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Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a chlorinated solvent produced from ethylene or acetylene through chlorination, used extensively as an industrial degreasing agent, refrigerant intermediate feedstock, and specialty chemical solvent. Chlorine feedstock costs, and industrial degreasing and refrigerant intermediate demand all feed into the price.
Global trichloroethylene prices were projected in the USD 2.10 to 2.50 per KG range for 2026, with North American prices tracked highest at USD 3.00 to 3.60 per KG and European prices at USD 1.90 to 2.30 per KG, the most competitively priced tracked market. North America held the highest tracked price on elevated chlorine feedstock costs and environmental regulatory compliance expenses, while Europe benefited from more balanced regional supply-demand conditions. Steady industrial degreasing and refrigerant intermediate demand continued to underpin consumption across all tracked regions.
Trichloroethylene prices held close to the 2026 projected range through August 2026, tracking regional chlorine feedstock and regulatory compliance cost differentials, as steady industrial degreasing demand continued to support the market across all tracked regions.
Trichloroethylene prices are expected to remain elevated through 2026, supported by the same structural supply constraints that drove the 2025 rally. The phase-down of production capacity under European and North American environmental regulations will continue to limit supply additions, even as industrial degreasing demand from aerospace and automotive sectors holds steady. The refrigerant intermediate demand stream, tied to HFO production expansion, provides an additional demand floor. Downside risk centres on any cyclical softening in industrial production activity reducing solvent consumption, or a short-term oversupply from Chinese producers diverting output to export markets.
| Region | 2026 Price Range (USD/KG) | Outlook |
| Global Average | 2.10 - 2.50 | Structural supply tightness and refrigerant precursor demand keep prices elevated |
| Europe | 1.90 - 2.30 | Environmental phase-down reduces EU production; import dependence sustains premium |
| North America | 3.00 - 3.60 | Tightest regional supply; limited domestic production drives premium over other regions |
| Northeast Asia | 1.30 - 1.60 | China maintains larger production base; pricing competitive vs. Western markets |
European trichloroethylene prices averaged USD 2.111/KG in Q1 2026, a marginal 1.5% increase from Q4 2025's USD 2.079/KG. The market stabilised at elevated levels as supply remained constrained following the reduction of registered production sites under EU chemical regulatory frameworks. Industrial degreasing demand from the aerospace and automotive sectors held firm in the early part of 2026, providing support at current price levels. Chlorine feedstock costs remained stable, limiting cost-push upside but not generating downward pressure.
Why did the price of Trichloroethylene change in Q1 2026 in Europe?
The marginal 1.5% Q1 2026 increase reflected continued supply constraint from regulatory phase-down of EU production sites. Stable aerospace and automotive degreasing demand sustained buying interest at elevated price levels. Chlorine feedstock costs were broadly unchanged, keeping the production cost floor firm.
North American trichloroethylene averaged USD 3.310/KG in Q1 2026, the highest among the three reporting regions and up 1.3% from Q4 2025's USD 3.267/KG. The North American market reflects the most acute supply tightness globally, with a small number of domestic producers serving a broad industrial customer base across aerospace, automotive, and precision manufacturing. Import volumes from European and Asian producers provide limited supplementary supply at elevated landed costs. Demand from the refrigerant intermediate sector supported steady procurement activity through Q1.
Why did the price of Trichloroethylene change in Q1 2026 in North America?
Acute domestic supply concentration, limited import substitution options, and steady refrigerant intermediate demand kept North American prices at their highest regional level. The 1.3% Q1 2026 increase reflected continuing supply discipline from domestic producers operating in a structurally constrained market.
Northeast Asian trichloroethylene averaged USD 1.430/KG in Q1 2026, a 0.8% gain from Q4 2025's USD 1.418/KG. Northeast Asia, primarily China, maintains the largest active TCE production base globally, which moderates regional pricing compared to Western markets. The Q1 2026 stability reflected steady domestic industrial degreasing demand from the electronics, automotive, and precision manufacturing sectors. Export demand from other Asian markets added incremental support. Regional environmental scrutiny of chlorinated solvents is increasing, but the pace of capacity reduction has been slower than in Europe or North America.
Why did the price of Trichloroethylene change in Q1 2026 in Northeast Asia?
The 0.8% Q1 2026 price gain in Northeast Asia reflected balanced supply-demand conditions. Steady downstream industrial demand and modest export activity supported prices, while China's larger domestic production base prevented the sharp supply-side tightening seen in Western markets.
