New monthly prices for bioethylene, biopropylene, biobutadiene, and biobenzene set to transform decision-making across chemicals value chain

Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has launched the world’s first price benchmarks for key biochemicals — including bioethylene, biopropylene, biobutadiene, and biobenzene — providing much-needed transparency to an emerging market critical to the chemical industry’s decarbonization journey.

The launch comes at a pivotal moment as the global chemical sector accelerates its shift away from fossil fuel-based products in order to meet net-zero commitments, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advance circularity goals. By offering a clear reference point for pricing, Argus aims to help producers, consumer goods companies, automotive manufacturers, and plastics end-users plan investments and build resilient supply chains in a market that has so far been dominated by bilateral, opaque deals.

Argus already assesses premiums for bionaphtha and biopropane over their fossil fuel counterparts on a daily basis. These inputs are now being used to calculate finished biochemical prices, which will be published monthly — consistent with traditional chemical industry pricing practices.

“The importance of biochemicals is set to grow significantly, even though they are only a small proportion of total chemicals consumption today,” said Adrian Binks, Chairman and Chief Executive of Argus Media. “By providing transparency at this early stage in the market’s development, these new calculated prices will help companies allocate resources as they address sustainability mandates. We are proud to have worked with the industry to create these new pricing tools and look forward to expanding the range as the market matures.”

The new suite of biochemical benchmarks is designed to do more than just report prices. It provides greater visibility into the market’s cost structure, enabling companies to manage risk, negotiate supply contracts more effectively, and make informed strategic decisions on scaling up bio-based production.

The initiative leverages Argus’ long-standing expertise in biofuels, feedstocks, and chemicals markets, positioning the company at the intersection of the energy transition and the next wave of industrial innovation. As biochemicals gain traction as a key enabler of sustainable manufacturing, these benchmarks are expected to play a critical role in guiding both short-term procurement and long-term capital allocation.