Acetone Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Market Overview

Acetone prices in the United States, the highest-cost reporting region, rose 4.5% in Q2 2026 to USD 1,270.00/MT from USD 1,215.00/MT in Q1, extending a rally that saw Chinese spot prices jump roughly 45% between January and March alone. Globally, the average rose from USD 1,118.55/MT in Q1 to USD 1,151.50/MT in Q2, a 2.9% gain. South Africa moved in the opposite direction, falling 5.4% to USD 880.00/MT as competitively priced import cargo continued pressuring that market. For H2 2026, a global average of USD 1,090.00-1,240.00/MT is expected, with elevated cumene and phenol feedstock costs likely to keep most regions firm even as import-dependent African markets stay under pressure.

Acetone is a solvent and chemical intermediate produced primarily as a co-product of the cumene process, alongside phenol, making its supply and cost structure closely tied to that of phenol production. It serves as a key feedstock for methyl methacrylate and bisphenol A, alongside widespread use as a solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as in nail polish remover and other consumer products. Cumene and phenol feedstock costs, downstream demand from methyl methacrylate and bisphenol A producers, and regional import competition are what drive prices in this market.

Acetone Price Forecast for 2026

The outlook for Acetone through H2 2026 stays firm across most regions, tracking elevated cumene and phenol feedstock costs tied to the broader crude oil and shipping cost environment. Strong demand from methyl methacrylate, bisphenol A, and solvent manufacturing sectors should keep this market on its established upward path, while import-dependent markets such as South Africa remain more exposed to competitive Asian and Middle Eastern export offers.

The main upside risk is a further tightening of cumene or phenol feedstock availability, which would push prices higher across every region simultaneously given how closely these markets are linked. The main downside risk is a surge in competitively priced export cargo from Asia or the Middle East, which would extend the kind of pressure already seen in import-dependent African markets.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Acetone Prices Q2 2026:

• United States: USD 1,270.00/MT
• Germany: USD 1,225.00/MT
• China: USD 1,180.00/MT
• South Africa: USD 880.00/MT

Acetone Prices in the United States

US Acetone prices averaged USD 1,270.00/MT in Q2 2026, the highest of any region tracked here, up 4.5% from USD 1,215.00/MT in Q1, as strong demand from methyl methacrylate and bisphenol A producers kept this market firm.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q2 2026 in the United States?

Strong demand from the methyl methacrylate, bisphenol A, and solvent manufacturing sectors drove robust procurement activity, while elevated feedstock benzene and propylene costs reinforced bullish pricing conditions.

Acetone Prices in Germany

German prices averaged USD 1,225.00/MT in Q2 2026, up 4.7% from USD 1,170.00/MT in Q1, tracking firm European solvent and specialty chemical demand.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Firm downstream demand from coatings, adhesives, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors kept German buyers active even as feedstock costs stayed elevated across the broader European aromatics complex.

Acetone Prices in China

Chinese prices averaged USD 1,180.00/MT in Q2 2026, up 4.6% from USD 1,128.00/MT in Q1, as constrained domestic production and strong downstream demand kept this market bullish.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q2 2026 in China?

Constrained domestic production availability, tied to unplanned maintenance outages at key manufacturing facilities, tightened regional supply conditions and intensified competition among downstream chemical and solvent buyers.

Acetone Prices in South Africa

South African prices averaged USD 880.00/MT in Q2 2026, down 5.4% from USD 930.00/MT in Q1, as competitively priced import cargo from Asian and Middle Eastern exporters continued pressuring this market.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q2 2026 in South Africa?

The competitive availability of import cargo from Asian and Middle Eastern exporters kept pushing down prices for regional market participants, leaving suppliers with little scope to sustain earlier price levels, while limited stockpiling among downstream users reinforced the downward trend.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Acetone Prices Q1 2026:

• United States: USD 1,215.00/MT
• Germany: USD 1,170.00/MT
• China: USD 1,128.00/MT
• South Africa: USD 930.00/MT

Acetone Prices in the United States

US prices rose 6.6% in Q1 2026 to USD 1,215.00/MT from USD 1,140.00/MT in Q4 2025, tracking the broader global surge in feedstock costs.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q1 2026 in the United States?

Feedstock support from benzene and propylene remained a key driver, keeping production costs elevated and supporting price increases even as downstream demand stayed mixed across different end-use sectors.

Acetone Prices in Germany

German prices rose 6.4% in Q1 2026 to USD 1,170.00/MT from USD 1,100.00/MT in Q4 2025, as elevated cumene and phenol feedstock costs continued building.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q1 2026 in Germany?

Rising upstream cumene and phenol feedstock costs at regional production facilities significantly increased manufacturing expenses, sustaining upward pressure on prevailing market rates through the quarter.

Acetone Prices in China

Chinese prices surged 6.4% in Q1 2026 to USD 1,128.00/MT from USD 1,060.00/MT in Q4 2025, with the sharpest gains concentrated in March as crude oil prices spiked on Middle East tensions.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q1 2026 in China?

A surge in crude oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and tightened feedstock availability, driving prices sharply higher, particularly in the closing weeks of the quarter.

Acetone Prices in South Africa

South African prices rose 3.3% in Q1 2026 to USD 930.00/MT from USD 900.00/MT in Q4 2025, a more modest gain than elsewhere as import competition limited the pace of the increase.

Why did the price of Acetone change in Q1 2026 in South Africa?

Lower input costs for cumene and phenol, the key components used in acetone production, decreased production costs and lowered the cost support base, while competitive import cargo availability limited how far domestic offers could climb.

Quarterly Acetone Price Trends

Global Acetone prices dipped in Q2 2025 before climbing steadily through the following four quarters, with the pace of gains accelerating sharply in Q1 2026 as a surge in crude oil prices tied to Middle East tensions disrupted shipping and tightened feedstock availability across the cumene-phenol-acetone value chain.

What was Acetone Price in 2025?

Acetone firmed steadily across every market covered in this report through 2025, tracking gradually rising cumene and phenol feedstock costs and firm downstream demand, setting the stage for the sharper acceleration that followed once Middle East shipping tensions intensified in early 2026.

Acetone Prices in the United States in 2025

US prices firmed from about USD 1,050.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,140.00/MT by Q4, a gain of roughly 8.6%, the strongest annual increase of the four regions, tracking firm downstream demand through the year.

Acetone Prices in Germany in 2025

German prices firmed from about USD 1,020.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,100.00/MT by Q4, up roughly 7.8%, tracking gradually rising feedstock costs.

Acetone Prices in China in 2025

Chinese prices firmed from about USD 980.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,060.00/MT by Q4, a gain of roughly 8.2%, well before the dramatic Q1 2026 spike that followed.

Acetone Prices in South Africa in 2025

South African prices firmed from about USD 850.00/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 900.00/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.9%, the smallest annual gain of the four regions given persistent exposure to competitive import cargo.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Acetone Price Intelligence

Expert Market Research tracks Acetone prices continuously across every major producing and consuming region, combining cumene and phenol feedstock cost data, methyl methacrylate and bisphenol A demand signals, and regional import competition trends into a single, regularly updated view of the market. Our team can help your procurement function benchmark current offers, plan purchases around the feedstock-driven trends covered in this report, and build a defensible view of where this widely used solvent and chemical intermediate is headed next. Reach out to our team for a tailored briefing or a deeper look at any of the regional markets covered here.