In March, the focus of the domestic acetone market mainly fell. The national acetone market has been trading at an average price of 6477 yuan/ton since March 1st, down to 6152 yuan/ton on March 31st, a decrease of 5.02%. From the perspective of the acetone market in East China alone, it rose from 6470 yuan/ton on March 1st to 6120 yuan/ton on March 31st, a decrease of 5.41%.

At the beginning of the month, imported and domestic cargo arrived at Jiangyin Port for replenishment, and the inventory at Jiangyin Port increased to 30000 tons. However, terminal factories did not show much enthusiasm for actively entering the market for replenishment, and most of them focused on digesting contracts. Traders faced significant shipping pressure, and upstream pure benzene fell significantly at the beginning of the month, making it difficult to support from the cost side. Under market pressure, the center of gravity quickly declined.
In the second half of the month, as the market continued to fall to the average price level, traders’ willingness to offer discounts on shipments weakened, and the market was temporarily deadlocked. Stimulated by the temporary shutdown of Sinopec Mitsui Phenol Ketone Plant due to a malfunction on the 19th, the supply side is expected to decrease, and traders are pushing up their offers accordingly. With a market mentality of buying up and not buying down, terminal factories quickly replenish their stocks, market trading improves, and offers rise accordingly. But after entering the next pricing cycle in the latter half of the month, pure benzene fell again, and the market’s wait-and-see atmosphere intensified. The acetone market fell again, and the market eased towards the end of the month, but it was difficult to increase volume in real trading.
In March, China’s acetone production was 280100 tons, an increase of 18200 tons from February 2025 and a month on month increase of 6.95%. In March, 10 sets of phenol ketone units were shut down for maintenance, resulting in a loss of 59400 tons of acetone. In March, China’s acetone production capacity utilization rate was 77.69%. It is expected that the production in April will remain stable at around 280000 tons.
It is expected that the acetone market will mainly fluctuate within a certain range in April, with little fluctuation in demand. The demand for bisphenol A will decline, while isopropanol and MIBK will not change much, resulting in a slightly weak overall demand. In terms of cost, pure benzene is in a weak operating state. In terms of supply, domestic production is basically stable, with a monthly output of 280000 tons. In terms of imports, the phenol ketone plant in Saudi Arabia may undergo maintenance. Except for a decrease in supply from the Middle East, other regions are basically stable. It is expected that the acetone market will mainly fluctuate within a certain range in April.