What is Pure Dicyclopentadiene
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
58.4%
Neutral
24.3%
Bearish
17.3%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
The 2026-06-03 EIA print showing an 8 million barrel crude draw and 94.7% refinery utilization tightens the naphtha pool feeding C5 cracker streams, lifting DCPD feedstock costs into mid-June.
FPCC’s 2026-06-05 force majeure lift on its olefins division partially restores Asian ethylene co-product flow, but the rebuild of C5 inventories will lag by 2 to 4 weeks, keeping spot pure DCPD offers firm against thin availability.
The 2026-06-07 OPEC+ reaffirmation of supply discipline alongside Middle East risk premium pushes naphtha crack spreads wider, while the 2026-06-05 Asia-US container rate surge layers added landed-cost inflation onto resin and adhesive buyers downstream.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Bullish
Pure DCPD should grind higher this week as feedstock pass-through and tight C5 supply override any softness in downstream UPR and hydrocarbon resin demand.
The 2026-06-10 US May CPI release (expected) is the dominant near-term catalyst, with a soft print reinforcing the bid by easing margin pressure on chemical converters.
A hot CPI surprise on 2026-06-10 that revives Fed hawkishness and crushes industrial demand expectations would flip the call by stalling resin restocking into Q3 2026.
Key Market Impact
Upstream feedstock tightness from the 8 million barrel US crude draw and OPEC+ discipline is dominating the curve, overwhelming the modest supply relief from FPCC’s restart and pulling DCPD margins toward producers.
Buyers should accelerate June and early-July 2026 coverage before the 2026-06-17 IEA report and Section 301 tariff scope decision crystallize, while traders lean long C5 derivatives against short downstream resin spreads.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Steady Growth (2020-01 to 2021-06): Prices rose gradually from $1100.0 in January 2020 to $1250.0 in June 2021, driven by stable market conditions as no disruptive factors were noted in the influence log during this period.
Phase 2 — Continued Incremental Rise (2021-06 to 2023-06): The price trend maintained steady increases, reaching $1450.0 in June 2023, with the influence log showing no significant events affecting supply or demand.
Phase 3 — Slowing Price Gains (2023-06 to 2024-06): Price increases decelerated, growing only $20.0 to $1520.0 by June 2024, reflecting continued absence of impactful factors in the influence data.
Phase 4 — Modest Growth Resumption (2024-06 to 2026-06-08): Prices resumed moderate growth, reaching $1620.0 by June 8, 2026, with the influence log again indicating no notable events influencing the market.
Supply-side factors
- No recorded supply disruptions or capacity changes noted in the influence log from 2020 through mid-2026.
- Stable production and supply chains inferred from absence of supply-related events in the logs.
- Estimated trend-based price adjustments indicate no sudden supply shocks during analyzed period.
Demand-side factors
- Demand appeared steady with no events or external factors recorded influencing consumption patterns in the influence logs.
- Price increments consistent with a stable, slowly growing demand environment.
- Estimated price data reflect typical market progression absent of demand shocks or policy impacts.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Maleic Anhydride (MA) | In unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) formulations, maleic anhydride is the primary reactive unsaturated diacid component. DCPD is used as a modifier to reduce styrene content and improve hydrolytic resistance; when DCPD is unavailable or cost-prohibitive, formulators can revert to standard MA-based UPR without the DCPD modification, accepting higher styrene emissions and somewhat lower corrosion resistance. Partial substitution; requires reformulation of the resin recipe. |
| Ethylidene Norbornene (ENB) | ENB is the dominant diene termonomer in EPDM rubber production and directly competes with DCPD as the third monomer in ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. DCPD-EPDM and ENB-EPDM are both commercial grades; ENB-EPDM offers faster cure rates while DCPD-EPDM provides better heat resistance. Substitution is carried out at the polymerization stage by switching the diene feed; end-product properties differ and compound recipes must be adjusted. |
| 1,4-Hexadiene | Another diene termonomer option for EPDM rubber, used historically before ENB became dominant. Can replace DCPD in EPDM synthesis where specific cure and aging characteristics are acceptable. Requires reformulation of the polymerization process and vulcanization system. |
| Vinyl Norbornene (VNB) | Used as an alternative diene in specialty EPDM grades requiring very high diene content and fast cure. Substitutes DCPD in high-performance EPDM applications such as automotive seals and wire/cable insulation. Drop-in at the polymerization reactor level but requires adjustment of catalyst and process conditions. |
| C9 Aromatic Hydrocarbon Resins | In hydrocarbon resin applications (adhesives, coatings, rubber compounding), C9 aromatic resins derived from the C9 fraction of steam crackers can substitute DCPD-based aliphatic/cycloaliphatic resins in some adhesive and tackifier formulations. Substitution is partial and application-dependent; C9 resins have different color, odor, and compatibility profiles and are not drop-in replacements in all systems. |
