Propylene Carbonate Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Propylene Carbonate prices in Germany, the highest-cost reporting region, rose 3.0% in Q2 2026 to USD 2,760.00/MT from USD 2,680.00/MT in Q1, extending a sharp reversal from the gradual multi-quarter decline that had characterized this market through most of 2025. US prices rose 2.8% to USD 2,550.00/MT, tracking the same feedstock and demand-driven firming trend evident across every region tracked in this report. Globally, the average rose from USD 2,276.90/MT in Q1 to USD 2,342.90/MT in Q2, a 2.9% gain, following a jump of 9.9% in Q1 alone as elevated propylene oxide feedstock costs and surging lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand reversed the earlier softening trend. For H2 2026, a global average of USD 1,530.00-2,850.00/MT is expected, with growing electric vehicle battery demand likely to keep this market firm.

Propylene Carbonate is a polar aprotic organic solvent produced through the reaction of propylene oxide with carbon dioxide, valued for its high dielectric constant, wide liquid range, and chemical stability across a broad temperature range. It serves as a critical electrolyte solvent component in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, where growing electric vehicle and grid-scale energy storage demand has increasingly driven consumption, alongside established uses in specialty coatings, textile dyeing auxiliaries, and carbon dioxide capture and utilization applications. Because propylene oxide, its primary feedstock, is a petrochemical derivative tied to broader propylene supply chains, this market's cost structure is exposed to upstream petrochemical cost swings even as structural battery-driven demand growth increasingly shapes the longer-term demand picture. Propylene oxide feedstock costs, lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand, and regional specialty solvent production capacity are what drive prices in this market.

Propylene Carbonate Price Forecast for 2026

The outlook for Propylene Carbonate through H2 2026 stays firm, tracking elevated propylene oxide feedstock costs alongside structurally growing demand from lithium-ion battery electrolyte manufacturers tied to electric vehicle and grid-scale energy storage expansion. Steady demand from specialty coatings and textile dyeing auxiliary applications should continue supporting baseline consumption even as the pace of further gains likely moderates from the sharp Q1 2026 spike that characterized every region covered here.

The main upside risk is a further acceleration of electric vehicle battery manufacturing capacity expansion combined with tightening propylene oxide feedstock availability, which could extend this market's firming trend further. The main downside risk is a faster-than-expected normalization of propylene oxide feedstock costs combined with a slowdown in electric vehicle demand growth, which would ease some of the current price pressure.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Propylene Carbonate Prices Q2 2026:

• Germany: USD 2,760.00/MT
• United States: USD 2,550.00/MT
• India: USD 2,125.00/MT
• China: USD 1,805.00/MT

Propylene Carbonate Prices in Germany

German Propylene Carbonate prices averaged USD 2,760.00/MT in Q2 2026, the highest of any region tracked here, up 3.0% from USD 2,680.00/MT in Q1, as strong demand from European lithium-ion battery electrolyte manufacturers continued sustaining this market's premium position through the quarter. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Elevated propylene oxide feedstock costs continued flowing through to finished propylene carbonate pricing, while strong demand from German lithium-ion battery electrolyte manufacturers kept this market at the top of the range tracked in this report through the quarter. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in United States

US prices averaged USD 2,550.00/MT in Q2 2026, up 2.8% from USD 2,480.00/MT in Q1, as growing demand from grid-scale energy storage and electric vehicle battery manufacturers continued driving gains through the quarter. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q2 2026 in United States?

Growing demand from electric vehicle and grid-scale energy storage battery manufacturers, tied to this solvent's high dielectric constant and thermal stability, kept US buyers active even as feedstock costs continued moving higher through the quarter. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in India

Indian prices averaged USD 2,125.00/MT in Q2 2026, up 2.9% from USD 2,065.00/MT in Q1, as growing demand from India's expanding specialty solvent and coatings manufacturing sector continued supporting this market's upward trajectory through the quarter. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q2 2026 in India?

Continued growth in demand from India's expanding specialty coatings and textile dyeing auxiliary manufacturing sector kept buyers competing for available propylene carbonate supply throughout the quarter, supporting price gains. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in China

Chinese prices, the lowest of the four regions, averaged USD 1,805.00/MT in Q2 2026, up 2.8% from USD 1,755.00/MT in Q1, as large-scale domestic production capacity continued keeping this market comparatively affordable even amid surging battery electrolyte demand. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q2 2026 in China?

