Global ethyl acetate markets closed 2025 on a stable note, with minor regional variations. A nearly 1% price uptick in Germany, driven by rising feedstock and energy costs and tight spot supply, contrasts with flat pricing in the US and China due to holiday-weakened demand. The overall supply-demand balance is expected to remain steady into early 2026, with cost inputs and disciplined supply as key influences.
Germany: Modest price increase amid cost pressures
In Germany, ethyl acetate prices at FD Karlsruhe rose nearly 1% month-on-month in late December 2025, breaking a period of stability through November. The increase was primarily attributed to higher costs for feedstock acetic acid and ethanol, linked to contract negotiations amid surging natural gas-based power prices. Limited spot cargoes arriving via the Antwerp-Rotterdam-Amsterdam port area further tightened supply, leaving domestic buyers reliant on production from BASF's Ludwigshafen and Oxea's Marl plants. Demand from industrial coating and pharmaceutical sectors remained stronger than seasonal norms, supported by sustained flexible packaging orders.
United States: Stability from weak demand and ample supply
The US ethyl acetate market remained flat in December 2025, with limited year-end activity, adequate inventory levels, and stable domestic production. Feedstock acetic acid and ethanol prices showed no upward movement, allowing producers to maintain margins without price increases. Import volumes stayed steady, and freight costs had minimal impact on delivered prices, contributing to overall pricing stability.
China: Excess supply offsets weak demand
Chinese ethyl acetate pricing saw little change in December 2025, as resumed production from recently restarted plants created excess supply that matched weak downstream demand from the coating and solvent sectors. High freight costs and slow overseas buyer response limited export demand, leading manufacturers to maintain production rates rather than raise prices.
What buyers should watch
In early 2026, German ethyl acetate prices may ease slightly after the holiday season as year-end demand normalizes and inventories are replenished. US and Chinese prices are expected to remain stable, with potential increases dependent on seasonal recovery in coatings and industrial demand after the Lunar New Year, along with post-holiday inventory restocking. The global supply-demand balance is poised to enter 2026 on a steady footing, with cost inputs and disciplined supply playing a larger role than demand growth.
Source: Read the original report | Published: December 31, 2025