Methyl isobutyl ketone

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) Recent Market Intelligence Report

I. Market Quotation Dynamics
- Shandong Province: The mainstream quotation range is RMB 7,150–13,000 per metric ton. Specifically: Laya Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong) quotes RMB 7,700/ton (99% purity); Hongyang Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong) quotes RMB 7,600/ton; Aite Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong) quotes RMB 13,000/ton; Yihé Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong) — an affiliate of Wanhua Chemical — quotes RMB 11,500/ton; and Dongying Longxing Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 9,000/ton.
- Jiangsu Province: Nanjing Baitu Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 11,000/ton; Jiangsu Xinsu New Materials Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 12,800/ton.
- Zhejiang Province: Aite (Zhejiang) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 12,000/ton.
- Hubei Province: Wuhan Hengjiu Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 12,000/ton (Li Chang Rong brand).
- Lowest Quotation: Some enterprises in Shandong Province — e.g., Shandong Beilu Hengsheng Chemical — quote as low as RMB 7,150/ton.
- Highest Quotation: Enterprises such as Aite Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong) quote up to RMB 13,000/ton, reflecting significant brand premium.

II. Price Trend Analysis
- Recent Price Volatility: MIBK prices have fluctuated over the past three months, with a low of RMB 9,467/ton and a high of RMB 13,400/ton; the three-month average price stands at RMB 11,975/ton. Current prices are near the median level.
- Key Influencing Factors:
Raw Material Costs: Acetone — the core raw material for MIBK — is currently trading at relatively low levels (~RMB 5,800/ton), providing some cost support for MIBK. However, supply-demand imbalances continue to constrain industry profit margins.
Supply Side: National effective MIBK capacity totals 210,000 tons/year, with generally high operating rates. However, a production facility operated by a Hunan-based enterprise has been temporarily shut down, impacting local supply dynamics.
Demand Side: Downstream buyers exhibit subdued procurement sentiment, adopting a “just-in-time” purchasing strategy to avoid inventory accumulation — thereby intensifying sales pressure on MIBK producers.

III. Supply-Demand Analysis
- Supply Situation: With the commissioning of new capacity, supply pressure on the MIBK market has significantly increased. Nevertheless, temporary shutdowns at certain facilities have exerted localized impacts on supply structure.
- Demand Situation: Demand growth from traditional applications — such as coatings and inks — has plateaued. In contrast, high-value-added applications — including pharmaceutical intermediates and electronic-grade cleaning agents — are emerging as new growth drivers. The share of demand from these emerging sectors is expected to gradually increase.

IV. Industry Trend Analysis
- Green Transformation: Under China’s national “Dual Carbon” (carbon peak & carbon neutrality) strategy and accelerating green transformation across the chemical industry, the MIBK sector faces mounting challenges from increasingly stringent environmental regulations and reinforced energy consumption and intensity controls. Green transformation will become a critical development trend.
- Technological Upgrading: Enterprises will increase R&D investment to develop high-purity, low-impurity MIBK products meeting the stringent requirements of high-end application segments.
- International Expansion: Companies will actively explore overseas markets — especially emerging manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia and the Middle East — to alleviate domestic oversupply pressures and enhance global competitiveness.

V. Forecast and Outlook
- Short-Term Price Forecast: MIBK prices are expected to remain within the range of RMB 8,000–12,500/ton in the near term. Specific price movements will depend on acetone pricing, downstream demand conditions, and enterprise inventory levels. Given weak demand, MIBK producers face rising inventory pressure; some companies are implementing promotional price cuts to reduce stockpiles — potentially leading to modest downward price adjustments in the short run.
- Long-Term Market Outlook: Driven by rapid growth in new-energy vehicles, advanced electronics, and eco-friendly coatings, MIBK demand will continue evolving toward higher purity and lower impurity specifications. Concurrently, green transformation and technological upgrading will remain pivotal industry trends. Enterprises will intensify R&D investment and market expansion efforts to improve product quality and strengthen competitive positioning.