Market situation for glacial acetic acid and acetate esters, soda ash, and caustic soda flakes during the Spring Festival

Glacial Acetic Acid

During the Spring Festival holiday, major factories in Northwest China experienced equipment malfunctions and reduced operating rates, leading to price increases at factories in the region, with no immediate sales pressure. Some factories in Shandong and Central China slightly increased prices; attention should be paid to recent changes in factory inventory and market sentiment. Longzhong Information predicts that glacial acetic acid prices may see localized price increases in the short term.

Ethyl Acetate
The market price of ethyl acetate rose slightly during the holiday. The price of raw material acetic acid continued to rise, supporting a low-cost market sentiment. However, the operating rate of downstream industries remains to be seen, and post-holiday restocking may remain primarily on an as-needed basis, with factories having short-term demand for shipments. Given the interplay between cost support and weak demand, Longzhong believes that the market price of ethyl acetate will likely see minor adjustments in the short term.

Butyl Acetate
The market price of butyl acetate rose slightly during the holiday. The price of acetic acid, a raw material, continued to rise, while the price of n-butanol remained relatively stable. Costs continued to support the market, and downstream industries gradually resumed operations after the holiday. With the market driven by costs and a slow recovery in downstream demand, Longzhong believes that the butyl acetate market will likely open firmly.

soda ash

During the holiday, the soda ash market remained stable with firm prices. Plant operations were stable, with minimal fluctuations in output. Downstream demand was weak, with consumption mainly based on inventory. After the holiday, the soda ash market is expected to fluctuate, with demand gradually recovering and enterprise inventories increasing, limiting the driving force. Prices are expected to adjust downwards with a slight upward trend.

caustic soda Flakes
Before the holiday, the domestic caustic soda flake market remained relatively stable, with actual transaction prices for most sources slightly higher than manufacturer quotes. During the holiday, some manufacturers reduced their operating rates to effectively control inventory pressure. It is expected that after the holiday, the concentrated delivery of pre-sold goods may influence market sentiment to some extent, and transaction prices for some manufacturers may decrease slightly. In the near term, it is necessary to focus on the actual transaction situation in major regional markets.