| Norbornene (NBE) | Norbornene, itself synthesized from DCPD and ethylene, is used in specialty polymers (COC/COP cyclic olefin copolymers) and metathesis chemistry. In some niche applications where DCPD is used as a ROMP (ring-opening metathesis polymerization) monomer, norbornene or other strained cyclic olefins can serve as alternatives, though they yield different polymer architectures and properties. |
| Isophthalic Acid (IPA) / Neopentyl Glycol (NPG) modified UPR | In corrosion-resistant unsaturated polyester resins, DCPD modification is one route to improved hydrolytic and chemical resistance. Alternatively, formulators use isophthalic acid or neopentyl glycol as structural modifiers to achieve similar corrosion resistance without DCPD. This is a formulation-level substitution requiring full resin redesign and is common in marine and chemical-resistant laminate applications. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | 2007 (ongoing) | Dicyclopentadiene registered with tonnage band data; no PBT/vPvB criteria met; no SVHC inclusion on candidate list; moderate aquatic toxicity (LC50 3.7 mg/L fish, EC50 8.0 mg/L daphnia) | ECHA Substance Information (CAS 77-73-6); OECD HPV Assessment |
| United States | Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) | US EPA | 1976 (ongoing) | No specific ECEL or restriction; listed under Existing Chemicals; occupational exposure controls via NIOSH REL 5 ppm (TWA) and OSHA PEL 5 ppm (TWA) / 30 mg/m³; no bans or thresholds | EPA Existing Chemical Exposure Limits (ECEL) program; NIOSH/OSHA annotated tables; SDS data |
| United States | OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits | US OSHA | 1970 (Z-1 table, unchanged for this substance) | PEL 5 ppm TWA / 30 mg/m³ TWA; no STEL | OSHA Annotated Table Z-1; NIOSH REL 5 ppm (TWA) / 30 mg/m³ |
| China | No specific VOC emission control for dicyclopentadiene or C5 resin production | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | N/A | No dedicated threshold or limit identified; general VOC management plans (e.g., 2020 Action Plan) apply to coatings/adhesives but not this substance directly | MEE Comprehensive Management Plan for VOCs (2020); GB standards on adhesives |
| International | IMDG Code | IMO / IATA / regional transport authorities | Current edition (ongoing) | UN number 2048; Hazard class 3 (flammable liquid); Packing group III | IMDG Code; SDS transport data (UN 2048) |
| International | Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) | UNECE | Rev. 10 (2023) | GHS classification: Flammable liquid Category 2/3; Acute toxicity Category 4 (oral/inhalation); Skin/I eye irritation Category 2; No SVHC or specific aquatic chronic restriction beyond general hazards | GHS Rev.10e; SDS GHS statements |
Key Influence Events
Pure dicyclopentadiene (pure DCPD) is a bicyclic diene hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C10H12 and CAS number 77-73-6, produced by the thermal dimerization of cyclopentadiene via a Diels-Alder reaction. It is commercially available in two purity grades: a technical-grade product (typically 85–95% purity) and a high-purity or polymerization-grade product (≥95–99%+ purity), the latter being referred to as 'pure DCPD.' At room temperature it is a white to off-white crystalline solid with a camphor-like odor, melting point around 32–34°C, and boiling point around 170°C. Pure DCPD is a key petrochemical intermediate derived from the C5 fraction of naphtha steam cracking, and it serves as a monomer or co-monomer in the production of unsaturated polyester resins, EPDM rubber, hydrocarbon resins, flame retardants, and specialty chemicals such as norbornene and tricyclodecane derivatives.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Pure Dicyclopentadiene
Pure dicyclopentadiene (pure DCPD) is a bicyclic diene hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C10H12 and CAS number 77-73-6, produced by the thermal dimerization of cyclopentadiene via a Diels-Alder reaction. It is commercially available in two purity grades: a technical-grade product (typically 85–95% purity) and a high-purity or polymerization-grade product (≥95–99%+ purity), the latter being referred to as 'pure DCPD.' At room temperature it is a white to off-white crystalline solid with a camphor-like odor, melting point around 32–34°C, and boiling point around 170°C. Pure DCPD is a key petrochemical intermediate derived from the C5 fraction of naphtha steam cracking, and it serves as a monomer or co-monomer in the production of unsaturated polyester resins, EPDM rubber, hydrocarbon resins, flame retardants, and specialty chemicals such as norbornene and tricyclodecane derivatives.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (DCPD content) | ≥95.0 | wt% | Pure / Polymerization Grade |
| Purity (DCPD content) | ≥99.0 | wt% | High-Purity Grade |
| Purity (DCPD content) | 85–94 | wt% | Technical Grade |
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline solid | — | All grades |
| Melting Point | 32–34 | °C | All grades |
| Boiling Point (at 760 mmHg) | 169–171 | °C | All grades |
| Density (liquid at 35°C) | 0.978–0.986 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Color (APHA, liquid) | ≤20 | APHA | Pure / High-Purity Grade |
| Color (APHA, liquid) | ≤50 | APHA | Technical Grade |
| Cyclopentadiene (monomer) content | ≤0.5 | wt% | Pure Grade |
| Cyclopentadiene (monomer) content | ≤0.1 | wt% | High-Purity Grade |
| Inhibitor (stabilizer, e.g. TBC) | 50–200 | ppm | Pure / High-Purity Grade |
| Water content | ≤200 | ppm | Pure / High-Purity Grade |
| Sulfur content | ≤10 | ppm | Pure / High-Purity Grade |
| Molecular Weight | 132.20 | g/mol | All grades |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | 26–32 | °C | All grades |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Cymetech Corporation | Houston, Texas, USA | Calvert City, Kentucky, USA |
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