Orthoxylene and Phthalic Anhydride: 2025 Market Review and 2026 Outlook
Market Overview: A Year of Weak Demand and Shifting Dynamics
Throughout 2025, the orthoxylene and phthalic anhydride markets were shaped by three persistent forces: structurally weak downstream demand, volatile energy and aromatics costs, and steady shifts in trade and policy frameworks. Although occasional pulses of activity emerged, demand for plasticizers, unsaturated polyester resins, and related applications rarely moved beyond a “okay but not great” trajectory in both the Americas and Europe. The second half of the year was especially underwhelming, with sentiment notably more pessimistic in Europe.
