Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Polybutylene Terephthalate lost ground everywhere in 2025. German material stayed the most expensive in our coverage and still gave up 3.4%, moving from USD 2,780/MT to USD 2,685/MT across the year. Chinese capacity is the reason. Engineering-resin lines came up faster than automotive and electronics demand could take them, and Chang Chun alone runs a 200,000 tonne single-train plant at Ningbo. Softer PTA and butanediol costs pulled the floor down with them. Worldwide the average went from USD 2,150/MT to USD 2,060/MT, a loss of roughly 4.2%. Our second-half 2026 range is USD 2,050 to 2,150/MT, supported by firmer butanediol and a gradual pickup in connector and automotive demand.

PBT is a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic made by polycondensing purified terephthalic acid with 1,4-butanediol. PTA tracks paraxylene, and butanediol moves on its own supply cycle, which is why the two feedstocks rarely tighten at the same time. Automotive & electrical connectors dominate consumption, where fast crystallisation, dimensional stability, electrical resistance and heat ageing all matter. Compounders usually reinforce the resin with 15% to 30% glass fibre for structural parts, and flame-retardant grades carry antimony trioxide synergists. Household appliances, industrial machinery & fibre applications take the rest. BASF, SABIC, Chang Chun, Envalior and Celanese hold the bulk of merchant capacity.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Price Forecast for 2026

The second-half balance stays comfortable. Chinese supply keeps arriving and utilisation runs below what producers want, so the market carries a surplus into the period. Automotive connector demand is firming with electric-vehicle build rates, and 5G and appliance electronics are picking up gradually. New Middle Eastern butanediol capacity should ease feedstock stress through 2026, and PTA is holding steady on paraxylene. Prices should drift inside a narrow band with a mild upward bias.

Two things could break that pattern. A butanediol outage would push costs and prices through the top of the range, and antimony supply remains a live cost risk for flame-retardant grades, since China, Russia and Tajikistan between them make most of the world's antimony trioxide. The downside case is another wave of Chinese capacity landing into flat automotive demand, which would deepen the glut and pull offers below the range.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 1,810/MT
• United States: USD 2,495/MT
• Germany: USD 2,725/MT
• South Korea: USD 2,255/MT

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in China

China averaged USD 1,810/MT in the second quarter, up about 2.8%. PTA and butanediol both firmed and lifted the cost floor for domestic polymerisers. Automotive connector orders came back after the New Year lull, appliance compounders restocked, and Southeast Asian export enquiries picked up. The increase stayed modest even so, because vast local capacity keeps China the cheapest source in our coverage.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q2 2026 in China?

Firmer PTA and butanediol raised the cost floor while connector and appliance orders recovered, and the market settled at USD 1,810/MT.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in United States

The United States gained 2.0% to USD 2,495/MT. Domestic polymerisation ran in the 75 to 85% band, a balanced market with no real overhang. Automotive electrical demand held up, industrial machinery orders improved, sensor & housing programmes stayed busy, and buyers covered forward on firmer feedstock signals. Producers with backward integration into butanediol and aromatic acids kept their usual cost advantage.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q2 2026 in United States?

Balanced domestic operating rates and firmer feedstock met steady automotive and machinery demand, taking the market to USD 2,495/MT.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in Germany

Germany rose 1.9% to USD 2,725/MT, still the priciest market. Energy sits at the heart of the German cost base and compounders there work the specification end. Automotive connector programmes and appliance demand both improved, and since European producers already carry a premium over Asian supply, the increase came through quickly on high-specification grades.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Recovering automotive and appliance demand met a high energy cost base, and German offers firmed to USD 2,725/MT.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in South Korea

South Korea firmed 2.3% to USD 2,255/MT. Electronics and automotive component demand from local converters improved while imported feedstock costs rose with regional PTA. Korean producers price against Chinese offers and lifted only as far as that competition allowed. Connector-grade export orders added a little late in the quarter.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q2 2026 in South Korea?

Better electronics and automotive offtake plus costlier imported feedstock lifted Korean prices to USD 2,255/MT.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices Q1 2026:

• China: USD 1,760/MT
• United States: USD 2,445/MT
• Germany: USD 2,675/MT
• South Korea: USD 2,205/MT

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in China

Chinese prices eased 0.6% to USD 1,760/MT in a quiet first quarter. New Year shutdowns thinned converter demand while domestic capacity stayed available. PTA held firm and butanediol softened, so the cost floor gave only a little. Compounders drew down inventory, and the market stayed heavy until the spring restart.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q1 2026 in China?

