Northwest European dioctyl phthalate (DOP) spot prices have fallen below feedstock 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) prices for the first time since January 19, 2012, according to Platts data.
DOP spot prices were assessed at Eur1,360/mt FD NWE on Thursday while feedstock 2-EH was assessed at Eur1,370/mt FD NWE.
Structurally, European DOP is being phased out as a plasticizer under the EU REACH program and has been losing market share to alternatives such as DINP and DOTP.
"The DOP [in Europe] is shrinking. Consumers have been switching to DINP and others for a long time now. So the plasticizer market is much more oriented to those products," a producer source said.
Alternative plasticizers such as DOTP and DINP also use 2-EH as a feedstock.
"2-EH is seeing stable demand from the plasticizer sector. But I've seen declining demand from the DOP market," a producer of 2-EH said.
Arkema's closure of its DOP plant in Chauny, France in March 2014 marked the latest round of rationalization in the DOP market, sources said.
Plants which continue to produce DOP in Europe include Poland's ZAK which operates a 60,000 mt/year DOP plant in Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Deza's 50,000 mt/year plant in Valasske Mezirici, Czech Republic and Polynt's 70,000 mt/year plant in San Giocanni, Italy.
