The Asia Pacific region emerged as the largest market for ethyl acetate. This region dominated the global ethyl acetate owing to the advancement of growing countries like China and India, which are among the essential customers of ethyl acetate.
In Q1 2024 the Asian ethyl acetate market declined by 1.27% as compared to the Q4 of 2023. Several factors have influenced ethyl acetate prices, including weak demand from the construction sector, high inventory levels, and low import costs from China. The challenges in the Chinese market have had a negative impact on Japan’s pricing, as China is a significant exporter to Japan. In contrast, the European market, particularly in the Netherland ethyl acetate prices rose due to increased demand from the construction sector, along with managing inventory levels. By the end of the quarter in Netherland, the price of ethyl acetate reached 1,181 USD per metric ton in March.
In Q2 2024, the Chinese ethyl acetate market experienced an upward trend in beginning of quarter as compared to first quarter of 2024 but further there was a sharp decrease towards the second half of the Q2. But in other Asian countries like Malaysia and India ethyl acetate market declined as compared to the Q4 of 2023. In the second quarter, the Asian market experienced a downturn attributed to reduced import costs from China, high inventory levels, and decreased demand from downstream industries like construction. The European ethyl acetate market has displayed a mixed price trend throughout the quarter. Initially, prices climbed during the first half as strong demand persisted, particularly from key industries. However, as the quarter progressed, prices began to decline due to supply constraints that caught up with the market dynamics. These fluctuations were influenced by various factors, including changing demand patterns in downstream sectors. By the end of the quarter in June, the price of ethyl acetate in the Netherlands settled at 1,189 USD per metric ton
In Q3 2024, the ethyl acetate market will continue to experience upward price pressure due to ongoing supply limitations. The growing demand for adhesives, paints, coatings, and food items will expect to boost the ethyl acetate market in the APAC region as well as in Europe region. As of July 2024, ethyl acetate prices were fluctuating and reflecting around 0.11% decrease from the previous month.
In Q4 2024, the Asia-Pacific region will experience upward trend in ethyl acetate prices. Key factors driving these price fluctuations include differing demand trends across various countries, particularly influenced by China’s strong performance. Additionally, rising raw material prices will affect production costs, while ongoing trade tensions will disrupt regional supply chains. In the short term, the ethyl acetate market will experience growth primarily due to rising demand from the paints, coatings, and food sectors. Market growth of ethyl acetate can be attributed to the thriving automotive industries, as well as an increasing global preference for flexible packaging solutions. In addition, the increasing demand for epoxy coatings in the global aerospace and food and beverage sectors will expect to positively impact the demand for ethyl acetate over the forecast period.