Price Trends

This week, the acrylic acid spot market rebounded after halting its decline. Data monitored by SunSirs shows that as of June 16, the benchmark price for acrylic acid stood at 8,516.67 RMB/ton, marking a 2.00% increase from the beginning of the week (8,350.00 RMB/ton). The market's center of gravity shifted slightly upward.

Supply, Demand, and Cost Fundamentals

1. Cost Side

With the market price of the upstream raw material propylene trending downward, acrylic acid production costs lack strong support, and there is limited room for the industry to recover profit margins; consequently, manufacturers show little inclination to aggressively raise spot prices, meaning this round of price increases is not cost-driven. As of June 16, the benchmark price for propylene tracked by SunSirs stood at 8,667.67 RMB/ton, a decline of 5.11% compared to the beginning of the month (9,134.33 RMB/ton).

2. Demand Side

The primary driver behind the recent slight rise in prices is the emergence of essential demand from downstream sectors. Previously, downstream manufacturers of acrylates and specialty esters relied mainly on supplies secured through long-term contracts; however, as prices hovered at low levels, some end-users took the opportunity to restock. This led to a recovery in spot market trading and prompted suppliers to raise their offers in line with market trends, thereby lifting the overall price level. Nevertheless, the absence of large-scale, concentrated restocking—combined with limited demand growth—means there is insufficient momentum to drive a sharp surge in prices.

Market outlook

In the short term, the positive impact of essential restocking by downstream sectors is expected to persist, potentially keeping acrylic acid spot prices on a slightly firm trend; however, the lack of support from raw material costs and the absence of significant increases in overall downstream operating rates mean the market lacks the core drivers for a sustained, sharp rally.

From a medium- to long-term perspective, a sustained market recovery depends on a further release of downstream demand and the stabilization of raw material prices; conversely, once essential restocking concludes, the market may revert to a phase of fluctuation and consolidation.

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