

The European 2-ethylhexyl Acrylate market continues to experience a downward trend, largely influenced by reduced demand due to persistent challenges in the construction sector and falling production costs. Declining feedstock prices for Acrylic Acid and 2-ethylhexanol have further lowered production expenses, adding to the price pressure on 2-ethylhexyl Acrylate. The Eurozone construction industry remains under significant strain, with housing activity in October reaching record lows, severely impacting demand for the product. Furthermore, domestic market participants are focusing on year-end destocking to manage the 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate inventory levels, intensifying the demand decline. These factors collectively highlight a difficult market environment as economic challenges and sector-specific issues weigh on 2-ethylhexyl Acrylate trade in Europe.

Port operations are severely disrupted by terminal congestion, extensive berthing lineups, and restrictions on train arrivals to within seven days of a vessel's ETA. Unofficial truck deliveries are confined to 48–72 hours before ETA, further straining operations amid ongoing labor shortages. At CTB, berth capacity has been reduced due to shore power construction, compelling carriers to skip sailings. This has led to a buildup of export volumes, overwhelming storage capacities and further complicating logistics and operational efficiency at the port.

Despite ongoing logistical challenges, the 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate market continues to have adequate supply to meet the muted demand. However, weak economic indicators and sluggish industrial activity are weighing on 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate market sentiment, hindering any potential price recovery and maintaining a subdued market outlook.

According to ChemAnalyst, the European 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate market is expected to maintain bearish sentiment in the coming weeks, driven by persistent challenges in downstream sectors such as Coatings and Construction. In the Chinese market, Ying Wang notes that home prices are likely to keep declining until corporate earnings in the broader economy improve, boosting employment and residents' income prospects. Additionally, the company continues to hold a negative credit outlook on China's real estate market through 2025.