For the Quarter Ending December 2022
North America
In North America, Metronidazole's CFR Houston price escalated from USD 36825/MT to USD 37525/MT in October and November of 2022 in the USA before dropping to USD 36225/mt in December. Metronidazole imports were halted during the first week of October due to China's Golden Week holiday.
Given the substantial product inventories, domestic suppliers were able to meet the demand for most of the quarter, and up until this point, offtakes in the end-user industries continued to be above normal. The unanticipated increase in Covid cases in China caused a pattern shift in the market for Metronidazole in the second half of the quarter. However, when the economy expanded and the port backlog significantly decreased in November, the disrupted supply did progressively mend.
Asia- Pacific
In the Asia Pacific region, the Metronidazole market revealed an assorted sentiment with price fluctuations during the entire fourth quarter of 2022. An increment of 7.1% in Metronidazole's price trend was seen in the first half of Q4, with prices settling at USD 33015/MT in November. Limited supplies among local retailers because of the slowdown in manufacturing activities during the Golden Week holidays in the initial week of October stimulated the rising price trend in the market. Also, with an increase in COVID cases, some parts of the country moved into lockdown and continued to cause instability in API exports. Later, in December, the manufacturers slowed down their production and were mainly focused on selling off their stocks even at cheap rates due to the ongoing yearlong destocking season. Thus, by the quarter ending December, prices of Metronidazole were estimated at USD 31800/MT in China.
Europe
During Q4 of 2022, Metronidazole prices increased in the European region from USD 38815/MT to USD 39905/MT in October and November, dropping to USD 38560/MT in December. Demand from the downstream pharmaceutical sector was higher in the first half of the quarter than in the second half due to the unexpected rise in coronavirus cases, which resulted in a decrease in orders. Players on the market have enough inventory on hand to fulfill any urgent order in terms of supply. The German CPI, which is assessed by EU-national criteria, showed a decrease in the annual inflation rate in December from 10% to 8.6%. Additionally, trade flows with Germany had restarted at a more considerable level, yet prices fell as a result of the market's dismal fundamentals.
For the Quarter Ending September 2022
North America
Metronidazole CFR Houston pricing was settled in the domestic US market in July at USD 34650 per MT, indicating a growing trend. However, negotiations in North America continued to move up until September before being settled at USD 35715 per MT. Retailers in the country, however, had an adequate supply to meet all downstream demand despite the fact that China's zero-covid law severely restricted its distribution across the country as this product is mostly imported as a medicinal ingredient. Due to the heat wave and a power shortage, some Chinese manufacturing facilities were forced to close in the second half of Q3, which hurt US commerce. However, the strong end-user industry demand this quarter has helped to favorably reinforce this rising tendency.
Asia Pacific
As China's FOB Shanghai prices were resolved at USD 30815 per MT in September, the third quarter of 2022 in the APAC region showed a stable domestic metronidazole market pattern. The low to stable demand in the pharmaceutical industry had some effect on this product's pricing chart. However, significant suppliers postponed making substantial orders because of unplanned events like the nation's bad weather and power disruptions. Demand for the pharmaceutical industry later, in the second half, grew. When the markets resumed following the suspension, certain production facilities underwent maintenance, which also had a detrimental impact.
Europe
The third quarter of 2022 in Europe started off with an increase in the CFR Hamburg prices for Metronidazole API, whose values were set at USD 38650 per MT in July before afterward falling to USD 37960 per MT in September. The unstable conditions in Russia and Ukraine, as well as the lockdown and port closures in China, made the already difficult economic climate in Europe much more difficult (a major supplier). The offtakes from the end-user pharmaceutical businesses were also slow in the first half of this quarter, and they later deteriorated in the latter weeks of September.
For the Quarter Ending June 2022
North America
During the second quarter of 2022, the Metronidazole market showcased upward sentiments in the North American region owing to firm downstream demand and crippled supply dynamics. Demand from the downstream pharmaceutical sector has increased amid an increment in the new offers for treatment of bacterial infections in the region. Moreover, the increase in raw material prices also contributed to the surge in product prices in the North American area. Meanwhile, the high inflation rate caused high values for energy and transportation coupled with crippled availability of logistics. Towards the termination of Q2 2022, the Metronidazole prices went down in June, with values assessed at USD 35342/MT for CFR Houston due to a moderate increment in supplies and stability in demand.
Asia- Pacific
The Metronidazole price showed mixed market sentiments with successive inclination during April 2022 in the Asian market due to increased demand from the pharmaceutical sector. The price trajectory witnessed a sharp increment, owing to an increase in raw material prices. The ongoing geopolitical conflict between the Russia-Ukraine war halted production in various manufacturing units, impacting the price momentum of the product due to maintenance reasons in the Asian region. Besides, stability in demand fundamentals resulted in a downward price trajectory of Metronidazole in May. Towards the end of Q2 2022, the Metronidazole prices surged significantly following the shortage of inventories and crippled production activities, with values assessed at INR 915624/MT for Ex-Vapi.
Europe
The Metronidazole market witnessed a downward trend in the European region due to decreased demand from the downstream pharmaceuticals sector. Meanwhile, the Euro depletion against the US dollar caused a fall in profit margins during Q2 2022 amid a high inflation rate. The prices decreased with squeezed buying interest during existing geopolitical conflicts. Moreover, the prices dropped in the European region due to ample availability of inventories and stable demand from the downstream pharmaceutical industry. Weak consumption in the local market kept the prices on the lower side of the price trajectory. Towards the end of Q2 of 2022, Metronidazole prices were assessed at USD 39342/MT for CFR Hamburg during June 2022.
