SunSirs: Domestic Polyacrylamide Market Prices Continued to Rise in March

Market Trends:

According to the commodity market analysis system of SunSirs, the prevailing domestic market prices for polyacrylamide (CPAM—cationic, with a molecular weight of 12 million and an ionicity of 10–30%) rose in March. As of the 30th, the mainstream market quotation stood at approximately 13,660 RMB/ton—an increase of 5.4% compared to the 12,960 RMB/ton recorded at the beginning of the month. The price of the key raw material, acrylonitrile, surged significantly this month; this sustained rise in production costs emerged as the primary driver behind the upward price trend, compelling manufacturers to repeatedly raise their product quotations and thereby sustaining the upward trajectory of mainstream polyacrylamide market prices.

Market analysis

The production of polyacrylamide relies fundamentally on upstream raw materials such as acrylonitrile. In March, the market price of acrylonitrile surged significantly; as of March 30, the average price stood at 11,366.67 RMB/ton—a 60.09% increase compared to the 7,100 RMB/ton recorded on March 1. Escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and heightened risks to maritime navigation have sparked market concerns regarding energy supplies. Consequently, the cost of propylene—a key feedstock for acrylonitrile—has risen in tandem. Compounded by apprehensions regarding propane supplies from the Middle East and rising logistics costs, the raw material sector is currently providing strong, rigid support to acrylonitrile prices. Driven by the recent sharp rise in prices and the subsequent recovery in profit margins, some acrylonitrile production facilities have postponed scheduled maintenance and ramped up output; however, certain downstream enterprises in the acrylic fiber and ABS sectors are currently operating at reduced production loads.

On the downstream side, with the implementation of spring-season municipal sewage treatment upgrade projects and the tightening of industrial wastewater discharge standards, there has been a rise in rigid demand for high-molecular-weight, high-ionicity polyacrylamide across sectors such as municipal sludge dewatering, papermaking, and chemicals. Concurrently, downstream sewage treatment plants and traders have collectively unleashed their demand for inventory stocking. This confluence of factors has created a "growing demand + contracting supply" tight-balance scenario, thereby underpinning an upward trend in polyacrylamide prices.

Market Outlook

Regarding upstream acrylonitrile producers, Jilin Petrochemical plans to conduct scheduled maintenance on its 684,000-ton/year acrylonitrile facility from mid-April to mid-May; operating rates are expected to drop to 60–70%, potentially leading to a reduction in acrylonitrile supply. Furthermore, given that the energy supply crisis—triggered by short-term geopolitical conflicts—remains unresolved, prices for polyacrylamide are projected to continue rising in April.

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