Benzene Prices Hold Firm on Tight Supply and High Import Barriers

Import Constraints

For the fourth consecutive week, benzene availability has tightened. Traders report that high freight costs and new regulatory hurdles are preventing the usual flow of material from the Middle East, forcing local buyers to pay a scarcity premium.

Downstream Pull

While styrene demand remains lackluster, the phenol and cyclohexane chains are showing surprising resilience. This steady pull from industrial sectors is preventing benzene from following the downward trajectory of the broader energy complex.