The monthly contract price (MCP) for butadiene has been on a downtrend in Europe since April, and October was no exception. This month, it dropped by €35/t to €800/t FD Northwestern Europe amid challenging market conditions and feeble demand, despite the ongoing maintenance of one of the major producers — INEOS’s steam cracker and integrated 120,000-tpy BD unit in Lavera, France, — which is likely to last until January 2026.

New challenges are looming over the market with local demand expected to shrink further. It has emerged this week that Arlanxeo is going to shut its synthetic rubber facility in Port Jerome, France, due to unprofitability. A final decision will be made after consultation with the local labour council. The plant with the annual capacity of 120,000 t of PBR and 20,000 t of E-SBR was shut in September for a planned turnaround, which was due to last around three weeks. Reminder: the production site previously received BD from ExxonMobil’s unit in Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, France, via pipeline, but following the facility’s permanent closure in 2024, Arlanxeo had to switch to purchasing feedstock elsewhere by rail.

Another major SR producer Versalis has been actively buying BD lately after it permanently closed its two crackers in Italy: in Brindisi in March and in Priolo in July this year. Happy Pelican vessel has been fixed to load 3,250 t of BD in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, on 4—7 October for delivery to Italy.

Market and shipping sources confirmed that a trading company has chartered two ships for export from Europe to Asia in October. Navigator Gusto will pick up to 13,000 t of BD in ARA in the middle of this month for delivery to Northeast Asia. Another vessel is Trans Catalonia that will carry a combined cargo of butadiene and benzene to China with an estimated 6,500 t of BD and loading scheduled for 20—25 October. Producers had to slash their offers to allow trade between Europe and Asia amid weak local demand and slowdowns in China and South Korea. This week, a 1,500-tonne batch has changed hands at $700/t CIF ARA. Reminder: there were discussions last week where a price level of $750/t was mentioned, while the average price for September-loaded exports was around $800/t FOB ARA.

Plastics production in Germany fell in Q2 2025. According to Plastics Europe Germany, the German association of plastics producers, production of virgin plastics dropped by 4.3% compared to the previous quarter and was 6.2% lower than in the same period last year. Producer prices declined by 0.6% quarter on quarter, or by 2.4% year on year. Industry sales fell by 2.4% to around €6.3 billion.

Foreign trade in particular came under pressure. Exports of virgin plastics fell by 6.7%, while imports rose to €4.6 billion. The trade surplus decreased but remained positive at €2.1 billion.

The association expects no improvement in the coming months. ’Stagnation has yet to be overcome,’ explained Dr. Christine Bunte, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Germany.

’Germany’s structural deficits as a production location have been growing for years. The federal government has begun to address their causes, such as high energy prices and bureaucratic burdens, but implementation will take some time. However, reforms must be carried out much more consistently. Plastics producers in Germany will have to be patient.’

In view of the weak quarterly results, the industry’s attention will turn to Dusseldorf in October. At K 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics industry, the focus will be on the circular economy and competitiveness.

’The innovative spirit of companies remains unchanged. Despite all the economic challenges, we are seeing the launch of new initiatives — whether in shifting the material base, reducing the CO₂ footprint of products, or developing AI-supported formulations. K 2025 will show how the industry compares internationally and how it can regain momentum,’ said Bunte.

In Q1 2025, Rompetrol Rafinare, a Romanian company engaged in oil refining and petrochemical production, reported an increase in operational results despite market difficulties.

Revenues exceeded $1.3 billion, marking a 21% increase compared to Q1 2024. The rise in fuel production by more than 35% and material processing by 42% contributed to this result. However, operational profit (EBITDA) decreased by 31%, reaching $22.8 million, primarily due to material price fluctuations and seasonal demand drops.

Total polymer production in the petrochemical segment amounted to 15,000 t, similar to Q1 2024 levels when production stood at 16,000 t. However, operational results were negatively impacted by the lack of activity at the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant and reduced performance at the polypropylene (PP) plant, driven by decreased demand in the petrochemical market. In Q1 2025, necessary modernisation works were carried out, enabling the LDPE installation to restart operations in early May 2025. It now operates alongside the PP installation, and production from both plants will strengthen the company's position as a leader in the petrochemical sector.

In Q1 2025, the petrochemical segment’s revenues declined compared to the same period in 2024. Gross turnover amounted to $22.6 million, a decrease of 17% compared to $27.5 million in Q1 2024. EBITDA in Q1 2025 was $17 million, showing an improvement compared to the $16.3 million loss in Q1 2024.

The net result in Q1 2025 was -$9.17 million, an improvement from the $19.6 million loss in Q1 2024.

The petrochemical segment focuses on improving operational efficiency, supported by the launch of the LDPE plant and optimal performance at the PP plant. The company plans to process around 150,000 t of materials, including propylene obtained from refining processes and imported ethylene.

Rompetrol Rafinare continued distributing its products from two refineries — Petromidia and Vega — and from the petrochemical division, prioritising the domestic market, while also supporting subsidiaries of the KMG International Group (Rompetrol) in the region with significant volumes of petroleum products.