China's Acetone Market Reverses Decline and Rises

January 13th, news:

This week, the Chinese acetone market saw an upward shift, breaking away from the previous weak fluctuation pattern. According to monitoring data, on January 13, the market price slightly increased compared to last week. The mainstream price in East China rose from around 4,100 CNY/ton on January 7 to 4,350 CNY/ton on January 13, a 6.10% increase from last week, ending the downward trend since 2025 and signaling a warming of trading sentiment.

Marginal improvements on the demand side are providing upward momentum. Restocking by end-users and inventory-building needs from traders will continue to be released, while growing demand in emerging green sectors is becoming a new source of growth—bio-based acetone glycerol is accelerating its penetration into fields such as waterborne polyurethane coatings. In addition, operating rates in downstream industries like MIBK and MMA have slightly increased, and the incremental demand driven by essential needs is boosting trading activity.

Cost-side support. This week, the markets for propylene and pure benzene—the core raw materials for acetone—stabilized within a narrow range, alleviating downward pressure on cost support. As key raw materials in the cumene process for acetone production, the stabilization of their prices has eased cost pressures on enterprises, boosting the willingness of non-integrated companies to resume operations. Coupled with the resource integration and efficiency improvements achieved by China’s integrated refining and petrochemical enterprises, the stable supply of raw materials further enhances market confidence.

Supply-side potential contraction expectations have boosted market sentiment. Although China's total production capacity is high, recent short-term maintenance of some phenol and acetone facilities has led to a moderate operating rate in the industry, alleviating the pressure of oversupply; imported cargoes arriving at the end of 2025 are gradually being absorbed, reducing port inventory, and coupled with traders' reluctance to sell at low prices, the supply of circulating goods is tight, driving up quotes.

The quotation situation of acetone in major mainstream markets across China is as follows: