Ethyl Cellulose Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Japan paid the most for ethyl cellulose in Q3 2026: USD 17.40/KG, down 0.7% from USD 17.52/KG in Q2. Prices there include specialty grades and local technical service. Worldwide, the average fell 0.7% to USD 15.15/KG from USD 15.26/KG, mostly because ample distributor stocks and weak electronics demand pulled offers down. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 14.39-15.59/KG range, with cellulose costs, ethyl chloride supply and pharma demand doing most of the work.

Ethyl cellulose is a cellulose ether made by reacting wood pulp or cotton cellulose with ethyl chloride, and it is soluble in many organic solvents. It is used as a binder and film former in coatings, printing inks, pharmaceutical tablet coatings, electronics pastes and food-contact applications. This report tracks the average price of commercial ethyl cellulose grades, quoted per kilogram. Prices follow cellulose and ethyl chloride costs, plant operating rates, grade and viscosity, and demand from coatings, pharma and electronics buyers.

A small number of producers in the United States, Europe, Japan and China supply the market, and viscosity grades are priced differently from standard types. Distributor stocks in the United States were ample through the middle of 2026, and import offers were competitive, which pushed prices slightly lower. Export prices from Czechia for pharma and specialty types were near USD 16 to USD 17 per kilogram in late 2025.

Ethyl Cellulose Price Forecast for 2026

Prices should hold close to current levels. Ample stocks and weak electronics demand keep pressure on offers. Year on year, the global average has moved from USD 15.15/KG to USD 15.15/KG, essentially flat.

For Q4, the risks are balanced. What could push prices higher? Higher ethyl chloride costs, restocking by distributors or higher freight would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Ample stocks, weak electronics demand or cheaper imports would lower prices.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

Ethyl Cellulose Prices Q3 2026:

• United States: USD 15.10/KG
• Germany: USD 16.72/KG
• Japan: USD 17.40/KG
• China: USD 11.40/KG

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in United States

In Q3 2026, the average price in the United States softened 0.7% to USD 15.10/KG, compared with USD 15.20/KG in Q2. Prices slipped as suppliers cut early offers to draw spot enquiries. Compared with Q3 2025, when the United States averaged USD 15.30/KG, the current price is 1.3% lower. That puts the United States in line with the four-market average of USD 15.15/KG.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q3 2026 in United States?

The United States slipped. Suppliers cut early offers to draw spot enquiries. Buyers kept orders close to immediate needs. At USD 15.10/KG, the United States is 0.7% lower than in Q4 2025, when the average was USD 15.20/KG, and the global average is 0.5% lower over the same period.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in Germany

Germany's average slipped 0.5% in Q3 2026, to USD 16.72/KG from USD 16.80/KG in Q2. Prices slipped as distributors had ample stock and bought less. The current level is 2.6% above the Q3 2025 average of USD 16.30/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 15.15/KG, Germany stood 10.4% above in the quarter.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q3 2026 in Germany?

Germany slipped. Distributors had ample stock and bought less. Traders checked stock levels before committing to larger volumes. Since Q4 2025 the price in Germany has gone up 0.1%, from USD 16.70/KG to USD 16.72/KG, while the global average has gone down 0.5%.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in Japan

Prices in Japan fell 0.7% in Q3 2026 to USD 17.40/KG, against USD 17.52/KG in Q2. Prices slipped as buyers delayed orders for electronics inks. A year earlier the average was USD 17.40/KG, so the price is broadly unchanged on the year. The gap to the four-market average of USD 15.15/KG was 14.9% above for Japan.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q3 2026 in Japan?

Japan slipped. Buyers delayed orders for electronics inks. Offers were reviewed weekly as contract talks went on. Compared with the Q4 2025 average of USD 17.50/KG, the price in Japan has changed by -0.6%, against -0.5% for the global average.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in China

China recorded a 1.0% decrease in Q3 2026, with the average falling to USD 11.40/KG from USD 11.52/KG in Q2. Prices slipped as stable local output and competitive export offers kept pressure on prices. The current level is 1.7% below the Q3 2025 average of USD 11.60/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 15.15/KG, China stood 24.8% below in the quarter.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q3 2026 in China?

