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Indicative price brief for Propylene - US Gulf Coast. Methodology: trade publications, broker reports, and industry sources reviewed by Nexchem. This is directional intelligence, not a regulated benchmark assessment.

NXP-OL-019 Olefins & Polyolefins US Gulf Coast FOB US Gulf Coast Updated June 2026

Propylene - US Gulf Coast
Price Intelligence Report

USGC polymer grade and chemical grade propylene FOB pricing. Refinery FCC operating rate tracker, PDH unit economics, on-purpose propylene from CP Chem Cedar Bayou, PP and acrylonitrile derivative demand, and 3-scenario price outlook. Published monthly.

USGC propylene pricing in 2026 is a tale of two supply routes - on-purpose PDH propylene from Enterprise Products and PetroLogistics is running at maximum capacity chasing the elevated PP margin, while refinery FCC co-product propylene is declining structurally as US gasoline demand softens from EV penetration, creating a supply mix shift that keeps the market in better balance than the operating rate data alone would suggest.

US Gulf Coast - Polymer Grade FOB USGC
USD 0.44/lb
USGC · Polymer Grade · FOB · June 2026
▲ +USD 0.04/lb (+10.0% vs June 2025)
USD 0.36/ (Jan 2026)12-Month RangeUSD 0.48/ (Sep 2025)
12-Month High
USD 0.48/
Sep 2025
12-Month Low
USD 0.36/
Jan 2026
Annual Subscription
USD 4,900
USD 408/mo equiv · 17% saving
Used by
🏢Corporate strategy and procurement teams
💼Private equity and venture capital investors
🔬Chemical and materials R&D teams
📊Management and strategy consultants
🏦Investment banking and M&A advisory
Report Contents - 9 Sections~14 pages · PDF + Excel
01
Market Metrics
Current spot price, 12-month high and low, year on year change, and the key spread indicator - feedstock or conversion margin - that drives near-term pricing direction
02
Price by Grade
Full grade-level price table covering all commercial grades with Q2 2026 versus Q2 2025 comparison, direction indicator, and basis notation
Full data in paid report
03
Supply and Demand
Regional supply and demand balance for 2024 actual, 2025 estimated, and 2026 to 2027 forecast - production volumes, import dependency by origin, operating rates, and key capacity events
Full data in paid report
04
Capacity Atlas
Site-level producer table covering company, facility location, nameplate capacity in KT per year, production technology, current operating status, and analyst notes on reliability and qualification risk
Full data in paid report
05
Trade Flows
Import and export volume data by origin and destination with Hormuz disruption risk rating, vessel transit times, and freight cost comparison across supply routes
Full data in paid report
06
Margin Analysis
Feedstock cost and gross margin decomposition by production route - NWE naphtha versus Middle East ethane versus USGC ethane versus Chinese coal - with sensitivity table
Full data in paid report
07
Price Drivers
3 to 4 named drivers ranked by near-term price impact with quantified supply or cost effect per driver, driver-specific timeline, and risk rating
Full data in paid report
08
Forward Scenarios
Bull, Base, and Bear price ranges for Q3 2026, Q4 2026, and Q1 2027 with probability weighting, key assumptions, scenario trigger events, and a procurement recommendation for each case
Full data in paid report
09
Analyst Perspectives
Nexchem Intelligence analyst field intelligence on supply shortages, alternative source qualification timelines, geopolitical friction, and pricing pressure specific to this market
Full data in paid report
Active Supply and Market Alerts2 Active Alerts
INFO
Enterprise Products PDH - Mount Belvieu Running at Full Capacity - Enterprise Products Partners PDH unit at Mont Belvieu Texas is operating at maximum rates through Q2 2026, producing approximately 750,000 MT per year of propylene for sale to Gulf Coast PP, acrylonitrile, and oxo-alcohol derivative producers. At current PP margins, PDH economics are strongly positive for Enterprise, incentivising maximum utilisation through Q3 2026.
INFO
USGC Refinery FCC Rates - Structural Decline from EV Penetration - US refinery FCC propylene co-product output is declining structurally as gasoline demand softens from growing EV adoption in California, Texas, and other major US vehicle markets. This structural FCC decline is partially offset by PDH on-purpose production but creates a long-run supply reduction that supports propylene pricing above historical norms.
Price by Grade - Q2 2026 vs Q2 2025Preview · 2 of 6 grades shown
Grade / ProductRegion / BasisQ2 2026Q2 2025Direction
Propylene Polymer Grade FOB USGCUSGC (FOB)USD 0.44/lbUSD 0.40/lb↑ Rising
Propylene Chemical Grade FOB USGCUSGC (FOB)USD 0.41/lbUSD 0.37/lb↑ Rising
Propylene-Ethylene Spread USGCUSGC (calc.)USD 0.28/lbUSD 0.22/lbRising
PP USGC Rail Contract ref.USGC (rail)USD 0.58/lbUSD 0.53/lbRising
PDH Production Cost est. EnterpriseUSGC~USD 0.32/lb~USD 0.30/lbRising
Propylene NWE European ref.NWE EUR/MTEUR 768/MTEUR 712/MTRising
Full grade price table in paid report  ·  Subscribe from USD 4,900/yr
Supply and Demand - Market ContextPreview · Full data in paid report

