Price trend

This week, the acrylic acid market remained stable overall amid a struggle between cost support and weak demand. Market sentiment tended to be cautiously optimistic. As of February 10, the benchmark price of acrylic acid from SunSirs was 6,116.67 RMB/ton, unchanged from the beginning of the month.

The state of "stability" is a typical result of a weak supply-demand balance, mainly reflected in two aspects:

On the cost side: Due to the persistently high price of propylene, the main raw material, the production cost of acrylic acid remained high. If the selling price falls further, producers will face losses; therefore, they are determined to stabilize prices, setting a clear "floor price" for the market. On February 10th, the benchmark price of propylene from SunSirs was 6,437.67 RMB/ton, an increase of 0.52% compared to the beginning of the month (6,404.33 RMB/ton).

On the demand side: Despite cost support, the recovery in end-market demand was slow. Downstream enterprises were generally taking a wait-and-see approach, only making purchases for immediate needs and not engaging in large-scale stockpiling. This weak demand acted as a "ceiling," suppressing price increases.

Market outlook

This fragile balance is expected to be disrupted by the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of 2026. The future market direction will depend on the interplay of several key variables:

1. The traditional peak season of "Golden March and Silver April" following March is crucial. If the recovery in the real estate and consumer goods markets leads to a stronger-than-expected rebound in downstream demand, prices are expected to break upwards.

2. Equipment that underwent maintenance earlier in the second quarter will resume production, and the output of new capacity will be released more fully. At that time, supply pressure will increase significantly, which may put downward pressure on prices.

3. The trend of international energy prices will directly reshape the cost line of acrylic acid. If crude oil prices show a trend change, it will disrupt the current cost balance.

In summary, the acrylic acid market showed initial signs of stabilization and even a partial recovery in early February, but the foundation was still weak. Market participants should remain flexible in short-term operations, avoid excessive expectations of one-sided market trends, and strictly control inventory levels. Medium- to long-term preparations should be made for potential trend-driven market movements in the second quarter, closely monitoring the actual evolution of the aforementioned key variables.

If you have any inquiries or purchasing needs, please feel free to contact SunSirs with support@sunsirs.com.