Styrene Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Styrene Prices Worldwide
Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
See monthly Styrene prices in 5 locations: United States, South America, Europe, South Asia & Oceania, China, Middle East, Africa. Also check Styrene price history since 2007 and forecasts. The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices - subscribe now and gain access to current prices of 237 commodities, including Styrene.
Data Legend. The Styrene price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 7 locations, as follows:
- US: Styrene, United States, transaction, fob
- SAM: Styrene, South America, transaction, cif, Brazil
- EUR: Styrene, Europe, transaction, fob, Netherlands
- SEA: Styrene, South Asia & Oceania, transaction, cif, India
- CN: Styrene, China, spot, cfr, Jiangyin
- MDE: Styrene, Middle East, transaction, fob, Saudi Arabia
- AFR: Styrene, Africa, transaction, cif, South Africa
Data Use. Styrene prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 237 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
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Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Price Dynamics. The Styrene price in United States decreased during November 2018 to 1,080 USD per metric ton, which represents a considerable decline of 8% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Styrene prices in United States decreased modestly by 0.9%. Meanwhile, in Netherlands, the average price of Styrene amounted to 1,100 USD per metric ton, from 1,140 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Styrene price in Netherlands is 11% lower than the price one month before.
The price of Styrene in China declined considerably throughout November 2018, reaching 1,190 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 18% lower than the average price in the previous month and 24% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, Styrene prices in India decreased during November 2018, reaching 1,370 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 4% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 7% from the previous year’s price.
The Styrene prices in Saudi Arabia experienced a decline of 100 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 1,340 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Saudi Arabia meant a decrease of 7% on a monthly basis and a rise of 5% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in November 2018, the Styrene price in Brazil witnessed a decline of 120 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 1,190 USD per metric ton. The November 2018 price in Brazil is 2% lower than the price one year before.
In South Africa, the average price of Styrene was 1,320 USD per metric ton on November 2018 – a sharp decrease of 130 USD per metric ton, or 9%, compared with the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, the Styrene price in South Africa is 2% higher than the price one year before.
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 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.
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)
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).
