Before the holiday, the MMA market closed on a stable note. Upon return after the holiday, raw material markets operated strongly on the first working day, creating a wait-and-see atmosphere in the market. As of October 9, reference prices in the East China market stood at 13,100–13,200 yuan/ton, with most traders awaiting further guidance from market fundamentals.
I. Cost Support Drives Slight Rebound in MMA Prices
Upon returning to work after the holiday, the MMA market transitioned through a period of caution with no significant price changes. However, strong performance in upstream raw materials such as acetone, methanol, tert-butyl alcohol, and isobutylene boosted market sentiment, leading to bullish tendencies. On October 9, market prices rose slightly. By mid-morning, reference prices in the East China market were 13,100–13,200 yuan/ton, with some higher offers reported. Regional price spreads remained largely unchanged compared to pre-holiday levels.
II. Plant Maintenance Lowers Utilization Rates
According to weekly data monitoring by Chempricehub, one production line at Zhejiang Petrochemical underwent maintenance during the holiday. As of October 8, the MMA capacity utilization rate had decreased by 1 percentage point from pre-holiday levels to 56%. Output declined, relieving pressure on the supply side. Factories are focusing on fulfilling contract deliveries and export orders, while spot transactions are negotiated on an order-by-order basis.
III. Rising Raw Material Costs Boost Market Confidence
Table 1: Comparison of Selected Upstream Raw Material Prices for MMA (Unit: Yuan/Ton)
| Region | 2026/9/30 | 2026/10/9 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiangsu Acetone | 8450 | 8650 | 200 | 2.37% |
| Shandong Isobutylene | 11500 | 12000 | 500 | 4.35% |
| Shandong MTBE | 8000 | 8350 | 350 | 4.38% |
| Shandong Tert-Butyl Alcohol (85% purity) | 8000 | 8200 | 200 | 2.50% |
| Jiangsu Sulfuric Acid (98%) | 1900 | 1900 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Taicang Methanol | 4450 | 4850 | 400 | 8.99% |
As shown in Table 1, comparing prices from September 30 to October 9, upstream raw material costs for MMA have risen. Methanol saw the largest increase, rising by 400 yuan/ton (8.99%). This was followed by MTBE (+350 yuan/ton, 4.38%), Isobutylene (+500 yuan/ton, 4.35%), Tert-Butyl Alcohol (+200 yuan/ton, 2.50%), and Acetone (+200 yuan/ton, 2.37%). Consequently, production costs for both major manufacturing processes have increased compared to pre-holiday levels.
IV. Demand Side: Downstream Focuses on Contracts; Cautious About Price Increases
After the holiday, downstream industries primarily adhered to existing contracts and remained cautious about chasing higher prices. Most demand was met through contractual obligations, with limited new spot buying activity observed in the market.
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