Track Acetic Acid Price Index Historical and Forecast

Executive Summary

The global acetic acid market in 2024-2025 has experienced a mix of cost-driven stability, downstream demand weakness, and region-specific supply fluctuations. Across major economies, pricing movements remain closely tied to methanol feedstock trends, operating rates, construction-linked consumption, and trade flow adjustments. Markets such as North America and Europe recorded notable declines in early 2025 due to weak downstream sectors including vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), purified terephthalic acid (PTA), and acetate esters. Meanwhile, APAC-primarily China and Japan-faced oversupply, cautious downstream procurement, and intermittent production changes that shaped quarterly performance.

For Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025), regional trends diverged: North America witnessed a 12.23% decline, APAC saw a marginal 0.48% increase, and Europe recorded a 1.97% rise supported by steady feedstock and balanced inventories. MEA saw a 3.14% decline, reflecting adequate availability and weaker export volumes.

Feedstock methanol remained a central influence across the board, with easing benchmarks reducing cost support. Economic uncertainty, construction-sector fragility, and downstream inventory discipline continue to define the market trajectory heading into 2026. The outlook remains cautious but stable, with range-bound pricing expected in most regions barring any supply disruptions or significant demand revival.

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Introduction

Acetic acid is one of the most widely used industrial chemicals, forming a critical feedstock for numerous derivative chains including VAM, PTA, acetate esters, and acetic anhydride. Its applications span construction, textiles, packaging, paints and coatings, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, food, agrochemicals, and automotive sectors. As a result, acetic acid pricing is highly sensitive to fluctuations in industrial activity, construction growth, energy costs, and availability of feedstock methanol.

Global Price Overview

Across all major regions, global acetic acid prices remained under pressure due to persistent oversupply and weak downstream demand. Methanol, the primary feedstock, also followed a neutral-to-soft trajectory through most of 2024-2025, limiting upward cost pressure on acetic acid producers.

Key Global Themes:

Downstream weakness in VAM, PTA, acetate esters, textiles, and construction declined procurement.
Balanced or ample inventories in China, Europe, and MEA kept spot markets subdued.
Production cost easing occurred due to soft methanol benchmarks, especially in North America and APAC.
Logistics and freight impacts influenced regional competitiveness, particularly in Europe due to rising Chinese freight rates.
Plant shutdowns and maintenance cycles in APAC contributed to temporary tightness but failed to significantly boost prices.
Macro and geopolitical pressures suppressed industrial activity across Europe and China, affecting derivative chains.
With the exception of specific quarters where supply adjustments briefly strengthened sentiment, most regions reported flat-to-soft pricing, signaling a fundamentally balanced-to-oversupplied market.

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Regional Analysis

North America

Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

North America recorded a 12.23% quarter-over-quarter drop in the Acetic Acid Price Index, largely due to:

Weak demand from coatings, adhesives, PTA, and VAM applications.
Lower production costs thanks to softened global methanol benchmarks.
Tariff-driven import adjustments and stable Gulf Coast plant operations.
Limited export traction despite balanced supply at major ports.
Merchant spot trading remained thin due to inventory builds and passive procurement cycles.
Average Q3 2025 price: USD 397/MT, FOB Texas

Downstream construction activity remained a drag on VAM and adhesive industries, keeping buyer sentiment restrained. Sellers faced margin pressure as cost support weakened due to falling methanol pricing. Even as port operations remained smooth, domestic inventory overhang prevented any strong rebound in spot values.

Why did prices change in September 2025 in North America?

Methanol price softness reduced cost support.
Construction-linked weakness decreased offtake.
Import tariffs influenced trade patterns but tightened merchant availability.
Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

Prices in the U.S. stabilized near USD 465/MT FOB Texas, supported by:

Balanced output despite soft spot demand.
Eased cost structures from methanol price reductions (Methanex dropped from USD 832 to 778/MT).
Producer preference for margin protection over aggressive price cuts.
Steady export demand for intermediates, especially butyl acetate.

Q2 Price Outlook

Prices were projected to rise moderately in July 2025 due to:

Gulf Coast plant maintenance.
Stronger export demand.
Tightening supply during maintenance cycles.

Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

Q1 saw a consistent decline, with prices averaging USD 625/MT FOB Texas, marking:

13.3% quarterly drop
4.9% year-on-year drop

Key drivers:

Weak downstream activity from VAM, PTA, and acetates.
Cost stability due to steady methanol and natural gas prices.
Slightly reduced operating rates to offset high inventories.
Freight delays and international trade disruptions.
Lackluster restocking despite minor interest in March.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

Prices averaged USD 700-730/MT, showing:

Range-bound performance due to weak construction and PTA/VAM demand.
Slightly reduced operating rates.
Stable but unremarkable exports.
Manufacturing slowdown in the U.S., with rising input costs and weaker export performance.

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

In APAC-particularly Japan-the Acetic Acid Price Index rose 0.48% Q/Q, supported by:

Stable domestic supply.
Balanced spot market.
Narrow price ranges due to steady imports and domestic flows.
Logistics stability and normal vessel schedules.
Cautious VAM and PTA procurement.

Average Q3 2025 price: USD 633.33/MT

Despite stable operations, weak industrial demand and muted downstream restocking limited bullish momentum.