USGC propylene supply is produced from three sources: refinery FCC co-product at approximately 6.8 million MT per year of US domestic FCC propylene output, on-purpose PDH production at Enterprise Products Mont Belvieu approximately 750 KT per year and PetroLogistics Houston approximately 460 KT per year, and steam cracker co-product propylene from USGC ethylene crackers that extract propylene from the C3 stream at approximately 2.4 million MT per year. The USGC propylene market is structurally more diverse in supply route than the NWE market, with less dependence on cracker operating rates and more on-purpose production, providing a more flexible supply response to price signals than the European market. Demand for Propylene in US Gulf Coast is primarily from polymer derivative producers operating integrated chains, with pricing determined by derivative plant operating rates, feedstock cost differentials between naphtha and ethane-based producers, and competitive import pressure from low-cost Middle Eastern and US Gulf Coast producers. Mount Belvieu Running at Full Capacity - Enterprise Products Partners PDH unit at Mont Belvieu Texas is operating at maximum rates through Q2 2026, producing approximately 750,000 MT per year of propylene for sale to Gulf Coast PP, acrylonitrile, and oxo-alcohol derivative prod. In the current 2026 supply and demand environment, Propylene pricing in US Gulf Coast reflects both structural market conditions and active geopolitical supply chain disruption. The IMF confirmed in March 2026 that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted approximately 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG supply.

For USGC propylene, the Hormuz disruption has a limited direct supply chain impact - US propylene production from FCC, PDH, and cracker co-product routes does not depend on Middle Eastern supply chains. The indirect impact is through crude oil pricing: elevated crude oil costs from the Hormuz disruption modestly increase US refinery feedstock cost, affecting FCC operating economics and propylene co-product output margins. The propane feedstock cost for PDH units is linked to Mont Belvieu propane pricing rather than crude oil, providing PDH-based supply with relative insulation from the Hormuz cost elevation. Structural Decline from EV Penetration - US refinery FCC propylene co-product output is declining structurally as gasoline demand softens from growing EV adoption in California, Texas, and other major US vehicle market.

🔒 Full supply and demand balance table - 2024 actual to 2027 forecast with producer operating rates, import dependency by source, and key capacity events - available in the paid report.
YoY Price Change
+10.0%
vs June 2025 · June 2026 basis
12-Month Range
USD 0.36/ - USD 0.48/
Jan 2026 low · Sep 2025 high
Report Subscription
USD 4,900/yr
Monthly PDF + Excel · 9 sections
Field Context - US Gulf Coast
The IMF confirmed in March 2026 that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted approximately 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG supply. For USGC propylene, the Hormuz disruption has a limited direct supply chain impact - US propylene production from FCC, PDH, and cracker co-product routes does not depend on M...
Report Format PreviewPDF · ~14 pages · Navy structured layout

The paid report is a professionally formatted PDF with structured sections, colour-coded grade price tables, alert boxes, capacity atlas tables, a 3-scenario price outlook, and analyst cards. The accompanying Excel file contains all price data in editable format for direct integration into procurement models.

🔒
Sample page visible after subscription

Full report preview available after subscription. Illustrative mock shown above.

