According to the Commodity Market Analysis System of Shengyi Society, as of December 30th, the average price of acetic acid was 2970 yuan/ton, a decrease of 10 yuan/ton or 0.34% compared to the price of 2980 yuan/ton on December 21st.

In late December, the acetic acid market fluctuated, with enterprise quotations rising first and then falling. On the supply side, the utilization rate of domestic production capacity has decreased, and factories in East China have reduced load and short-term shutdowns, supporting the strong rise in acetic acid prices. However, in the later stage, due to the end of long-term contracts, some manufacturers’ shipments weakened, and market prices were adjusted downward.

The upstream methanol market fluctuated at a high level. From December 21st to 30th, the average domestic market price increased from 2675.83 yuan/ton to 2745.83 yuan/ton, with an overall increase of 2.61%. In late December, some areas in China experienced rainy and snowy weather, leading to an increase in shipping costs and supporting the exploration of methanol prices. At the same time, due to the expected reduction in imported supply and the expected shutdown of the Southwest Gas Head Methanol Plant, the port methanol inventory has entered the destocking channel, and the market’s bullish sentiment is strong, driving the domestic methanol market price to rise slightly.

The downstream acetic anhydride market saw a narrow rise, with the average ex factory price of acetic anhydride on December 30th at 4995.00 yuan/ton, an increase of 0.25% compared to the price of 4982.50 yuan/ton on December 21st. The upstream acetic acid market is in a stalemate, with limited cost of acetic anhydride. Downstream demand is the main factor, and the market transaction atmosphere is still acceptable. The supply and demand in the market are relatively balanced, and the price of acetic anhydride is stabilizing.

In terms of future predictions, analysts at Shengyi Society believe that there is currently little sales pressure on supply side manufacturers, with some companies experiencing a decrease in inventory and a slight increase in market prices; Downstream investors are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, and their enthusiasm for entering the market has increased. The trading atmosphere in the market has improved, and it is expected that the short-term acetic acid market may be strong and rise. We will pay attention to the follow-up situation of downstream investors in the future.