European Market Overview
Introduction
In this section, you will find a review of the market situation for ethylene, propylene and benzene, as well as an analysis of the competitiveness of the European petrochemicals industries.
Evolution of oil prices
Ethylene production, consumption and trade balance
Defined geographical perimeter:
- EU15 = Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
- 2005-2020: EU15+NO (TR is included in 2015 & 2016 data)
- 2021-2022: EU15+NO+HU+SK
- 2023: EU15+NO+HU+SK+CZ+PL
Ethylene: Nameplate Capacity, Production, Consumption
Ethylene Consumption by Derivatives
* Others (ethanol, acetaldehyde, EPDM, EVA, VAM & other derivatives).
Ethylene Consumption by Derivatives
As of 2014, VAM is also included in Others.
In 2015 & 2016, “Others” also include ethylene consumption for EO and EDC by Petkim in Turkey
Cracker Feedstocks
Propylene production, consumption and trade balance
Defined geographical perimeter:
- EU15 = Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
- 2005-2020: EU15+NO (TR is included in 2015 & 2016 data)
- 2021-2022: EU15+NO+HU+SK
- 2023: EU15+NO+HU+SK+CZ+PL
Propylene: Nameplate capacity, Production, Consumption
Propylene Consumption by Derivatives
*Others (including IPA/ACN/2EH/OXO)
*PP (Including Catalloy)
Propylene Consumption by Derivatives
C3 consumption for acrylonitrile (since 2010) and Oxo (since 2014) is included in “others”
Propylene Production by Sources
Benzene consumption, production and trade balance
In 2024, Western European benzene consumption (5.832Kt/y) increased by 147 Kt compared to 2023, whilst production remained equal.
Pyrolisis gasoline remains the first source of supply with 54% of the total, reformatted-based production accounts for 40% and on-purpose and coal-based production around 6%. In 2024, the overall production reached 56% of the nameplate capacity.
Benzene: Nameplate Capacity, Production, Consumption
* East Germany has been included since 1991
Benzene Consumption by derivatives
* Alkylbenzene, Nitrobenzene and Cyclohexane are included in “Others”
Benzene Consumption by derivatives
*Others include as of 2014 Alkylbenzene, as of 2015 Nitrobenzene and as of 2017 Cyclohexane