New prices offer greater transparency for key chemical markets
LONDON, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has launched new monthly price indexes for the domestic European ethylene and propylene markets, bringing greater transparency to these important chemical markets.
The new monthly Argus northwest Europe ethylene and Argus northwest Europe propylene indexes provide independent price references for the industry and were developed through discussions with market participants. Initially useful as a point of refence and to aid traditional monthly contract price (MCP) negotiations, the prices are designed to be suitable for adoption as an alternative to or in combination with existing benchmarks in pricing mechanisms.
The indexes are calculated using a transparent and publicly available (LINK) methodology. Each is based on a weighted combination of spot ethylene or propylene prices and spot cracker feedstock prices for naphtha, propane and butane, all assessed by Argus.
European ethylene and propylene MCPs have served as benchmarks for long-term contract pricing for decades. They are set through independent negotiations between industry participants, historically providing a baseline against which companies could negotiate their own contract prices, including discounts to the MCPs. But participation in these negotiations has declined, underscoring the need for innovative new pricing tools.
Beyond the ethylene and propylene markets, MCPs are also key benchmarks for many downstream value chains, including polymers and other chemical products. As a result, they ultimately influence the prices of a wide range of industrial and consumer goods.
Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said: “We are pleased to have worked closely with chemical market participants to develop a fresh approach to pricing. Our new indexes respond to reduced participation in the monthly contract price process and offer a fresh transparency which addresses a growing disconnect between contract prices and observed market values. Argus is committed to providing accurate, reliable and independent price assessments that bring clarity to complex and often opaque markets.”
Argus contact information
London: Seana Lanigan
+44 20 7780 4200
Email Seana
Houston: Liz Orr
+1 713 968 0000
Email Liz
Singapore: Tomoko Hashimoto
+65 6496 9960
Email Tomoko
About Argus Media
Argus is the leading independent provider of market intelligence to the global energy and commodity markets. We offer essential price assessments, news, analytics, consulting services, data science tools and industry conferences to illuminate complex and opaque commodity markets.
Headquartered in London with over 1,500 staff, Argus is an independent media organisation with 32 offices in the world’s principal commodity trading hubs.
Companies, trading firms and governments in 160 countries around the world trust Argus data to make decisions, analyse situations, manage risk, facilitate trading and for long-term planning. Argus prices are used as trusted benchmarks around the world for pricing transportation, commodities and energy.
Founded in 1970, Argus remains a privately held UK-registered company owned by employee shareholders and global growth equity firm General Atlantic.
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ARGUS, the Argus Logo, ARGUS MEDIA and ILLUMINATING THE MARKETS, Argus publication titles and index names are trademarks of Argus Media Limited. Visit Trademarks for more information.
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SOURCE Argus Media