Analyst PerspectivesNexchem Intelligence Analysts

Every Nexchem Intelligence price report includes field-level analyst commentary covering supply shortages, qualification timelines, geopolitical friction, and pricing pressure - not generic market narrative. Nexchem analysts are active in the market and attribute all field intelligence to verifiable primary sources.

NX
Nexchem Intelligence Analyst
Head of Petrochemicals & Specialty Chemicals
Nexchem Intelligence Analyst · Field intelligence · Procurement contacts
"USGC propylene supply resilience versus Europe comes from the on-purpose PDH infrastructure that Enterprise and PetroLogistics have built - when propylene pricing is elevated relative to propane feedstock cost, PDH units run at full capacity and add supply that partially caps the price increase. Europe has far less on-purpose PDH capacity, which is why the NWE propylene market is more tightly supply-constrained at current cracker operating rates."
Nexchem Procurement View
Extended perspective and procurement recommendation locked - available in paid report
Extended analyst perspective in paid report
NX
Nexchem Intelligence Analyst
Head of Advanced Materials & Green Chemicals
Nexchem Intelligence Analyst · Field intelligence · Procurement contacts
"The structural FCC propylene decline from EV penetration in the US is a slower trend than in Europe but is accelerating - California, which accounts for approximately 12% of US gasoline consumption, is seeing EV market share approach 25% of new vehicle sales, and as California goes on gasoline demand the FCC propylene co-product follows with a 12 to 18 month lag through refinery economics."
Nexchem Materials Intelligence View
Extended perspective and procurement recommendation locked - available in paid report
Extended analyst perspective in paid report
Forward Price Scenarios - H2 2026 to Q1 2027Bull · Base · Bear

The paid report includes full scenario assumptions, quarterly price ranges for Q3 2026, Q4 2026, and Q1 2027, probability weighting for each scenario, and a procurement recommendation tailored to each case - covering what to do if the bull case materialises, what to hedge in the base case, and how to protect exposure in the bear case.

Bull Case
USD 0.48 - 0.52/lb
Q3 2026 · 25% probability
Full scenarios in paid report
Base Case
USD 0.41 - 0.46/lb
Q3 2026 · 50% probability
Full scenarios in paid report
Bear Case
USD 0.34 - 0.38/lb
Q3 2026 · 25% probability
Full scenarios in paid report
2026 Geopolitical Supply Chain ContextHormuz · US-Iran · Iranian Methanol

The IMF confirmed in March 2026 that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted approximately 20% of global seaborne oil and LNG supply. For USGC propylene, the Hormuz disruption has a limited direct supply chain impact - US propylene production from FCC, PDH, and cracker co-product routes does not depend on Middle Eastern supply chains. The indirect impact is through crude oil pricing: elevated crude oil costs from the Hormuz disruption modestly increase US refinery feedstock cost, affecting FCC operating economics and propylene co-product output margins. The propane feedstock cost for PDH units is linked to Mont Belvieu propane pricing rather than crude oil, providing PDH-based supply with relative insulation from the Hormuz cost elevation.

Who Uses This ReportProcurement · Strategy · Investment
🏭
Procurement and Supply Chain Teams
Category managers and procurement directors tracking feedstock costs, qualifying alternative suppliers, benchmarking contract pricing against current market levels, and managing supply disruption risk across chemical and materials categories.
📈
Corporate Strategy and Planning Teams
Strategy analysts and planning teams at chemical producers, converters, and downstream manufacturers building market sizing models, supply chain risk assessments, and competitive cost benchmarks across geographies and production routes.
💼
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Investment teams evaluating chemical sector acquisitions, monitoring portfolio company commodity exposure, conducting raw material due diligence for manufacturing investments, and assessing supply chain risk in chemical-intensive sectors.
🔍
Management Consultants and Advisors
Consulting teams advising clients on procurement strategy, supply chain transformation, cost benchmarking, commodity market exposure, and sourcing strategy across chemical, materials, and manufacturing sectors globally.
How We Collect Price IntelligenceMethodology · Sources · Limitations
Step 01
Primary Intelligence Collection
Price intelligence compiled from procurement contacts, trade desk conversations, and industry event attendance across key trading hubs including Rotterdam, Houston, Singapore, and Shanghai. Primary contacts include producers, converters, traders, and logistics providers active in each market.
Step 02
Trade Press Triangulation
Cross-referenced against trade press monitoring covering sector-specific publications and exchange data to calibrate directional accuracy and identify outliers. Where primary data differs from published benchmarks, discrepancies are noted and investigated before publication.
Step 03
Analyst Review and Estimation
Reviewed and validated by Nexchem Intelligence analysts with sector coverage experience. Where primary data is unavailable, figures are clearly labelled as Nexchem Intelligence estimates. Not a price assessment. Not for contract settlement or derivative pricing.

