In Q2 2023, the demand fundamentals of Chloroform in the North American market plunged with sluggish market fundamentals. In the USA, the surge in export volume from the USA to Mexico and the South American market in the past few months to cope with the tightening arbitrage supplies resulted in adequate product availability. There was less spot cargo demand, and the manufacturer mainly executed the pre-contract orders. In terms of the feedstock market, Methanol also faced a Southward price trend with lackluster demand and feeble purchasing interest among the traders. Regional economic sluggishness from the downstream refrigerant industries resulted in weak Chloroform margins. The demand for Chloroform from the downstream R-22 refrigerant industries remains limited, with lower requirements for fresh stocks. In June 2023, the price of Chloroform in the US declined to USD 556/ton FOB Texas. The Chloroform market trended lower this quarter as growing spot availability added pressure on spot prices, and suppliers offered discounts to the buyers in order to reduce their current stocks. Exports of Chloroform from the US to the European region plunged with limited requirements for fresh stocks.

 

 

This quarter, the price of Chloroform in China Slipped in the Asia Pacific market in the wake of limited market fundamentals and high inventory levels. The cost support from the feedstock market remained limited, and the trading fundamentals were weak. Exports of Chloroform from China to other Asian regions were limited, and trading was mainly focused on an immediate basis. Methane Chloride operating units worked at low rates with lower efficiency in order to avoid further stockpiles. Trading among the downstream R-22 refrigerant industries also remains feeble with weak market fundamentals. In addition, the total production quota of R22 was reduced by 19% to 181,800 tons in 2023, which made it difficult to improve the demand support for Chloroform. During April 2023, the price of Chloroform in China declined to USD 409/ton FOB Qingdao. In May 2023, the operation of Luxi Chemical’s plant was at a low level, and buyers declined the reduce their inventory level and increase their trade volume.

 

 

 

Chloroform prices had a descending price trend due to a reduction in trade cargoes from Germany to the European region along with declining regional demand. As unfavorable fundamentals weighed on the outlook, the Chloroform market ended the quarter with a lower volume. Offers for spot cargoes of non-sanctioned Chloroform were noticeably lower, which led to a rise in product stockpiles in the vicinity. In terms of the feedstock market, the Methanol market was also lackluster, and the trades were majorly on an immediate basis. In terms of demand, the requirement for Chloroform from the downstream refrigerant market remains sluggish, with limited offers for fresh stocks. In the European market, suppliers had not shown keen interest in bulk purchases. In June 2023, the price of Chloroform in Germany declined to USD 885/ton FOB Hamburg. The downstream R-22 refrigerant procurement demand remains weak, and the high production rate has kept the supply adequate to fulfill the requirement of the end user. Exports of Chloroform from Germany to the Netherlands and France traded moderately as per the requirement from the end-user.