In March 2025, the European ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) market showed a relatively stable situation, with limited price fluctuations. At the beginning of this month, the market had shown a slight upward trend, but then trading activity dropped sharply. Behind this phenomenon lies the generally cautious attitude of buyers across Europe, who are deeply concerned about the uncertainty of future market demand and are closely monitoring the dynamic changes in trade conditions.
According to feedback from market participants, although the overall market atmosphere is relatively calm, there has been a certain degree of growth in the demand for medium acetic acid vinyl acetate (MEVA) film-grade EVA used for agricultural films. This is mainly due to the seasonal increase in demand for related materials in the agriculture and horticulture industries as they prepare for the spring production peak. However, most European buyers remain cautious, purchasing only based on current actual needs and are unwilling to stockpile EVA in large quantities.
Looking ahead to April, demand in the EVA market is expected to remain sluggish, while supply is unlikely to face significant issues. Previously, a major production base in France experienced a production disruption, which once sparked concerns about supply shortages. Fortunately, other manufacturers promptly adjusted their production plans, maintaining stable output and successfully avoiding a significant supply shortage, thereby ensuring the supply-demand balance in the European EVA market.
As an important consumer sector for EVA, the packaging industry has shown weak demand. Since February, the demand from this sector for EVA has been on a downward trend, which continued into March. Winter has traditionally been a slack season for the packaging industry's demand for EVA, and this year was no exception. Additionally, the news that the U.S. might impose additional tariffs on European export products added more uncertainty to the market, making buyers more cautious when making bulk purchases of EVA.
The recently released Q4 2024 report from Dow Chemical (DOW) also highlights the challenges faced by the market. The report indicates a decline in net sales for its Packaging and Specialty Plastics division. While demand in the industrial and consumer packaging sectors has shown improvement, falling prices for polyethylene and functional polymers in regions like Asia-Pacific have significantly negatively impacted overall sales.
The price research team at ChemAnalyst analyzed that due to the stable EVA prices in March and the continued weak market demand, the EVA market is expected to maintain a steady trend in the short term, with a low likelihood of significant price increases. Adjustments in global trade policies and changes in the economic landscape remain key factors influencing the EVA market. In the coming months, these factors will continue to impact the market demand and price trends for EVA. Although seasonal factors in sectors like agriculture may provide some stimulus to the market, the overall market activity is not expected to see a significant improvement as both buyers and sellers remain cautious amid an uncertain economic outlook.
