Acetone Weekly Report: Prices Climbed Then Corrected Sharply (30 Oct – 5 Nov 2026)

Acetone prices rose early in the week, then corrected sharply as crude oil fell and cost support eroded. All four regional markets finished lower week on week, with Jiangsu and South China down more than 4%.

1. Key Highlights

• Major petrochemical producers cut acetone list prices by CNY 200/t this week, putting the East China ex-works list price at CNY 8,800/t.
• The operating rate of phenol-acetone units rose to 77.82%.
• Vessel arrivals were limited, and port inventory dropped to 16,000 t.

List price vs spot: producer list levels (CNY 8,800/t in East China) sit above the negotiated spot market (CNY 8,400–8,500/t in Jiangsu). The gap is what buyers are currently able to negotiate off list — when comparing quotations, make sure both sides are on the same basis.

2. Market Review

Regional price comparison

Unit: CNY per tonne, Chinese domestic ex-works levels.

East China spot acetone climbed first and then corrected sharply. As of 5 November, negotiated spot prices in Jiangsu were assessed at CNY 8,400–8,500/t.

Early in the week, low operating rates at phenol-acetone units and low port stocks kept sellers firm, and offer levels moved higher. Downstream buyers, however, resisted the higher prices and were reluctant to chase the gains.

Later in the week, crude oil tumbled, dragging feedstock pure benzene weaker and eroding cost support. Sentiment turned cautious. Transactions were limited to sporadic urgent restocking, with no sustained buying momentum, and prices moved around looking for a new equilibrium.

3. Influencing Factors

• The operating rate of phenol-acetone units stood at around 77.82% this week.
• Partial shipping data: as of 5 November, total acetone cargo scheduled for East China in November was 7,000 t — 3,200 t already arrived and 3,800 t afloat.

4. Outlook for Next Week

The phenol-acetone operating rate is expected to edge up, while inventory at Jiangyin port should stay around 15,000 t. The operating rate of bisphenol-A — the main downstream — is forecast to dip slightly, while other downstream sectors stay largely stable. Bullish and bearish factors offset each other with no clear one-sided driver, so the acetone market is expected to run soft next week, with deals mainly for urgent restocking.

Plant operations and downstream operating rates are worth continuous monitoring.

What This Means for Buyers

• Acetone is a co-product of phenol, and that drives supply. Phenol-acetone units set their run rate mainly on phenol economics, so acetone output can rise even when acetone demand is soft. A run rate climbing to 77.82% is therefore a bearish signal for acetone specifically — not a sign of stronger acetone demand.
• Cost is the swing factor right now. This correction was led by crude and pure benzene, not by acetone inventory. Watch those two before positioning.
• Low port stocks alone do not justify chasing. At 16,000 t, inventory is thin — but 7,000 t is scheduled for East China in November, of which 3,800 t is still afloat. Near-term supply is covered.
• Negotiate off spot, not list. The gap between the CNY 8,800/t list level and CNY 8,400–8,500/t spot is real room to negotiate. Confirm specification, packaging and delivery basis before comparing numbers.

This report reflects market conditions at the time of publication and is provided for reference only. Prices change frequently — please contact us for a current quotation against your specification, volume and delivery point.