Large-scale domestic production capacity continued keeping Chinese offers the most competitive of any region tracked here, even as surging battery electrolyte demand and firming propylene oxide feedstock costs pushed prices modestly higher through the quarter. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Propylene Carbonate Prices Q1 2026:

• Germany: USD 2,680.00/MT
• United States: USD 2,480.00/MT
• India: USD 2,065.00/MT
• China: USD 1,755.00/MT

Propylene Carbonate Prices in Germany

German prices surged 9.8% in Q1 2026 to USD 2,680.00/MT from USD 2,440.00/MT in Q4 2025, as propylene oxide feedstock costs spiked and lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand continued accelerating sharply. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q1 2026 in Germany?

Propylene oxide feedstock prices surged sharply as the global petrochemical repricing following Middle East escalation raised the cost basis across the entire specialty solvent value chain, while structurally growing lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand added further support to German pricing through the quarter. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in United States

US prices surged 10.0% in Q1 2026 to USD 2,480.00/MT from USD 2,255.00/MT in Q4 2025, tracking the broader feedstock cost spike combined with structurally growing battery demand across North America. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q1 2026 in United States?

Elevated propylene oxide feedstock costs, tied to the Middle East-linked energy market disruption, pushed US production expenses sharply higher, even as accelerating electric vehicle and grid-scale energy storage demand kept this market fundamentally well supported. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in India

Indian prices surged 9.8% in Q1 2026 to USD 2,065.00/MT from USD 1,880.00/MT in Q4 2025, tracking the broader global feedstock cost spike affecting specialty solvent production economics. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q1 2026 in India?

Elevated crude oil and natural gas prices, following disruptions to global energy markets tied to the Middle East conflict, increased production costs for propylene oxide feedstock, pushing Indian propylene carbonate prices higher through the quarter. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in China

Chinese prices surged 10.0% in Q1 2026 to USD 1,755.00/MT from USD 1,595.00/MT in Q4 2025, tracking the global propylene oxide feedstock cost spike combined with surging domestic battery electrolyte demand. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Why did the price of Propylene Carbonate change in Q1 2026 in China?

Rising propylene oxide feedstock costs, tied to the broader Middle East-linked petrochemical cost environment, combined with surging domestic lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand to push Chinese propylene carbonate pricing higher through the quarter. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement.

Quarterly Propylene Carbonate Price Trends

Global Propylene Carbonate prices eased gradually through most of 2025 as propylene oxide feedstock costs moderated, before accelerating sharply in Q1 2026 as rising feedstock costs, tied to the broader Middle East-linked energy market disruption, combined with surging lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand to push prices to their highest levels of the period, a trend that continued into Q2 across every region tracked in this report.

What was Propylene Carbonate Price in 2025?

Propylene Carbonate eased across every market covered in this report through 2025, tracking moderating propylene oxide feedstock costs, before the Middle East-linked energy market disruption combined with surging lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand sharply reversed that trend in Q1 2026, pushing prices higher across every region tracked here. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in Germany in 2025

German prices eased from about USD 2,600.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 2,440.00/MT by Q4, down roughly 6.2%, before the sharp Q1 2026 reversal that followed as feedstock costs and battery demand both accelerated. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in United States in 2025

US prices eased from about USD 2,400.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 2,255.00/MT by Q4, down roughly 6.0%, the smallest annual decline of the four regions before the sharp reversal that followed into 2026. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in India in 2025

Indian prices eased from about USD 2,000.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,880.00/MT by Q4, down roughly 6.0%, matching the smallest annual decline of the four regions before the sharp reversal that followed. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Buyers and sellers alike watched these developments closely for signs of further movement. Regional supply and demand balances continued to evolve as the quarter progressed.

Propylene Carbonate Prices in China in 2025

Chinese prices eased from about USD 1,700.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,595.00/MT by Q4, down roughly 6.2%, tracking the broader global moderating feedstock cost trend before surging battery demand pushed prices sharply higher. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term. These conditions are expected to remain a key factor shaping pricing in the near term.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Propylene Carbonate Price Intelligence

Expert Market Research tracks Propylene Carbonate prices continuously across every major producing and consuming region, combining propylene oxide feedstock cost data, lithium-ion battery electrolyte demand signals, and regional specialty solvent production capacity trends into a single, regularly updated view of the market. Our team can help your procurement function benchmark current offers, plan purchases around the firming trends covered in this report, and build a defensible view of where this essential battery-grade solvent is headed next. Reach out to our team for a tailored briefing or a deeper look at any of the regional markets covered here.