Cost Pressures Persist as Supply-Demand Tug-of-War Continues in the Acrylic Acid Market (Sep 20, 2026)

1. Executive Summary

① Acrylic acid prices in East China stood at 8,150 RMB/ton, unchanged from the previous working day.

② The average capacity utilization rate of the domestic acrylic acid industry was 73.2%, an increase of 1.60% compared to the previous working day.

2. Spot Market Overview

Table 1: Domestic Acrylic Acid Price Summary (Unit: RMB/ton)

Data Source: Chempricehub

Today, the price of acrylic acid in East China remained flat at 8,150 RMB/ton compared to the previous working day. The market traded within a narrow range. Raw material costs continued to decline slightly, easing pressure on the cost side. Trading activity within the market was lackluster; producers maintained stable sentiment and quoted steady prices, while traders showed strong willingness to sell, adjusting quotes flexibly according to market trends. Downstream users primarily consumed contract inventory, with some placing small orders based on rigid demand. There was no significant fluctuation in the center of gravity for actual transaction negotiations. In the short term, the market is expected to trade sideways. Future developments will depend on downstream follow-up purchasing and raw material price trends.

3. Production Dynamics

Today's capacity utilization rate for acrylic acid was 73.2%, up by 1.60% from the previous working day. Profit margins for acrylic acid in East China reached 227.5 RMB/ton, an increase of 17.75 RMB/ton from the previous day.

4. Price Forecast

The acrylic acid market is expected to dip slightly tomorrow as cost-side pressure continues to ease and support weakens. Producers maintain stable sentiment with firm quoting, while traders show clear intent to liquidate inventory, adjusting offers flexibly to market conditions, leading to a general downward trend in quotations. Downstream users continue to focus on digesting contract inventories, with only limited replenishment driven by rigid demand. Although trading atmosphere has warmed slightly, the center of gravity for actual transactions is trending lower. Overall, the acrylic acid market is expected to remain weakly oriented in the short term.

5. Related Products Status

Propylene: Today, mainstream closing references for propylene in Shandong were 9,570–9,700 RMB/ton, with an average price of 9,635 RMB/ton, down by 40 RMB/ton from the previous working day. As propylene prices continued to offer discounts, participants took advantage of low levels to moderately restock, boosting trading sentiment and prompting enterprises to raise quotes accordingly. However, downstream enthusiasm for chasing higher prices was limited, and actual order absorption appeared somewhat weak, restricting the upside potential for transaction centers.

Butyl Acrylate: Negotiated prices for butyl acrylate in East China ranged from 9,850 to 9,950 RMB/ton, a decrease of 50 RMB/ton from the previous working day. Butyl acrylate prices declined within a narrow range today. While n-butanol raw material prices remained stable within their range, cost pressures for butyl acrylate stayed high. Some holders adjusted quotes flexibly to facilitate sales. Downstream users, including tape master roll manufacturers and acrylic emulsion plants, adopted a cautious wait-and-see approach, limiting market entry and purchases. Trading was primarily characterized by case-by-case negotiations, resulting in a slight downward shift in the market's transaction center.

6. Data Calendar

Table 4: Domestic Acrylic Acid Data Overview

Data Source: Chempricehub
Remarks:
1. ↓↑ indicates significant fluctuations, highlighting data dimensions with changes exceeding 3%.
2. ↗↘ indicates narrow-range fluctuations, highlighting data dimensions with changes within 0–3%.