What is para-Xylene Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and PTA Demand
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
Neutral
Bearish
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Neutral
The most recent published customs observation for HS 290243 is 2026-07 at USD 1,173.36/ton, -1.6% against the previous month and +48.9% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 2-economy panel was 766,637 tonnes over the window, 63,886 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +25.2%. The fixed panel is thin at 2 economies, so this reading describes those reporters rather than the whole market. The heading-level series is volatile: the largest month-on-month move in the window was +52.7% between 2026-03 and 2026-04, when reported value moved +84.4% and reported tonnage moved +20.7%, so that move reflects the mix and size of shipments filed under this heading rather than a single quoted price.
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 290243. 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=290243&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-05
Demand-side factors
- para-Xylene demand is almost entirely the polyester chain: oxidation to purified terephthalic acid for PET resin and fibre, with a smaller outlet in dimethyl terephthalate and speciality polyester grades.
- Related market pages on this site: Xylene (the mixed-isomer parent stream it is separated from), ortho-Xylene (the sister isomer separated in the same complex), Toluene (the reformer co-product that competes for the same aromatic pool), Benzene (the reformer and disproportionation feedstock behind the xylene pool).
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 290243 moved from USD 788.12/ton in 2025-08 to USD 1,173.36/ton in 2026-07 (+48.9% across the window). The window high was USD 1,237.12/ton in 2026-05 and the low USD 783.26/ton in 2025-11. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +25.2% against the previous one, which is classified here as neutral. The heading-level series is volatile: the largest month-on-month move in the window was +52.7% between 2026-03 and 2026-04, when reported value moved +84.4% and reported tonnage moved +20.7%, so that move reflects the mix and size of shipments filed under this heading rather than a single quoted price.
The same panel reported USD 729.9 million of export value on 766,637 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 63,886 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 290243 from outside the EU at USD 1,266.31/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 1,092.30/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +12.9% against 2026-07, on 16,466 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 146,946 tonnes. On the 10 months the two datasets share (2025-08 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +52.1% on the export panel and +46.1% 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 2 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 1 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-05, while the heading drew 5 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 290243 names p-xylene on its own, so the line isolates the para isomer; o-xylene sits in 290241 and m-xylene in 290242, and the mixed-xylene trade is 290244. PTA and polyester made from p-xylene are classified in later chapters, so only merchant xylene crosses this line.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 2 economies: NLD (528), USA (842). The panel is held constant in every period of the window so period-to-period movement is not a composition effect.
- Unit value range over the window: USD 783.26 to USD 1,237.12/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 1,173.36/ton, -1.6% against the previous month, on 60,320 tonnes.
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.
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Data Sources
Every endpoint used for the series on this page, 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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&sinceTimePeriod=2025-07
- 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=2025-07&endPeriod=2026-10
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) | DMT was historically the primary intermediate for polyester production before PTA became dominant. In polyester fiber and PET resin manufacturing, DMT can substitute for the PTA derived from p-xylene via a different esterification route (transesterification with methanol rather than direct esterification). However, DMT production itself requires p-xylene as feedstock (via oxidation and esterification), so it is a downstream derivative rather than a true feedstock substitute; it is relevant only when comparing polyester production pathways. |
| Bio-based para-xylene (from bio-isobutanol or bio-based furans) | Emerging as a drop-in renewable substitute for petrochemical p-xylene in PTA/PET production. Routes include dehydration/dimerization of bio-isobutanol to isooctene followed by aromatization, or Diels-Alder cycloaddition of bio-derived dimethylfuran (DMF) with ethylene followed by dehydration. The resulting p-xylene is chemically identical and fully drop-in for PTA synthesis, requiring no reformulation of downstream processes. Currently limited by cost and scale. |
