Styrene Prices | Current and Forecast
Monitor Styrene Prices Worldwide
Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Monitor monthly Styrene price assessments covering 5 locations: United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, China and Middle East. Also check Styrene price history since 2007 and forecasts.
The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices. Subscribe and access now current prices of 224 commodities, including Styrene.
Data Legend. The chart above shows Styrene price assessments in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 5 locations, as follows:
- Styrene, US (United States): Styrene, transaction price, fob, United States
- Styrene, EUR (Europe): Styrene, transaction price, fob, Netherlands
- Styrene, SEA (Southeast Asia): Styrene, transaction price, cif, India
- Styrene, CN (China): Styrene, spot price, cfr, Jiangyin
- Styrene, MDE (Middle East): Styrene, spot price (formula), fob, Saudi Arabia
Data Use. Styrene prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 224 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Intratec Primary Commodity Prices
Track global current prices of 224 commodities including Styrene
Current Monthly Prices
Price History & Forecasts
Prices in Multiple Locations
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Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Styrene Price Outlook. The price of Styrene in United States decreased during March 2019 to 886 USD per metric ton, which represents a slight decline of 0.4% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, the prices of Styrene in United States decreased significantly by 31%. Meanwhile, the average price of Styrene in Chinaamounted to 1,190 USD per metric ton, from 1,560 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the price of Styrene in China is 2% lower than the price one month before.
The price of Styrene in Southeast Asia rose throughout March 2019, reaching 1,080 USD per metric ton. The price in Southeast Asia is 5% higher than the average price in the previous month and 25% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, the prices of Styrene in Middle East increased modestly during March 2019, reaching 1,050 USD per metric ton, which means a rise of 3% from the previous month’s price and a decline of 26% from the previous year’s price.
The prices of Styrene in Europe experienced a modest rise of 18 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 956 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Europe meant a rise of 2% on a monthly basis and a decrease of 30% on a yearly basis.
About Styrene. Styrene (a.k.a. Vinylbenzene, Ethenylbenzene, Phenylethene) is an organic compound, the simplest monomer in the aromatic hydrocarbon class. It is characterized as a colorless and oily liquid with a distinctive aromatic odor. While it is insoluble in water, it exhibits solubility in a wide range of organic compounds. This organic compound was first isolated in the nineteenth century; however, it only began being industrially produced in the 1930s, with the development of the dehydrogenation process, which allowed for styrene’s polymerization. Presently, styrene holds a significant position among aromatic compounds and is recognized as the most commercially utilized member of this group.
The primary source material utilized in the production of styrene remains ethylbenzene, as is the case for all commercially available styrene manufacturing processes. Approximately 85% of styrene production involves the direct dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. This chemical transformation takes place in the vapor phase, with the presence of steam, and is facilitated by a catalyst primarily composed of iron oxide. The reaction itself is characterized as endothermic and can be achieved through either adiabatic or isothermal methods. Both of these approaches find practical application in the industry.
Styrene Handling. Styrene should be stored in securely sealed containers within well-ventilated and dry areas. The recommended storage temperature for styrene ranges from 2 to 8 °C. To prevent unwanted reactions during storage, the presence of 10 ppm or more of TBC (4-tert-Butylcatechol) is advised for inhibition purposes. Storage and shipping containers for styrene can be constructed from standard steel or aluminum materials. It is important to note that rust can act as a catalyst for styrene polymerization, thus it is recommended to employ inorganic zinc linings for storage tanks. Styrene can be transported using various means, including railcars, tank trucks, bulk tank ships (complying with IMO ship type 3 regulations and featuring a double hull design), and barges.
Styrene Production. The commercial production of Styrene is largely based on ethylbenzene raw material. In this context, there are two main production routes: one involves the dehydrogenation of EB to Styrene, while the other, based Arco SM-PO process, involves the production of Styrene and propylene oxide (co-product) from EB and propylene. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Styrene are listed below.
- Ethylbenzene (dehydrogenation),
- Ethylbenzene + oxygen (Arco SM-PO process, coproduced with propylene oxide)
Styrene Uses.The uses and applications of Styrene may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Styrene are technical grade (99.2% minimum purity) and polymer grade (99.6% minimum purity).
Intratec Methodology. Intratec Primary Commodity Prices are produced from a data-driven, mathematical approach, which starts with the extraction of data from various primary sources, including official trade records, futures market, statistics bureaus, governmental and international agencies. Such large volume of data is validated through advanced data processing techniques, and treated by means of statistical analysis for outliers removal. When faced with input gaps, data scientists and engineers employ mathematical models or machine learning techniques to estimate prices and ensure the completeness of the price assessments presented. (learn more ).