Acetic Acid Prices – Historical Graph
- The average price in the past 3 days is
- The average price in the past 7 days is
- The average price in the past 30 days is
- The average price in the past 365 days is
Popular questions about acetic acid prices:
Acetic Acid Prices Explained
Acetic acid prices benefit from the strong demand from construction, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Additionally, the rising cost of methanol (principal acetic acid feedstock) greatly contributes to its surging prices, particularly in the U.S. Furthermore, the elevated crude oil prices and the consistent demand from downstream sectors such as Ethyl and Butyl acetate significantly support its strong market.
Thus, this large utilization from global industries influences the varying acetic acid prices.
Why are acetic acid prices fluctuating?
1. Production Cost
Generally, production expenses significantly influenced acetic acid prices. The need for raw materials such as methanol and carbon dioxide, utility, equipment and technology requirements, labor, packaging, and transportation all reflect its manufacturing costs. Additionally, acetic acid production requires extensive use of energy which contributes to higher prices for acetic acid to maintain profitability.
2. Material Cost
Acetic acid prices rely on raw materials like methanol and acetaldehyde. Any supply, demand, and cost changes of these directly impact the cost of its production and final market price.
3. Global Demand
When demand for acetic acid outpaces supply, it creates imbalance and surging of its global prices. It is a critical raw material used in the production of textiles, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. Therefore, the various needs of these sectors influence the volatility of acetic acid prices.
4. Geopolitical Condition
Location affects the availability of resources essential for acetic acid production. For instance, resource access or trade restriction disrupt the production process, affecting supply and ultimately influencing its prices. Moreover, trade conflicts between nations affect its costs by altering the accessibility of imported acetic acid.
Which variables impact the price of acetic acid?
- Supply and Demand
- Production Cost
- Global Demand
- Geopolitical Condition
- Currency Exchange
- Material Cost
- Trading Activities
Where does acetic acid come from?
Acetic acid is an organic compound that is colorless and acidic. Additionally, it occurs naturally through the excretion of specific bacteria. These bacteria are present in food, water, and soil. This commodity is produced in many ways:
1. Ethanol Sources – the fermentation process begins with an ethanol source that comes from various organic materials such as fruits, grains, sugarcane, or other fermentable sugars.
2. Acetic Acid Bacteria – the ethanol is exposed to acetic acid bacteria, like genera Acetobacter and Gluconobacter. These bacteria convert ethanol into acetic acid.
3. Oxidation – acetic acid bacteria metabolize ethanol by employing enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase which enables the oxidation process. This results in the conversion of ethanol to acetic acid.
4. Formation of Vinegar – combining acetic acid and water results in the creation of vinegar. It is a dilute acetic acid solution that typically contains around 4-8% acetic acid, depending on the type of vinegar.
5. Aeration – acetic acid bacteria require oxygen for the conversion of ethanol to acetic acid. Oxygen is introduced into the fermentation vessel to support bacterial growth and the oxidation reactions.
What is the future price of acetic acid?
Its integral role in manufacturing diverse chemicals and materials like vinyl acetate, monomer acetic anhydride, and acetate esters propel its market growth. Also, it finds considerable application in the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care sectors, textiles, automotive, and construction which put up its marketability.
The emerging demand for sustainable solutions poses glacial acetic acid to a sales of USD 16521.8 million by 2034, with APAC (Asia Pacific) as the largest share in the market. Rapid industrialization and increasing demand from end-user industries boost the market in the region. Asia’s chemical sector utilizes glacial acetic acid to manufacture Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA, a bio-based feedstock and substitute for crude oil) in textile and packaging.
On the flip side, the commodity gains significant traction in the U.S. due to the production of VAM (vinyl acetate monomer) as the country’s construction and home improvement industry shows robust demand and stabilized supply chains.
Thus, market analysts projected that the global acetic acid market will reach a value of $14.2 billion by 2025 and its 2030 price will fall within a range of $600-$1000 per metric ton.