What is Phenol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Bisphenol A and Resin Demand
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
Neutral
Bearish
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 290711 is 2026-07 at USD 1,372.73/ton, -3.3% against the previous month and +30.5% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 4-economy panel was 307,124 tonnes over the window, 25,594 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +25.0%.
Next 1–3 Months — Outlook
This page is refreshed from public customs statistics rather than paid price assessments, so the next revision will roll in each newly published month for HS 290711. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Key Market Impact
Customs unit values for this heading are the single most checkable price signal available without a subscription: they combine the product mix actually crossing borders, the average contract level behind those shipments and freight-relevant volume. Treat them as the trade-weighted baseline for the heading, and read the coverage note above before applying them to a single grade.
How About the Price?
Data source: UN Comtrade public trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-01
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 290711 moved from USD 1,051.55/ton in 2025-08 to USD 1,372.73/ton in 2026-07 (+30.5% across the window). The window high was USD 1,419.60/ton in 2026-06 and the low USD 923.71/ton in 2025-11. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +25.0% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 354.2 million of export value on 307,124 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 25,594 tonnes a month. Values are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
The EU side of the same heading is one month fresher than the panel above: Eurostat Comext records EU27 imports of HS 290711 from outside the EU at USD 1,482.91/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 1,279.14/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +1.7% against 2026-07, on 11,700 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 89,284 tonnes. On the 11 months the two datasets share (2025-09 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +40.1% on the export panel and +34.3% on the EU import side, so the two agree on direction. Import values are recorded on a CIF-type basis by a single bloc, so the level is not comparable with the export panel — the comparison above is directional.
2026-08 is deliberately not in the series: of the 4 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 3 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-01, while the heading drew 9 filers in total that month; 2026-09 drew 0 filings for this heading, 0 of them from panel members, and 2026-10 drew 0 (0 from the panel). Splicing a partly-filed month onto a fixed panel would move the unit value through composition alone, so the window stays at 2026-07 until the whole panel for 2026-08 has reported.
HS 290711 carries phenol and its salts only, so the series is product-specific; bisphenol A, caprolactam, phenolic resins and the herbicides made from phenol are classified elsewhere, and the cumene feedstock that sets most of the cost is outside this heading.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 4 economies: FIN (246), NLD (528), GBR (826), USA (842). The panel is held constant in every month of the window so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 923.71 to USD 1,419.60/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 1,372.73/ton, -3.3% against the previous month, on 30,752 tonnes.
Demand-side factors
- Phenol demand is anchored by bisphenol A for polycarbonate and epoxy resins, then by phenolic moulding compounds and laminates, caprolactam, herbicides and alkylphenol derivatives, so offtake follows construction, automotive and electronics demand rather than consumer volumes.
- Related market pages on this site: Benzene (the feedstock via cumene), Propylene (the co-feed for cumene), Acetone (the co-product of the cumene route).
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page.
Need the supplier landscape, contract structure or a delivered-cost build-up behind this heading? Request a sample report or a custom cut.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Cresols (ortho-, meta-, para-cresol) | In phenolic resin formulations and as disinfectants, cresols can partially or fully replace phenol. They offer similar reactivity with formaldehyde to form cresol-formaldehyde resins used in laminates and coatings. Substitution typically requires reformulation to account for different reactivity ratios and slightly altered mechanical properties of the resulting resin. |
| Resorcinol | Used as a partial substitute for phenol in specialty phenolic resins, particularly rubber-to-cord adhesive systems (resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex, RFL) and wood adhesives where faster cure rates and improved bonding to rubber are required. It is a drop-in replacement in resin synthesis but is significantly more expensive, so use is limited to performance-critical applications. |
| Bisphenol F (BPF) | In epoxy resin systems, BPF-based epoxies can substitute for BPA-based epoxies (which are derived from phenol) in coatings, adhesives, and composites. BPF offers lower viscosity and is used where BPA restrictions apply or where improved chemical resistance is needed. Requires reformulation of the epoxy system. |
| Cardanol (cashew nut shell liquid, CNSL) | A bio-based phenolic compound that can partially replace phenol in phenol-formaldehyde resins, friction materials, and surface coatings. It imparts flexibility to otherwise brittle phenolic resins. Substitution is typically partial (up to 30–50% replacement) and requires adjustment of resin synthesis conditions due to cardanol's lower reactivity with formaldehyde. |
| Lignin-derived phenolics | Kraft lignin and lignosulfonates can partially replace phenol (typically 20–50%) in phenol-formaldehyde wood adhesives and binder resins. This bio-based substitution is driven by sustainability goals and cost reduction. Full replacement is generally not feasible due to lower reactivity and variable composition of lignin; partial replacement requires process optimization. |
| Melamine (for melamine-formaldehyde resins) | In wood panel adhesives, laminates, and surface coatings, melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resins can substitute for phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins where lighter color, faster cure, and improved surface hardness are desired. MF resins are a functional alternative in decorative laminates and paper impregnation but are not suitable for exterior structural applications where PF resins' moisture resistance is required. |