European trichloroethylene reached USD 2.079/KG in Q4 2025, a 17.7% jump from Q3's USD 1.766/KG and the highest quarterly average recorded in the 2025-2026 tracking period. Supply conditions tightened materially in the second half of 2025 as registered EU production sites continued operating below historical capacity. Year-end procurement demand from industrial buyers seeking to cover forward positions ahead of potential further supply reductions contributed to the sharp Q4 increase. Chlorine feedstock cost inflation added a moderate cost-push component.
Why did the price of Trichloroethylene change in Q4 2025 in Europe?
Three forces drove the 17.7% Q4 2025 increase: accelerating EU production site phase-down reducing available supply, year-end forward procurement by industrial buyers anticipating further tightening, and rising chlorine feedstock costs. The combination produced the sharpest quarterly price jump of the 2025 cycle.
North American trichloroethylene averaged USD 3.267/KG in Q4 2025, a 16.0% increase from Q3's USD 2.815/KG. The North American price surge in the second half of 2025 reflected the combined effect of production concentration risk and strong demand from the refrigerant intermediate sector. HFO-1234yf production expansion at North American chemical plants increased TCE consumption volumes, competing directly with industrial solvent demand. Limited domestic production capacity and high landed costs for imports sustained the regional premium over Europe and Northeast Asia.
Why did the price of Trichloroethylene change in Q4 2025 in North America?
The 16.0% Q4 2025 North American increase was driven by the expansion of HFO-1234yf refrigerant production consuming TCE as a key intermediate, coinciding with tightening domestic solvent supply and high import costs. The resulting demand-supply imbalance pushed prices to their highest quarterly level in the tracking period.
Northeast Asian trichloroethylene averaged USD 1.418/KG in Q4 2025, up 17.7% from Q3's USD 1.204/KG. While the Northeast Asian price level remains below Western markets, the rate of increase in Q4 aligned closely with European trends, reflecting tightening global supply conditions. Domestic Chinese demand from the electronics and automotive degreasing sectors remained firm through year-end. Export enquiries from Southeast Asian and South Asian industrial buyers added to the demand base. Increasing environmental inspection activity at Chinese chlorinated solvent producers began to influence available supply in the second half of 2025.
Why did the price of Trichloroethylene change in Q4 2025 in Northeast Asia?
Environmental inspection activity reducing Chinese producer operating rates, combined with firm domestic degreasing demand and growing export interest, drove the 17.7% Q4 2025 price increase. The global supply tightening trend was transmitted into Northeast Asian pricing even as the region retained a price advantage over Western markets.
Trichloroethylene prices rose consistently and substantially from Q1 2025 through Q4 2025, with the acceleration intensifying in the second half of the year. The global average price climbed from USD 1.320/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 2.255/KG in Q4 2025, a 70.8% annual increase. North America maintained the highest absolute price throughout the period. The pace of increase moderated sharply in Q1 2026 as markets stabilised near year-end highs, reflecting a supply-demand equilibrium at elevated price levels.
| Quarter | Price (USD/KG) | QoQ Change | Direction |
| Q1 2026 | 2.284 | +1.3% | Stable |
| Q4 2025 | 2.255 | +17.0% | Rising |
| Q3 2025 | 1.928 | +29.7% | Rising |
| Q2 2025 | 1.487 | +12.6% | Rising |
| Q1 2025 | 1.320 | - | Stable |
| Q2 2026 | In Progress | - | In Progress |
Trichloroethylene recorded one of the strongest price performances among industrial solvents in 2025, with the global average rising 70.8% from Q1 to Q4. The driver was a structural supply-demand imbalance created by accelerating production phase-down under environmental regulations on one side, and growing demand from refrigerant intermediate applications on the other. All three reporting regions recorded substantial gains, with the pace of increase accelerating through the second half of the year.
European TCE prices climbed from USD 1.193/KG in Q1 to USD 2.079/KG in Q4, a 74.3% full-year increase. The price rise was relatively gradual in Q1 and Q2 as existing inventory buffers absorbed the initial supply tightening. By Q3, available supply from EU-registered producers had declined sufficiently to generate a 31.8% quarterly jump. Q4 added a further 17.7% as year-end procurement demand converged with reduced availability. The pace of increase reflected the structural rather than cyclical nature of the supply constraint, with EU chemical regulatory frameworks accelerating the exit of marginal producers.