New Year shutdowns and heavy domestic capacity eased the market to USD 1,760/MT, and firm PTA underpinned the floor.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in United States

The United States eased 0.4% to USD 2,445/MT. Winter demand from automotive and appliance compounders was seasonally light and buyers worked through year-end stock. Operating rates held steady, import offers stayed competitive, and steady PTA kept the give small ahead of the Q2 recovery.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q1 2026 in United States?

A seasonal demand lull and comfortable supply eased American prices to USD 2,445/MT, with PTA under the floor.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in Germany

Germany slipped 0.4% to USD 2,675/MT. European connector and appliance demand was thin for the season and compounders leaned on contract volumes. Energy costs held the floor high and capped how far offers could fall, and the market steadied before quarter-end.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q1 2026 in Germany?

Quiet seasonal connector and appliance demand eased Germany to USD 2,675/MT, and high energy costs propped up the floor.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in South Korea

South Korea eased 0.5% to USD 2,205/MT. Electronics converters ran below capacity through the winter and automotive orders were slow to start the year. Competitive Chinese offers set the ceiling on what Korean producers could hold, and firm imported feedstock did the rest.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Terephthalate change in Q1 2026 in South Korea?

Slow winter electronics and automotive demand plus competitive Chinese offers eased Korean prices to USD 2,205/MT.

Quarterly Polybutylene Terephthalate Price Trends

PBT ground lower for four straight quarters before the second quarter of 2026 turned it. From USD 2,110/MT in Q2 2025 the global average went to USD 2,080/MT, then USD 2,060/MT, reached USD 2,050/MT in Q1 2026 and recovered to USD 2,100/MT. Chinese capacity growth and soft automotive demand explain the descent. Firmer butanediol and a connector demand pickup explain the turn. The market finished the window about 0.5% below where it started.

What was Polybutylene Terephthalate Price in 2025?

Capacity growth set the tone for 2025. The global average began the year near USD 2,150/MT and ended around USD 2,060/MT, a full-year decline of roughly 4.2%. Chinese engineering-resin lines added volume faster than automotive and electronics consumption could absorb it, and utilisation slipped across the industry. PTA tracked paraxylene through a soft patch while butanediol eased on its own oversupply. Competitive Chinese export offers pressed margins in every importing region.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in China in 2025

China moved from about USD 1,850/MT to USD 1,770/MT over 2025, down roughly 4.3%. Domestic capacity additions outran demand growth by a wide margin, and producers competed on price to hold volume. Softer PTA and butanediol lowered the cost floor through most of the year. Automotive connector demand improved late as electric-vehicle output rose, which steadied the market into the fourth quarter.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in United States in 2025

American PBT went from around USD 2,550/MT to USD 2,455/MT across 2025, off about 3.7%. Import competition from Asian suppliers capped domestic pricing power all year. Automotive electrical demand held reasonably firm while industrial machinery orders ran unevenly. Backward integration into feedstock gave domestic producers some margin protection, and prices steadied late as butanediol firmed.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in Germany in 2025

Germany kept the top slot even as prices fell from about USD 2,780/MT to USD 2,685/MT, a decline near 3.4%. High energy costs held the German cost base up through the year. European automotive production stayed soft and connector demand grew slowly, which pulled offers down anyway. Specification-grade business held better than commodity compound, and the market found a floor late in the year.

Polybutylene Terephthalate Prices in South Korea in 2025

Korean PBT eased from roughly USD 2,300/MT to USD 2,215/MT across 2025, down about 3.7%. Korean producers price against Chinese material, so cheaper Chinese offers set the direction. Electronics demand from local converters grew modestly while automotive component orders ran flat. Imported feedstock costs shaped the cost floor, and the won's level against the dollar moved landed economics through the year.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Polybutylene Terephthalate Price Intelligence

Expert Market Research follows Polybutylene Terephthalate prices continuously in the producing and consuming markets that set the direction, with the emphasis on the reasons behind each move. Coverage runs through PTA and butanediol economics, paraxylene, Chinese capacity additions, automotive and electronics build rates, and compound-grade differentials. Forecasts weigh feedstock economics, utilisation, trade flows and policy risk. Get in touch with Expert Market Research for Polybutylene Terephthalate price series, bespoke market analysis and procurement advisory support.