Acetyl Chloride Price Trend and Forecast

Acetyl Chloride Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Acetyl Chloride in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Acetyl Chloride Price Trend for the Year 2024

Asia

Throughout 2024, Acetyl Chloride prices in Asia showed notable fluctuation, largely mirroring the movement of its key feedstocks. The first quarter began with downward pressure, particularly in China, as the market experienced subdued activity during Chinese New Year celebrations. By Q2, the market gained stability as feedstock acetic anhydride prices consolidated in both India and China.
 

Acetyl Chloride Price Chart

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The second half of the year witnessed strengthening prices, especially in India, as tightening supply of hydrochloric acid pushed production costs upward. Chinese manufacturers periodically adjusted production rates in response to fluctuating downstream demand from pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors, which created occasional price spikes during supply shortages.

Europe

European Acetyl Chloride markets experienced a more pronounced volatility in 2024. The first quarter saw rising prices driven by high feedstock costs and persistent logistical challenges. As spring approached, the market stabilized briefly before facing renewed pressure from sluggish industrial activity across the region. The third quarter brought temporary relief as pharmaceutical sector demand improved, but this was short-lived as the broader economic slowdown in the Eurozone continued to hamper market growth. By Q4, prices began to soften despite slight increases in feedstock costs, as oversupply concerns and weak manufacturing output weighed heavily on market sentiment.

North America

The North American Acetyl Chloride market demonstrated greater resilience throughout 2024. While the first half of the year saw relatively stable pricing supported by balanced supply-demand fundamentals, the third quarter experienced upward pressure due to production disruptions and supply chain challenges, particularly from hurricane-related impacts. The pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors maintained steady procurement patterns, providing consistent demand support. By year-end, the market showed signs of recovery as improved construction planning activity and expectations of stable financing conditions bolstered optimism despite ongoing challenges in manufacturing.

Future Outlook

According to Procurement Resource, Acetyl Chloride prices are expected to face moderate upward pressure from rising feedstock costs, while regional variations will persist based on local demand patterns and supply chain efficiencies.
 

Acetyl Chloride Price Trend for the Second Half of 2023

Asia

In the second half of 2023, the Asian acetyl chloride market experienced a downward trajectory, particularly in China. The market weakened considerably as manufacturing plants resumed operations after previous shutdowns, creating an oversupply situation. Despite increasing industrial activities, high inventory levels persisted throughout the region.

The price trend closely followed its key feedstocks - acetic anhydride and hydrochloric acid - with momentary support from acetic anhydride price increases due to production stoppages at some facilities. However, as the year ended, market activities diminished significantly with reduced overseas business during the holiday season, putting further downward pressure on acetyl chloride prices.

Europe

The European acetyl chloride market showed a gradual decline throughout H2’23. Market performance remained subdued as key downstream sectors including pharmaceuticals, paints, and coatings faced numerous challenges. The United Kingdom market performed relatively better than continental Europe, but overall regional demand remained weak.

The lack of cost support from feedstock materials, particularly acetic anhydride, combined with construction sector instability, contributed to the faint market outlook. As months progressed, domestic production and imports exceeded procurement rates, leading to inventory accumulation and forcing traders to adopt destocking strategies, further weakening prices.

North America

North American acetyl chloride markets struggled with declining trajectories during the second half of 2023. Initially, demand from pharmaceutical and detergent industries provided some stability, but the market trended downward as the year concluded. Multiple factors influenced this market behaviour, including fluctuations in crude oil and naphtha costs, consumer pessimism amid deteriorating regional economic conditions, and gradual interest rate increases. Additionally, reduced water levels in the Panama Canal hampered overseas exports, negatively impacting acetyl chloride price trends. The market faced further pressure from abundant supply and moderate demand from end-use industries.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Acetyl Chloride prices are expected to continue fluctuating in response to feedstock cost variations, particularly acetic anhydride and hydrochloric acid. Market recovery would largely depend on improved downstream sector performance and renewed consumer confidence.
 

Acetyl Chloride Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Acetyl Chloride is industrially synthesized by the reaction between feedstocks acetic anhydride and hydrochloric acid. So, the price trend for Acetyl Chloride follow the market behaviors of its feedstock compounds very closely.

During the first half of the year 2023, the Acetyl Chloride prices fluctuated for the entire period. Since Acetyl Chloride is primarily consumed in chemicals, healthcare, agro chem, dye, etc. industries the market demands were modest throughout. However, the inventory surplus of both Acetyl Chloride and its feedstock materials kept the price margins constricted. Slow-paced economic recovery in the Chinese market can be considered responsible for this. Long lockdowns led to the accumulation of unused product stockpiles. Some pace was seen at the quarter shift, but general market sentiments continued to be muted throughout.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, Acetyl Chloride prices are leaning towards more fluctuations in the coming months. Heavy stocks will force suppliers to discount the prices in order the maintain product movement.

Procurement Resource provides latest prices of Acetyl Chloride. Each price database is tied to a user-friendly graphing tool dating back to 2014, which provides a range of functionalities: configuration of price series over user defined time period; comparison of product movements across countries; customisation of price currencies and unit; extraction of price data as excel files to be used offline.