Isobutylamine

Recent Market Intelligence Report on Isobutylamine

I. Price Trends
1. Recent Quotations
- As of June 24, 2026, isobutylamine quotations in Shandong Province exhibit notable divergence:
- Industrial-grade bulk purchase prices range between RMB 17,000–24,000 per metric ton.
- Jinan Huifengda Chemical Co., Ltd. maintains a stable quotation of RMB 18,000 per metric ton for industrial-grade material (purity ≥99.5%).
- Qingdao Yijinrong Biotechnology Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 17,000 per metric ton for national standard premium-grade product.
- Retail prices—impacted by packaging, logistics, and order size—are significantly higher; for instance, Jinan Huifengda quoted RMB 42/kg in March (140 kg/drum packaging, equivalent to RMB 42,000 per metric ton). This price reflects small-batch retail terms and differs substantially from industrial bulk pricing.

2. Historical Volatility
- Significant price fluctuations occurred in Shandong Province from March 12–18, 2026:
- March 12: Qingdao Yijinrong quoted RMB 17,000 per metric ton.
- March 13: Jinan Huifengda quoted RMB 24,000 per metric ton (industrial grade); Wuhan Jiyesheng Chemical Co., Ltd. (Hubei) quoted RMB 24/kg for 99.9% purity material (equivalent to RMB 24,000 per metric ton).
- March 14: Jinan Huifengda updated its quotation to RMB 42/kg (140 kg/drum, equivalent to RMB 42,000 per metric ton).
- No new quotations were disclosed after March 16; however, the March 12 quotation remained valid through March 13, indicating short-term price stability.

3. Current Price Stability
- From May 15 to June 24, 2026, isobutylamine prices in Shandong Province remained elevated, with a three-month average of RMB 18,000 per metric ton and no significant volatility observed.

II. Upstream Raw Materials and Cost Drivers
1. Key Feedstocks
- Primary raw materials for isobutylamine production include isobutyraldehyde, ammonia, and hydrogen.
- As of June 24, 2025, Luxi Chemical Group increased its ex-factory price for isobutyraldehyde by RMB 50 per metric ton to RMB 6,200 per metric ton; actual transaction prices remain subject to negotiation.
- Methanol—a key feedstock for isobutyraldehyde production—rose in early March 2026; acetic acid prices in North China surged over RMB 470 per metric ton in a single day, indirectly elevating isobutylamine production costs.

2. Energy Costs
- Fluctuations in global energy markets (e.g., sustained increases in offshore methanol prices) may transmit cost pressure to isobutylamine, though such impacts have not yet manifested in current quotations.

III. Supply-Side Analysis
1. Production Capacity and Inventory
- Shandong Province—the dominant production base—exhibits divergent quotations reflecting disparities in plant utilization rates.
- Large-scale enterprises such as Jinan Huifengda emphasize stable supply, claiming an annual production capacity of 1 million metric tons, signaling ample supply availability.
- Smaller- and medium-sized producers—including Qingdao Yijinrong—may adopt flexible pricing strategies to capture market share.

2. Regional Disparities
- Inventory levels across Shandong-based manufacturers are normal; however, inter-company quotation gaps remain substantial (e.g., Jinan Huifengda at RMB 18,000/ton vs. Qingdao Yijinrong at RMB 17,000/ton).

IV. Demand-Side Analysis
1. Major Application Sectors
- Isobutylamine is primarily used in mineral flotation agents, gasoline anti-knock additives, and as a neutralizing agent in sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) synthesis.
- Demand from the dyeing & printing auxiliaries sector has been affected by rising acetic acid and methanol prices; some manufacturers are exploring isobutylamine substitution options, though no large-scale adoption has yet emerged.
- Gasoline additive demand faces long-term stagnation due to renewable energy substitution; however, near-term demand remains stable without marked fluctuations.

2. Substitution Risk
- Should the dyeing & printing auxiliaries industry pivot toward more environmentally friendly solvents (e.g., ethyl acetate alternatives), isobutylamine demand may contract.

V. Outlook (Late June to July 2026)
1. Price Forecast
- Short term (late June): Industrial-grade quotations in Shandong are expected to remain within the RMB 17,000–24,000 per metric ton range. Retail prices may fluctuate slightly due to packaging-related costs, but bulk procurement prices will remain stable.
- Medium term (July):
- If methanol and acetic acid prices sustain upward momentum, enhanced cost support could push industrial-grade quotations toward RMB 25,000 per metric ton.
- Conversely, weak downstream demand—particularly if cost pass-through fails in the dyeing & printing auxiliaries sector—may trigger downward correction to approximately RMB 20,000 per metric ton.

2. Raw Material Price Impact
- Methanol prices—sensitive to international energy dynamics—could significantly elevate isobutylamine production costs should offshore benchmark prices exceed RMB 3,500 per metric ton.

3. Policy and Environmental Impact
- Stricter environmental regulations—such as tightened VOC (volatile organic compound) emission standards—may constrain isobutylamine production capacity, although near-term impact is expected to be limited.

4. Procurement and Production Recommendations
- For Buyers: It is advisable to enter into long-term supply contracts with large Shandong-based producers to lock in pricing and mitigate exposure to retail-market volatility.
- For Producers: Optimize raw material procurement strategies (e.g., advance methanol inventory buildup) to buffer against cost volatility; concurrently, diversify applications beyond gasoline additives—e.g., explore emerging opportunities in new-energy battery materials.