Udeesha Tomar
AVP - Strategy and Solutions
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Acetonitrile Price Trend Analysis 2026: Historical Prices, Price Drivers, Market Insights, Supply Demand Analysis & Latest News
Written ByUdeesha Tomar
Acetonitrile Price Trend Q1 2026
| Product | Region | Incoterm Basis | Price | Last Updated Month |
| Acetonitrile | China | FOB | USD 1,438.63/MT | April 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | USA | CIF | USD 1,525.63/MT | April 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | Germany | CIF | USD 1,564.91/MT | April 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | India | CIF | USD 1,488.63/MT | April 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | Japan | CIF | USD 1,474.63/MT | April 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | China | FOB | USD 1,240.00/MT | March 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | USA | CIF | USD 1,327.00/MT | March 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | Germany | CIF | USD 1,322.00/MT | March 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | India | CIF | USD 1,295.00/MT | March 2026 |
| Acetonitrile | Japan | CIF | USD 1,276.00/MT | March 2026 |
Stay updated with the latest Acetonitrile prices, historical data, and tailored regional analysis
- Global acetonitrile prices followed a muted-to-modestly-recovering trajectory in Q1 2026, with seasonal post-holiday restocking providing limited support after a soft close to 2025, while supply discipline from producers kept the market from slipping further.
- Feedstock ammonia displayed mixed trends, soft market conditions domestically through January-February, but tightening sharply by March as Middle East conflict disrupted ~20–30% of global ammonia trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively cutting off exports from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran.
- Downstream demand remained anchored to pharmaceutical HPLC and API synthesis, with agrochemical buying staying cautious. Acetonitrile demand remained muted as pharmaceutical restocking offset softer industrial and international buying interest.
Asia
In China, soft domestic ammonia costs through January provided producers with cost relief, but oversupply from high operating rates and weak export inquiry capped any upside. Post Chinese New Year restocking lifted activity modestly in February, though buyers remained selective. China's liquid ammonia exports surged in January–February, reflecting redirection of supply away from Middle East-disrupted routes, which compressed domestic ammonia availability toward March and nudged acetonitrile production costs upward. In India, steady pharmaceutical and API sector procurement underpinned demand through the quarter. Jindal Specialty Chemicals' capacity expansion added to local supply, keeping import dependency in check and limiting import-led price pressure from China.
Europe
The acetonitrile price curve recorded a fluctuating trajectory in the first quarter of 2026. Throughout the period, European buyers maintained cautious procurement strategies, with delayed purchasing decisions amid macroeconomic headwinds and slow industrial activity. Export demand from India and Europe softened, limiting the upside while traders offered narrower FOB margins. The tightening of international ammonia supply from the Middle East added a modest cost-push signal toward quarter-end, but insufficient to reverse the broadly flat-to-soft pricing tone in the region.
North America
In Q1’26, the acetonitrile markets witnessed mixed price movements in the North American region. Increased production and port inventories eased tightness in late 2025, with higher acrylonitrile operating rates lifting variable costs modestly while normalized freight reduced transportation premiums. Into Q1 2026, the US market stabilized with pharmaceutical and HPLC-grade demand providing a consistent floor. Gulf Coast acrylonitrile plant operations ran at full capacity, and logistics remained smooth, supporting supply sufficiency. However, broader industrial demand remained underwhelming, preventing any firm price recovery.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, with Middle East ammonia supply disruptions deepening into Q2 2026, production costs for acetonitrile are expected to edge up.
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Asia
The Asian acetonitrile market exhibited mixed price movements during the fourth quarter, influenced primarily by feedstock propylene cost dynamics through the ammoxidation production process. Prices declined during the first half as upstream cost support remained limited amid international oil market volatility and structural oversupply concerns affecting propylene availability. Downstream pharmaceutical manufacturers and agrochemical producers maintained cautious procurement strategies, operating under margin pressure and limiting restocking activity. Battery electrolyte applications demonstrated measured consumption levels, while analytical chemistry solvent demand stayed subdued. The chemical intermediates sector showed reduced buying interest as operating rates moderated across derivative facilities. During the second half, prices recorded a slight recovery as the market adjusted to earlier declines and selective downstream restocking emerged. However, the rebound proved modest as fundamental pressures persisted. By quarter-end, prices stabilized within a narrow range as supply-demand balances achieved temporary equilibrium, with pharmaceutical and specialty chemical sectors maintaining need-based purchasing approaches.
Europe
European acetonitrile markets broadly resembled Asian trends during the fourth quarter. The period began with softer pricing as feedstock propylene costs via ammoxidation remained contained, and downstream momentum stayed limited. Demand from pharmaceutical manufacturing and analytical laboratory applications reflected measured buying interest, while the agrochemical sector procurement remained cautious. Battery electrolyte producers demonstrated stable but uninspiring consumption patterns. During the latter portion, prices showed mild recovery before transitioning into a stable phase. Overall volatility was contained as the market moved from early weakness to relative stability by period-end, with chemical intermediates and solvent applications generating consistent baseline demand.
North America
North American acetonitrile prices followed a trajectory comparable to other global markets during the fourth quarter. Initial softness during the first half reflected balanced-to-ample supply conditions as feedstock propylene availability through ammoxidation processes remained adequate. Moderate demand from the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and specialty chemical sectors characterized the period. Mid-quarter adjustments provided limited upward movement, though gains were not sustained as downstream consumption stayed measured. By quarter-close, prices had stabilized, aligning with broader global patterns of contained recovery and consolidation across battery electrolyte and analytical chemistry applications.
