According to data from the SunSirs Spot Market, the price of acetic acid followed a trend of falling and then rising in August; as of August 31, the average market price stood at 3,310.00 RMB/ton—an increase of 86.67 RMB/ton from the 3,223.33 RMB/ton recorded at the beginning of the month, representing a monthly rise of 2.69%.

At the beginning of the month, the market faced sluggish demand and poor downstream follow-through, hindering shipments and causing inventory to build up in some regions; consequently, acetic acid prices retreated slightly. However, during the middle and latter parts of the month, supply tightened due to concentrated maintenance shutdowns at production facilities, and producers became more inclined to push for higher prices. Bolstered by robust export demand and rising costs of the feedstock methanol, acetic acid prices climbed steadily, marking a significant upward trend overall.

The methanol market saw a strong rally in August. As of August 31, the average market price stood at 3,096 RMB/ton, marking a 17.81% increase from the 2,628 RMB/ton recorded at the beginning of the month. Geopolitical tensions fueled expectations of reduced methanol imports, providing bullish support for port prices and bolstering market sentiment. Meanwhile, concentrated maintenance of domestic production facilities tightened local supply; high manufacturer confidence further drove prices upward, while low inventory levels kept prices elevated. Methanol—as a feedstock—provided strong support for acetic acid prices, creating a clearly favorable cost-side environment.

Market Outlook: Acetic acid producers hold low inventory levels, and market supply remains tight in the short term. With downstream buyers purchasing on an as-needed basis and expectations for the traditional peak season, market fundamentals are largely bullish. Acetic acid prices are expected to remain strong throughout September; key factors to watch include plant restarts and the pace of downstream buying.

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