Why did prices change in September 2025 in APAC?

Stable methanol and energy costs removed upward cost pressure.
Imports remained steady, enabling full plant utilization.
Industrial demand remained muted, keeping the Price Index constrained.

Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

In China, prices declined to USD 353/MT FOB Qingdao due to:

Lack of overseas inquiries from India and SE Asia.
High domestic inventories.
Buyer resistance to higher CFR levels.
Despite plant outages (Celanese, Jiangsu Sopo), demand softness prevailed.

Q2 Price Outlook (July 2025)

Expected moderate recovery driven by:

Reduced operating rates.
Seasonal pharmaceutical and agrochemical-sector demand.
Tight inland inventories.

Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

Prices averaged USD 385/MT, slightly up from Q4 2024 but down year-on-year:

Temporary tightness from shutdowns in January.
High inventories and hand-to-mouth procurement kept gains limited.
PTA, acetate esters, and anhydride industries maintained minimal procurement.
Planned capacity expansions reduced price resilience.
Export volumes increased to offset domestic oversupply.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

China's acetic acid prices averaged USD 350-400/MT, reflecting:

Oversupply.
Weak acetate and VAM demand.
Pressure from construction and real estate downturns.
Slight November recovery on reduced production.
Overall, APAC remained the most oversupplied region globally.

Europe

Q3 2025 (Quarter Ending September 2025)

Germany recorded a 1.97% Q/Q increase due to:

Stable methanol feedstock pricing.
Balanced inventories.
Stable, steady packaging demand.
Plant turnarounds providing minor support.
Logistics constraints at Hamburg influencing spot transactions.

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Average Q3 2025 price: USD 586.67/MT

Why did prices change in September 2025 in Europe?

Flat methanol costs maintained cost parity.
Weak construction demand limited restocking.
Balanced inventories suppressed speculative buying.
Intra-EU trade remained steady but unspectacular.

Q2 2025 (Quarter Ending June 2025)

Germany averaged USD 630/MT FD Hamburg:

Steady Belgian imports.
Stable methanol costs.
Weak coatings and adhesives demand.
Lean inventories kept spot movement minimal.
Price Outlook for July 2025

Prices expected to edge upward due to:

Rising Chinese freight rates.
Restricted Asian supply tightening replacement costs.
Q1 2025 (Quarter Ending March 2025)

Prices averaged EUR 700/MT, marking a:

15.2% quarterly decline.
9.3% year-on-year decline.
Key drivers:

Weak construction-linked demand.
Ample supply from U.S. imports.
Low pricing power for producers.
Declining Eurozone manufacturing activity.
Tariff tensions with the U.S. restricting confidence.

Q4 2024 (Quarter Ending December 2024)

Q4 2024 saw further decline due to:

Weak coatings demand.
Severe construction sector contraction.
Rising methanol prices failing to lift acetic acid due to oversupply.
Sluggish factory output and demand across the Eurozone.

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Production and Cost Structure Insights

Across all regions, methanol feedstock trends were the most influential cost driver. With methanol prices generally stable to lower across 2024-2025, production cost support remained soft. Energy and labor costs contributed moderately but lacked major volatility.

Key observations:

NA and APAC cost structures eased with falling methanol values.
Europe saw stable costs but limited ability to pass them downstream.
MEA benefited from low energy tariffs and integrated methanol supply, enhancing cost efficiency.
Procurement Behavior Trends

Procurement behavior across regions was shaped by:

Lean inventory management.
Preference for hand-to-mouth buying.
Avoidance of long-term commitments amid volatile demand.
Minimal speculative buying in all major derivatives.
Restricted restocking cycles, especially in coatings and textiles.
In regions like APAC and North America, downstream hesitancy led to significant spot liquidity reduction.

Logistics and Trade Flow Impacts

Freight rates played a crucial role in Europe, where rising inbound costs from Asia impacted replacement values.
Transatlantic freight reductions boosted Germany's competitive imports in Q1.
APAC experienced normal vessel activity in Q3 2025, helping stabilize supply.
Gulf Coast (U.S.) logistics remained stable, aiding consistent export flows.
MEA maintained uninterrupted logistics with smooth domestic and export operations.
Procurement Outlook

Heading into late 2025 and early 2026:

Pricing is expected to remain range-bound.
Cost pressures will likely stay mild due to soft global methanol benchmarks.
Construction-led demand recovery remains uncertain.
Agrochemical, pharmaceutical, and packaging sectors will continue providing baseline support.
Oversupply in APAC and Europe is expected to prevent sharp upswings.
Plant maintenance and temporary supply disruptions could create short-lived bullish sentiment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Why are acetic acid prices declining globally?
Because of oversupply, high inventories, weak construction-linked demand, and soft methanol feedstock prices.

Which region has shown the most price stability?
Europe has shown relative stability due to balanced inventories and stable packaging demand, despite weak construction.

How does methanol impact acetic acid prices?
Methanol is the key feedstock. When methanol prices fall, acetic acid production costs drop, limiting upward price movement.

What sectors are driving demand in 2025?
Packaging, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and adhesives remain steady contributors, while construction and textiles lag.

What is the outlook for Q4 2025 and early 2026?
Range-bound pricing is expected, with limited upside unless downstream demand improves significantly.

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This release was published on openPR.