North American TCE rose from USD 1.950/KG in Q1 to USD 3.267/KG in Q4, a 67.5% full-year increase. The Q1 starting price already reflected a significant premium over other regions, consistent with the structurally constrained North American supply base. Q2 and Q3 saw accelerating increases of 13.0% and 27.7% respectively as refrigerant intermediate demand from HFO production expansion added to baseline industrial solvent consumption. Q4 added 16.0% as domestic supply failed to keep pace with combined degreasing and chemical intermediate demand. The North American market remained the most price-elevated of the three regions throughout 2025.
Northeast Asian TCE prices rose from USD 0.817/KG in Q1 to USD 1.418/KG in Q4, a 73.6% full-year increase. China's larger producer base supported a lower absolute price throughout the year, but the directional trajectory mirrored global trends. Q3 recorded the strongest quarterly jump at 31.4%, driven by environmental inspection-driven production disruptions and firming export demand. Q4 added 17.7% as supply conditions remained tight and domestic industrial demand held steady. The regional price gap with Western markets narrowed slightly over the year as global supply tightening transmitted into Northeast Asian pricing.
Procurement and Strategic Price Intelligence for Trichloroethylene
Expert Market Research provides real-time and forward-looking price intelligence for trichloroethylene across Europe, North America, and Northeast Asia. Our coverage supports procurement teams, chemical manufacturers, and industrial buyers in monitoring supply-demand dynamics, benchmarking contract prices, and planning for supply disruptions.
Expert Market Research provides real-time and forward-looking VMP price intelligence for trichloroethylene across Europe, North America, and Northeast Asia. Our coverage supports procurement teams, chemical manufacturers, and industrial buyers in monitoring supply-demand dynamics, benchmarking contract prices, and planning for supply disruptions linked to regulatory phase-down and refrigerant intermediate demand growth. Contact Expert Market Research today for TCE pricing data, bespoke market analysis, and strategic procurement advisory.
*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
Trichloroethylene is used as an industrial metal degreasing and cleaning solvent across aerospace, automotive, and precision engineering sectors. It also serves as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of HFO-1234yf, a low-global-warming-potential refrigerant used in automotive air conditioning systems.
In Q1 2026, European trichloroethylene averaged USD 2.111/KG, North American prices averaged USD 3.310/KG, and Northeast Asian prices averaged USD 1.430/KG, reflecting significant regional variation driven by supply concentration and regulatory differences.
The 2025 price surge reflected a structural supply-demand imbalance. Environmental regulations accelerated the phase-down of TCE production capacity in Europe and North America, while demand from HFO refrigerant intermediate production expanded. The combination drove the global average price up 70.8% over the year.
North America consistently recorded the highest TCE prices, reaching USD 3.310/KG in Q1 2026. The region's acute domestic supply concentration, limited import substitution options, and strong refrigerant intermediate demand sustain a substantial premium over European and Northeast Asian markets.
Trichloroethylene prices are expected to remain elevated, with North America in the USD 3.00-3.60/KG range, Europe in the USD 1.90-2.30/KG range, and Northeast Asia in the USD 1.30-1.60/KG range. Structural supply constraints from regulatory phase-down and steady refrigerant intermediate demand underpin the outlook.
Regulatory phase-down of TCE under EU and North American chemical management frameworks has reduced the number of active production sites, tightening supply. This structural constraint is the primary driver of the 2025-2026 price elevation. As registered production sites exit the market, remaining producers operate with greater pricing power, sustaining elevated benchmarks.
This report is updated monthly. For real-time pricing data, historical benchmarks, or custom procurement intelligence, contact the Expert Market Research team directly.
Trichloroethylene is classified as a likely human carcinogen by the US EPA and is subject to strict occupational exposure limits. In Europe, TCE is designated a substance of very high concern under REACH, requiring authorisation for continued industrial use. These frameworks have progressively reduced active production sites in Europe and North America, creating the structural supply tightening that drove the 2025 price surge.
HFO-1234yf is a next-generation automotive air conditioning refrigerant adopted to replace R-134a under greenhouse gas regulations. Trichloroethylene is a key chemical intermediate in the HFO-1234yf synthesis route. As automotive OEMs globally transitioned to HFO systems, TCE demand from this feedstock application expanded significantly, competing directly with industrial solvent demand and contributing to the acute supply tightness in North America.
Alternatives to TCE include n-propyl bromide (nPB), hydrofluoroethers (HFEs), modified alcohol systems, and aqueous cleaning processes. However, TCE's combination of solvency power, low boiling point, and non-flammability makes it difficult to replace in precision aerospace and automotive component cleaning. Switching costs include equipment modification, process revalidation, and regulatory documentation, which discourage rapid substitution and support demand stickiness even at elevated prices.
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