| 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) / PEF pathway | FDCA, derived from bio-based hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), is used to produce polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a polyester that can substitute for PET in packaging (bottles, films) and fiber applications. This route bypasses p-xylene entirely, replacing the PTA/PET value chain with a bio-based alternative. PEF offers improved barrier properties versus PET. Substitution requires reformulation of the polymer and adaptation of processing equipment; not a drop-in at the monomer level but a functional substitute at the end-use level. |
| Recycled PET (rPET) | In packaging and fiber applications, rPET derived from mechanical or chemical recycling of post-consumer PET reduces the demand for virgin PTA and therefore for p-xylene. Chemical recycling (glycolysis, methanolysis) regenerates monomers that re-enter the polyester chain. This is a demand-side substitute that partially displaces new p-xylene consumption without replacing it chemically. |
| Isophthalic acid (IPA, from meta-xylene) | IPA can partially substitute for PTA (terephthalic acid) in certain copolyester formulations, such as PETG or specialty packaging resins, where improved clarity, flexibility, or lower crystallinity is desired. Typically used as a co-monomer at 2–5 mol% alongside PTA rather than a full replacement. Requires reformulation of the polyester recipe. |
| Polylactic acid (PLA) | PLA, derived from fermentation of sugars to lactic acid, serves as a bio-based substitute for PET in packaging films, bottles, and some fiber applications, bypassing p-xylene entirely. Substitution requires reformulation and is limited by PLA's lower heat resistance and barrier properties compared to PET. Suitable for short-shelf-life food packaging and compostable applications. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Xylene — the C8 aromatic family that para-xylene is separated from.
- ortho-Xylene — the isomer separated from the same reformate stream.
- Toluene — the upstream aromatic in the reformate and disproportionation route.
- Benzene — the reformer and disproportionation feedstock behind the xylene pool.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Key Industry VOC Comprehensive Governance Plan | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2019 | Controls VOC emissions from organic solvents; lists para-xylene (on d-xylene) as key O3 precursor substance for aromatic hydrocarbons; requires source substitution and emission controls | https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/201907/t20190703_708395.html |
| EU | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2006 (registration dossier 01-2119484661-33) | Registration required; chemical safety assessment and risk management measures for para-xylene (EC 203-396-5, CAS 106-42-3, Index 601-022-00-9) | https://www.braskem.com.br/cms/Principal/produto/download?id=i8tRU37dgpI=&produto=true |
| International (transport) | UN Model Regulations / UN Table C List of Dangerous Goods | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) / DOT (US implementation) | 2011 (ongoing) | UN 1307; p-Xylenes (para-xylene); Class 3 flammable liquid; packing group II; proper shipping name: Xylenes | https://unece.org/DAM/trans/danger/publi/adn/adn2011/English/7-TableC-E.pdf |
Key Influence Events
Para-xylene (p-xylene) is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C8H10, consisting of a benzene ring with two methyl groups positioned at the 1 and 4 (para) positions. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor, boiling at approximately 138°C. Para-xylene is one of the three xylene isomers (along with ortho- and meta-xylene) and is by far the most commercially important, serving overwhelmingly as the primary feedstock for purified terephthalic acid (PTA), which in turn is used to manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins and polyester fibers. It is produced predominantly from catalytic reformate and pyrolysis gasoline derived from naphtha processing, followed by separation and isomerization steps to maximize the para isomer yield.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of para-Xylene Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and PTA Demand
Para-xylene (p-xylene) is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C8H10, consisting of a benzene ring with two methyl groups positioned at the 1 and 4 (para) positions. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor, boiling at approximately 138°C. Para-xylene is one of the three xylene isomers (along with ortho- and meta-xylene) and is by far the most commercially important, serving overwhelmingly as the primary feedstock for purified terephthalic acid (PTA), which in turn is used to manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins and polyester fibers. It is produced predominantly from catalytic reformate and pyrolysis gasoline derived from naphtha processing, followed by separation and isomerization steps to maximize the para isomer yield.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|
Data Sources
Price and volume figures are derived from the directly verified public sources below. The customs unit values are USD/ton; they are not subscription price assessments. Numeric assay rows were removed because no public product-grade source is cited for them - confirm grade-level specifications with the supplier. Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page is listed below, together with 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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&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=290243&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
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