Raw Material Prices Rise After the Holiday; Acrylic Emulsion Market Trends Upward (October 1–8, 2026)

I. Key Points of the Week

1. Raw Materials: Butyl acrylate prices edged up within a narrow range, styrene surged rapidly, and MMA remained stable, leading to increased cost pressure.
2. Market Sentiment & Transactions: High costs supported bullish sentiment in the market. Acrylic emulsion manufacturers raised their offers under cost pressure, while downstream users maintained essential purchasing. Consequently, mainstream transaction prices rose.

II. Weekly Market Analysis

Comparison of Domestic Acrylic Emulsion Prices This Week

Unit: RMB/ton

Source: Chempricehub Information

Note: The above prices are inclusive of tax, packaging, and short-distance delivery fees. (Payment terms generally range from 1 to 2 months).

The domestic acrylic emulsion market trended upward this week. Following the holiday, raw material butyl acrylate prices rose. Tight supply and high prices of pure benzene supported a rapid surge in styrene prices, while the MMA market remained stable, continuously exerting pressure on costs. Post-holiday, acrylic emulsion manufacturers raised their offers due to cost pressures. Operating rates for emulsion enterprises fluctuated slightly, while downstream companies exhibited strong wait-and-see attitudes, with transactions primarily consisting of small orders. As a result, the acrylic emulsion market moved higher. As of October 8, mainstream quotes for styrene-acrylic emulsion ranged from 5,800 to 6,500 RMB/ton, and quotes for pure acrylic emulsion ranged from 7,500 to 8,500 RMB/ton.

III. Analysis of Influencing Factors

1. Supply: Enterprise capacity utilization rates fluctuated within a narrow range this week, keeping market supply relatively stable.

2. Demand: End-users adopted a cautious wait-and-see approach after the holiday, resulting in moderate transaction volumes.

3. Costs:

   • (1) Styrene: Domestic styrene prices rose significantly this period, primarily driven by strong support from upstream raw materials. Styrene market volatility was minimal during the holiday. Post-holiday, international crude oil continued to trade at high levels. Meanwhile, market expectations of reduced operating rates at refineries for pure benzene, combined with persistently low port inventories of pure benzene in East China, led to tight supply and stronger pure benzene prices, which in turn drove spot styrene prices sharply higher. However, on the demand side, downstream plant operating rates declined during the National Day holiday, indicating weak overall industry demand. Although downstream operating rates may gradually recover post-holiday, short-term support for styrene remains limited. Currently, there is no proactive push for price increases from styrene's downstream sectors; they remain in a passive follow-the-rise mode, with high raw material costs continuously squeezing downstream profits.

   • (2) Butyl Acrylate: The domestic butyl acrylate market edged up within a narrow range this week. Taking the mainstream East China market as an example, spot prices traded within the range of 9,600–9,700 RMB/ton during the week.

   • (3) MMA: The domestic MMA market remained largely stable this period. Capacity utilization dropped to 56%. One unit at Jiangsu Sierbang shut down for maintenance before the holiday, and one line at Zhejiang Petrochemical Phase II ceased operations for maintenance on October 7. During the holiday, holders' offers remained steady, and the market transitioned through a wait-and-see phase, with trading activity limited to essential needs. On the first working day after the holiday, overall market fluctuations were limited. Supply faced no obvious pressure, and holders had no intention to sell at lower prices. With both supply-demand dynamics and cost factors influencing the market, participants awaited further clarity. As of the 8th, negotiation references in East China were 13,000–13,100 RMB/ton; in Shandong, 13,000–13,000 RMB/ton; and in South China, 13,200–13,600 RMB/ton.

IV. Market Outlook

Next week, the acrylic emulsion market is expected to rise initially before stabilizing. Post-holiday, styrene prices surged rapidly, and butyl acrylate holders showed strong resistance to price cuts. With cost pressure remaining high, acrylic emulsion manufacturers may continue to raise offers under pressure. Downstream users will likely maintain essential purchasing, and market negotiations will follow suit. Therefore, prices are projected to move higher.