About Acetonitrile
Acetonitrile is a colorless, volatile liquid organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CN. It is a versatile solvent widely used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, chemical synthesis, and analytical laboratories. Acetonitrile has a distinctive odor and is miscible with water and many organic solvents.
Its key properties include a relatively high boiling point, low viscosity, and excellent solvent power, making it efficient for dissolving polar and non-polar substances. Moreover, it exhibits good stability and is relatively non-reactive under standard conditions. However, caution is required during handling and storage, as acetonitrile is flammable and toxic when ingested or inhaled.
Acetonitrile Product Detail
Hs Code
29269000
Chemical Formula
C2H3N
Molecular Weight
41.05 g/mol
Industrial Uses
Fuel additive production, Specialty solvents, Photographic industry, Extraction processes, Chemical synthesis, Electronics manufacturing
Synonyms
Ethanenitrile, Methyl cyanide
Supplier Database
Achemica, Filo Chemical, NeuChemical, Sterling Chemicals, DuPont, CNPC Jilin Chemical, BP Chemicals, AlzChem AG
Regional Coverage
Asia Pacific
China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand
Europe
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece
North America
United States and Canada
Latin America
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru
Africa
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Acetonitrile Production Processes
This process involves the oxidation of propylene in the presence of ammonia in a fluidized bed reactor. As a result, acetonitrile and hydrogen cyanide are produced as a byproduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
During Q1 2026, acetonitrile prices increased strongly across tracked regions. In China, prices showed a 19.60% increase from January to March, while in the USA they witnessed an 18.25% increase, in Germany a 14.12% increase, in India a 13.05% increase, and in Japan an 18.26% increase. The rise reflected tighter spot availability and stronger demand from pharmaceutical, laboratory, and specialty chemical users.
The acetonitrile outlook for 2026 remains steady to firm, supported by demand from pharmaceuticals, analytical laboratories, agrochemicals, specialty chemicals, and high-performance liquid chromatography applications. Prices may stay sensitive to acrylonitrile production because acetonitrile is mainly recovered as a byproduct of acrylonitrile manufacturing. Any change in acrylonitrile output can quickly affect acetonitrile availability and regional pricing.
The main factors affecting acetonitrile prices in Q1 2026 were tight byproduct supply and stronger pharmaceutical demand. Acetonitrile availability depends heavily on acrylonitrile operating rates, so limited merchant supply supported prices. At the same time, restocking by pharmaceutical, analytical, and specialty chemical buyers increased procurement pressure across China, the USA, Germany, India, and Japan.
Major acetonitrile markets include China, the United States, India, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Belgium, Singapore, and the Netherlands. Key companies include INEOS Nitriles, Asahi Kasei, Ascend Performance Materials, Avantor, Tedia Company, Balaji Amines, AnQore, Taekwang Industrial, Concord Technology, and Qingdao Shida Chemical. These companies operate across acrylonitrile, solvent recovery, purification, and high-purity laboratory chemical supply chains.
A notable recent development was EAS Batteries’ commercialization of an ultra-high-power LFP cell using Asahi Kasei’s acetonitrile-containing Acetolyte electrolyte. The cell was initially launched in March 2026 and contains a 22 Ah large-format cylindrical design. This development is important for acetonitrile because it shows a growing high-value application beyond pharmaceuticals and HPLC solvents, extending acetonitrile use into advanced battery electrolyte technology.
Acetonitrile is mainly produced as a byproduct during acrylonitrile manufacturing through propylene ammoxidation. It can also be produced through recovery, purification, and distillation processes. The value chain includes propylene and ammonia supply, acrylonitrile production, acetonitrile recovery, crude acetonitrile purification, distillation, packaging, and distribution to pharmaceutical synthesis, HPLC solvents, agrochemicals, specialty chemicals, electronics, and laboratory applications.
Acetonitrile is mainly sold as industrial-grade, reagent-grade, HPLC-grade, LC-MS-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, and electronic-grade material. HPLC and LC-MS grades require very high purity, low UV absorbance, low water content, and tight impurity control. Pharmaceutical and electronic grades also require strong documentation, consistency, and contaminant control, while industrial-grade material is used in extraction, synthesis, and chemical processing.
Acetonitrile demand is mainly driven by pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, analytical laboratories, HPLC and LC-MS testing, agrochemicals, specialty chemicals, electronics, battery research, synthetic fibers, and extraction processes. Pharmaceutical use remains especially important because acetonitrile is used in drug synthesis, purification, and quality testing. Laboratory demand is also strong because acetonitrile is a preferred solvent in chromatographic analysis.
A key policy affecting acetonitrile in 2026 was India’s anti-dumping duty on imports from China, Russia, and Taiwan. The duty was imposed under Notification No. 16/2025-Customs (ADD), dated June 19, 2025, for five years and remained relevant in 2026. It affected import costs, supplier selection, landed pricing, and procurement planning for Indian pharmaceutical and chemical buyers.
Procurement Resource employs a structured methodology combining primary research, secondary market data, analytical models, and validation processes to assess acetonitrile prices and trends. Price evaluations incorporate supply-demand dynamics, feedstock movements, trade flows, and value chain analysis, supported by continuous market monitoring to ensure accurate and reliable insights.
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