Market Trends:
According to the SunSirs commodity market analysis system, the domestic market price for polyacrylamide (CPAM—cationic, molecular weight of 12 million, 10–30% ionic degree) saw a slight increase in August. On the 27th, the prevailing market quote was around 14,000 RMB/ton, up 0.29% from the 13,960 RMB/ton recorded at the beginning of the month.
Polyacrylamide production relies heavily on upstream raw materials such as acrylonitrile. In August, the acrylonitrile market exhibited an "M-shaped" trend, recording a slight overall increase; as of August 27, the average price stood at 11,433 RMB/ton, up 2.69% from 11,133 RMB/ton on August 1. Currently, supply in the northern market is expected to rise as the Tianchen Qixiang and Haijiang facilities gradually resume operations and additional capacity is planned for September; consequently, with market supply increasing, buying interest remains cautious.
On the downstream side, September is a month of routine, traditional demand for water treatment chemicals; while there is essential demand from sectors such as sewage treatment, municipal sludge dewatering, and industrial wastewater treatment, the market as a whole has not experienced a surge in volume. As summer progressed, municipal sewage treatment plants maintained stable operations and sludge disposal enterprises kept up normal production, resulting in sustained consumption of cationic polyacrylamide. Although industries such as papermaking and textile printing and dyeing have essential needs for wastewater treatment, overall operating rates saw limited growth due to factors like high-temperature-related power restrictions and periodic maintenance shutdowns in certain regions; consequently, raw material procurement volumes did not increase significantly. Downstream customers generally adopted conservative procurement strategies, mostly adhering to an "on-demand" approach—purchasing and using supplies as needed while drawing down existing inventories—rather than engaging in large-scale stockpiling or advance purchasing.
Market Outlook:
As September begins and high temperatures gradually subside, operating rates for municipal wastewater treatment and industrial enterprises are expected to rebound. Coupled with expectations of traditional "Golden September" restocking by some downstream firms, the polyacrylamide market receives some positive support; however, uncertainty regarding upstream raw material trends—specifically a potential pullback in the acrylonitrile market—limits the support for polyacrylamide prices. Overall, market supply remains ample, and there are currently no signs of large-scale stockpiling by downstream end-users; the pace of demand recovery remains the key driver of market trends. Consequently, the domestic market for cationic polyacrylamide is expected to undergo a period of consolidation with fluctuating prices throughout September.
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