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China, the United States, and Germany are the leading exporters of methyl acetate, collectively accounting for over 50% of global exports in recent years; major importers include South Korea, India, and Mexico, with South Korea consistently ranking first among importing nations. Export volumes from China have expanded steadily since 2022, while methyl acetate prices have remained relatively stable amid moderate demand growth in Asia-Pacific solvent markets.
Acetic Acid Methyl Ester: Recent Commodity Market Intelligence Report
I. Market Price Dynamics
- National Average Price: As of June 24, 2026, the national average ex-factory price (cash basis) for acetic acid methyl ester stood at RMB 3,802 per metric ton, down by RMB 33/ton (a decline of 0.86%) from the previous trading day. The market transaction reference range was approximately RMB 3,450–4,200/ton (cash basis).
- Regional Prices:
Northwest Region: Shaanxi ex-factory price (cash basis): RMB 3,600–3,650/ton; Inner Mongolia ex-factory price (cash basis): RMB 3,450–3,600/ton; Ningxia ex-factory price (cash basis): RMB 3,450/ton.
East China Region: Jiangsu ex-factory price (cash basis): RMB 3,900–3,950/ton.
Central China Region: Hubei and Hunan ex-factory price (cash basis): RMB 3,800/ton.
Southwest Region: Chongqing ex-factory price (cash basis): RMB 3,700/ton.
South China Region: Guangdong delivered price (cash basis): RMB 4,150–4,200/ton.
II. Upstream Raw Material Prices
- Acetic Acid: As of June 24, 2026, the national average market price for acetic acid was RMB 2,834/ton, up by RMB 5/ton (an increase of ~0.18%) from the previous trading day. Market transaction prices ranged between RMB 2,710–3,130/ton.
- Methanol: As of June 24, 2026, methanol prices continued to decline. In Northern Inner Mongolia, the price ranged from RMB 2,380–2,400/ton; the early-morning Taicang methanol price (ex-warehouse, cash basis) was quoted at RMB 2,650/ton, with a basis of +RMB 170/ton.
III. Supply-Demand Situation
- Supply: With the conclusion of June export commitments for certain producers, domestic supply volumes have increased.
- Demand: Downstream demand remains weak, and market participants show limited purchasing enthusiasm—overall demand has softened.
IV. Key Market Influencing Factors
- Environmental Regulations: Tightening environmental policies impose higher compliance requirements on acetic acid methyl ester producers, increasing operational costs.
- Raw Material Price Volatility: Fluctuations in upstream raw material prices—particularly for acetic acid and methanol—directly impact production costs and, consequently, final product pricing.
- Downstream Demand Shifts: As water-based and solvent-free technologies accelerate substitution of traditional solvent-based systems, demand for acetic acid methyl ester in conventional applications continues to decline annually. However, new growth opportunities are emerging in high-value-added sectors such as electronic chemicals, pharmaceutical synthesis, and food additives.
Analysis & Outlook
I. Short-Term Market Trend
- Price Trend: Affected by weak downstream demand and upstream price volatility, acetic acid methyl ester prices are expected to remain under downward pressure in the near term.
- Supply-Demand Balance: Increased supply combined with softening demand will further exacerbate market imbalance, exerting additional downward pressure on prices.
II. Medium-to-Long-Term Market Outlook
- Demand Growth: Rapid development of high-value-added sectors—including electronic chemicals and pharmaceutical synthesis—is expected to sustainably boost demand for acetic acid methyl ester, providing new growth drivers for the market.
- Technological Innovation: Advances in green synthesis processes, as well as digitalization and intelligent manufacturing, will propel the industry toward higher-end, differentiated development—enhancing product value-added and competitiveness.
- Environmental Policy: Continued tightening of environmental regulations will compel enterprises to increase investment in environmental protection and technological upgrades, fostering green and sustainable industry development.
Forecast
I. Price Forecast
- Short Term: Acetic acid methyl ester prices are projected to continue weakening slightly, though the decline is expected to be limited. The market transaction reference range may stabilize around RMB 3,400–4,200/ton (cash basis).
- Medium-to-Long Term: As downstream demand gradually recovers and technological innovation advances, acetic acid methyl ester prices are anticipated to stabilize and rebound gradually. However, the extent of any upward movement will depend on the pace of demand recovery and upstream raw material price fluctuations.
II. Supply-Demand Forecast
- Supply: With gradual commissioning of new production capacity and phasing out of older facilities, total market supply is expected to grow steadily.
- Demand: Demand in traditional application areas will continue declining, while demand in high-value-added sectors—such as electronic chemicals and pharmaceutical synthesis—will grow rapidly, becoming the primary driver of overall market demand growth.
III. Industry Development Trend Forecast
- Green Transformation: Ongoing tightening of environmental regulations will drive the industry toward greener operations, making eco-friendly synthesis processes the mainstream standard.
- High-End Development: Technological innovation will promote upgrading toward higher-end products, with high-value-added applications emerging as new growth engines.
- Intelligent Manufacturing: Widespread adoption of digital and intelligent production technologies will improve industrial efficiency and management standards, accelerating sectoral transformation and upgrading.
Methyl acetate is a clear, colorless, volatile liquid with a characteristic sweet, fruity odor. It is an organic ester with a boiling point of 57 °C and a melting point of −98 °C. As a low-toxicity, fast-evaporating solvent, it is widely employed in coatings, inks, adhesives, and cleaning formulations. It serves as a reactive intermediate in the production of acetic anhydride and methyl halides, and finds use in pharmaceutical synthesis and agrochemical manufacturing. Its favorable solvency power and biodegradability make it a common replacement for more hazardous solvents in industrial applications.
Methyl acetate is used as a solvent forlacquers, resins, oils, and nitrocellulose; inpaint removers; as a flavoring agent; and inthe manufacture of artificial leather.
Methyl acetate has a pleasant, fruity odor and slightly bitter flavor. May be prepared by boiling acetic acid and methanol in the presence of acid catalysts; or by heating methanol with an excess carbon monoxide under pressure in the presence of a catalyst (phosphoric acid, cobalt salts).Methyl acetate occurs naturally in low concentrations in mint, fungus,grapes, banana, coffee (Furia and Bellanca, 1975) and is a volatile constituent of nectarines (Takeoka et al., 1988). It is also present in some distilled alcoholic beverages (Shimoda et al., 1993). It is produced industrially via the carbonylation of methanol as a byproduct of acetic acid production or by esterification of acetic acid with methanol in the presence of strong acid such as sulfuric acid.
This chemical is included in Fine Chemicals. See more about what is Methyl acetate and Methyl acetate SDS information.
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