September 30 report:
According to SpotCom data, the price of acetic acid continued to rise in September. By September 30, the market price had increased to 4850 CNY/ton, up 1450 CNY/ton from the beginning of the month when it was 3400 CNY/ton, representing a 42.65% increase within the month.
In September, the acetic acid market in China showed a one-sided upward trend, with prices continuously rising. The strong performance of methanol prices, the continuous increase in costs, a reduction in the operating rate of acetic acid production, low inventory levels in enterprises, and good support from downstream operations during the peak demand season collectively contributed to the sustained rise in acetic acid prices.
Strong Cost Support: Influenced by geopolitical factors, methanol prices continued to rise in September. Rising raw material costs have increased production expenses for acetic acid producers, bolstering market sentiment and prompting them to raise their quoted prices.
Supply-side inventory is not high: In mid-to-late September, multiple acetic acid plants in China were shut down for maintenance or operating at reduced capacity, leading to a decrease in the acetic acid production rate. This has intensified the tightness of inventories, with some companies' inventories already at low levels. Prices have risen significantly, and the market sentiment is strongly supportive of further increases, driving the price center to continue moving upward.
Demand-side support is decent: Downstream operations are stable, with purchases mainly based on demand. Prices for downstream products such as acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate have also risen, and market news is pushing prices up, providing some support for acetic acid prices.
Market Outlook: With acetic acid inventories on the supply side remaining low and methanol prices holding firm, coupled with predominantly positive market sentiment, the acetic acid market is expected to stay at elevated levels in the short term. Looking ahead, as maintenance‑scheduled units come back online, supply is likely to increase; meanwhile, downstream demand may show reluctance toward higher prices. Consequently, the market is forecast to trade in a range at current high levels, with close attention to supply dynamics and downstream purchasing trends.