| Urea (for urea-formaldehyde resins) | Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins are the dominant substitute for phenolic resins in interior wood panel products (particleboard, MDF) due to lower cost and faster cure. However, UF resins have inferior moisture and heat resistance compared to PF resins, so substitution is limited to interior, non-structural applications. UF resins also emit more formaldehyde, which is a regulatory concern. |
| Cyclohexanol / Cyclohexanone | In the production of caprolactam (nylon-6 precursor), cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone (KA oil) produced directly from cyclohexane oxidation can serve as an alternative route that bypasses phenol. This is a process-level substitution at the caprolactam producer level rather than a direct product substitute, and both routes are commercially practiced. |
| Nonylphenol alternatives (linear alcohol ethoxylates) | In surfactant applications where alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs, derived from phenol) are used, linear alcohol ethoxylates (LAEs) and other non-phenolic surfactants serve as drop-in or near-drop-in replacements. This substitution is driven by environmental regulations restricting APEOs in many markets due to endocrine-disruption concerns. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) - Table Z-1 | OSHA | 1970 (current PEL values unchanged) | 8-hour TWA 5 ppm (19 mg/m³); STEL 15.6 ppm (60 mg/m³); Skin notation | US OSHA |
| US | Effluent Guidelines and Standards (EG) for Pulp, Paper and Paperboard (40 CFR Part 430); NPDES permit limitations for priority pollutants including total phenols | EPA | 1974 (initial), 1998 (toxic pollutant amendment) | Technology-based limits set by subcategory (e.g., daily maximum and monthly average concentrations for total recoverable phenols/phenolics as priority toxic pollutant); WQBELs may apply based on receiving water quality standards | US EPA |
| EU | REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) CLP Regulation for harmonised classification | ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) | 2006 (REACH entry into force); CLP (EC No 1272/2008) (current classification) | Acute toxicity category 3 (H301: toxic if swallowed); Skin corrosion/irritation category 1B (H314); Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure) category 2 (H371: may cause damage to organs); Aquatic acute category 1 (H400); No authorisation or restriction listed for phenol itself (CAS 108-95-2) | ECHA |
| China | No specific national emission standard or wastewater discharge limit identified for phenol in petrochemical sector | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | Not applicable (no dedicated regulation located) | None | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) official reports and standards database |
| Global / WTO | No anti-dumping duties or tariffs identified on phenol or derivatives in current WTO or USITC trade measures | WTO / USITC | Not applicable (no active measures) | None | WTO / USITC |
| Global | UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code); UN Number 1671 | United Nations (administered by IMO / UNECE) | Current (updated periodically) | UN proper shipping name: PHENOL, SOLID; Class 6.1 (toxic); Packing group II | UN Model Regulations / IMDG Code |
Key Influence Events
Phenol (C6H5OH), also known as carbolic acid, is an aromatic organic compound consisting of a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded directly to a benzene ring. It is a white crystalline solid at room temperature with a distinctive sweet, medicinal odor, a melting point of about 41°C, and is partially miscible with water. Phenol is one of the most important petrochemical intermediates, serving as a primary feedstock for the manufacture of bisphenol A (BPA), phenolic resins (phenol-formaldehyde), caprolactam, alkylphenols, aniline, and numerous other chemicals. It is produced commercially almost exclusively via the cumene hydroperoxide process (Hock process), in which benzene and propylene are alkylated to cumene, which is then oxidized and acid-cleaved to yield phenol and acetone as co-products.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Phenol Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Bisphenol A and Resin Demand
Phenol (C6H5OH), also known as carbolic acid, is an aromatic organic compound consisting of a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded directly to a benzene ring. It is a white crystalline solid at room temperature with a distinctive sweet, medicinal odor, a melting point of about 41°C, and is partially miscible with water. Phenol is one of the most important petrochemical intermediates, serving as a primary feedstock for the manufacture of bisphenol A (BPA), phenolic resins (phenol-formaldehyde), caprolactam, alkylphenols, aniline, and numerous other chemicals. It is produced commercially almost exclusively via the cumene hydroperoxide process (Hock process), in which benzene and propylene are alkylated to cumene, which is then oxidized and acid-cleaved to yield phenol and acetone as co-products.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Standard |
|---|
Data Sources
Price and volume figures are derived from the directly verified public sources below. The customs unit values are USD/ton and are not subscription price assessments. Grade-level specifications are not restated here: confirm them with the supplier. Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page is listed below, together with the EU cross-check, the exchange rate used to express it in dollars and the HS classification reference.
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=290711&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
- Eurostat Comext DS-045409, EU27 extra-EU imports, monthly: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/comext/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/DS-045409?format=JSON&freq=M&reporter=EU27_2020&partner=EXT_EU27_2020&flow=1&indicators=VALUE_IN_EUROS&indicators=QUANTITY_IN_100KG&product=290711&sinceTimePeriod=2025-09
- ECB euro reference rate, monthly average (EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A): https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/data/EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A?format=csvdata&startPeriod=2025-09&endPeriod=2026-09
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