Important: Nexchem Intelligence price reports are indicative price intelligence, not price assessments. We are not a Price Reporting Agency and our prices are not IOSCO-compliant. For contract settlement, mark-to-market valuation, or derivative pricing, use ICIS, Argus, or S&P Global Platts. Our reports are for procurement strategy, supply chain planning, and market analysis only.

Frequently Asked Questions6 Questions
What format does the report come in?
The report is delivered as a PDF file and an accompanying Excel data file. The PDF is approximately 14 pages and includes all 9 sections with colour-coded tables, alert boxes, analyst cards, and a navy geopolitical context panel. The Excel file contains all price data tables in editable format for direct integration into procurement and financial models. Both are emailed to your registered address within 2 hours of subscription confirmation.
How often is this report updated?
Price intelligence reports are updated monthly. Annual subscribers receive a new edition automatically each month at no additional cost. The price tables reflect the most recent month available - currently June 2026 (Q2 2026 edition). Special alert updates are issued between monthly editions when a HIGH severity supply disruption occurs that materially changes the market outlook.
Is this an official price assessment like ICIS or Argus?
No. Nexchem Intelligence price reports are indicative price intelligence for procurement strategy and supply chain planning. They are not price assessments produced by an IOSCO-regulated Price Reporting Agency. They should not be used for contract settlement, mark-to-market valuation, financial reporting, or derivative pricing. For those applications, ICIS or Argus are the appropriate sources. Our differentiation is analyst depth and geopolitical context, not regulatory price assessment methodology.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Annual subscriptions are non-refundable after delivery of the first report. Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled at any time before the next billing date with no further charges. Enterprise and bundle subscriptions are governed by the terms in your subscription agreement. Contact [email protected] for any subscription queries.
Can I share the report within my organisation?
Single SKU subscriptions include 1 user seat. Analyst bundle subscriptions (5 SKUs) include 3 user seats. Procurement bundle (15 SKUs) includes 5 seats. Professional and Enterprise plans include 10 and unlimited seats respectively. Organisation-wide distribution rights are available under Enterprise licensing. Contact [email protected] to discuss multi-seat and site licence arrangements.
What sources do you use for price data?
Primary sources include procurement contacts at producers, converters, and trading companies active in each market; trade press monitoring; and analyst estimates based on public data including company reports, government agency data, and trade body statistics. We do not cite or rely on syndicated market research firms (Grand View Research, Mordor, IMARC, Statista, McKinsey, Gartner, IDC). We do not use AI-generated market data. All source data is primary and independently verified where possible.
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Propylene - US Gulf Coast
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Report Details
SKU IDNXP-OL-019
PublishedQ2 2026 · June
FormatPDF + Excel
Pages~14 pages
Update cycleMonthly
DeliveryWithin 2 hours
LanguageEnglish
Included in every plan
Monthly price brief - PDF + Excel
Grade-level price breakdown - all commercial grades
Supply and demand commentary with operating rates
Capacity atlas - site-level producer detail
Trade flow intelligence with Hormuz risk rating
Feedstock and production margin analysis
3-scenario forward price outlook to Q1 2027
Analyst perspectives - Kellner and Venkat
Procurement recommendation per scenario
Weekly disruption alerts (Procurement plan+)
API data delivery (Professional plan+)
Dedicated analyst access (Enterprise only)
Methodology disclaimer: Nexchem Intelligence price reports contain indicative price intelligence compiled from primary procurement contacts, trade press monitoring, and analyst estimates. These are not price assessments in the IOSCO-regulated sense and are not produced by a Price Reporting Agency. Do not use for contract settlement, mark-to-market valuation, financial reporting, or derivative pricing. All figures are estimates. Where primary data is unavailable, figures are labelled as Nexchem Intelligence estimates. Nexchem Intelligence accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this report.
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