China slipped. Stable local output and competitive export offers kept pressure on prices. Most deals were settled on short notice. At USD 11.40/KG, China is 0.9% lower than in Q4 2025, when the average was USD 11.50/KG, and the global average is 0.5% lower over the same period.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Ethyl Cellulose Prices Q2 2026:

• United States: USD 15.20/KG
• Germany: USD 16.80/KG
• Japan: USD 17.52/KG
• China: USD 11.52/KG

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in United States

Prices in the United States eased 0.7% in Q2 2026 to USD 15.20/KG, against USD 15.30/KG in Q1. Prices slipped as distributor stocks were ample. Compared with Q2 2025, when the United States averaged USD 15.50/KG, the current price is 1.9% lower. That puts the United States in line with the four-market average of USD 15.26/KG.

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

The United States slipped. Distributor stocks were ample. Order sizes stayed modest through the quarter. Q1 had brought a 0.7% gain, and by the end of Q2 the price was 1.9% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 15.50/KG. Q3 then extended the move, taking the price to USD 15.10/KG.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in Germany

Germany recorded a 0.3% decrease in Q2 2026, with the average falling to USD 16.80/KG from USD 16.85/KG in Q1. Prices slipped as electronics ink demand was weak. The current level is 4.3% above the Q2 2025 average of USD 16.10/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 15.26/KG, Germany stood 10.1% above in the quarter.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Germany slipped. Electronics ink demand was weak. Contract talks were mostly settled before the quarter began. After +0.9% in Q1, the quarter closed 4.3% above its year-earlier level of USD 16.10/KG, and in Q3 the move was extended, to USD 16.72/KG.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in Japan

In Q2 2026, the average price in Japan slipped 0.5% to USD 17.52/KG, compared with USD 17.60/KG in Q1. Prices slipped as distributor stocks were ample. A year earlier the average was USD 17.50/KG, so the price is broadly unchanged on the year. The gap to the four-market average of USD 15.26/KG was 14.8% above for Japan.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q2 2026 in Japan?

Japan slipped. Distributor stocks were ample. Sellers adjusted offers in small steps. Q1 had brought a 0.6% gain, leaving the price level with the Q2 2025 average of USD 17.50/KG. Q3 then extended the move, taking the price to USD 17.40/KG.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in China

China's average fell 0.7% in Q2 2026, to USD 11.52/KG from USD 11.60/KG in Q1. Prices slipped as electronics ink demand was weak. The current level is 1.5% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 11.70/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 15.26/KG, China stood 24.5% below in the quarter.

Why did the price of Ethyl Cellulose change in Q2 2026 in China?

China slipped. Electronics ink demand was weak. Buyers worked through existing stock before placing new orders. Q1 had brought a 0.9% gain, and by the end of Q2 the price was 1.5% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 11.70/KG. Q3 then extended the move, taking the price to USD 11.40/KG.

Quarterly Ethyl Cellulose Price Trends

Ethyl cellulose prices moved sideways through 2025 and moved sideways in 2026. The global average moved from USD 15.10/KG in Q1 2025 to 15.20 in Q2, 15.15 in Q3, 15.22 in Q4, then 15.34 in Q1 2026, 15.26 in Q2 and 15.15 in Q3, a net gain of roughly 0.3% across the window. Cellulose costs, ethyl chloride supply and pharma demand set the direction.

What was Ethyl Cellulose Price in 2025?

2025 was a year of small moves for ethyl cellulose. Starting near USD 15.10/KG in Q1, the global average finished the year at 15.22 in Q4, a gain of about 0.8%. Cellulose costs, ethyl chloride supply and pharma demand set the direction.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in United States in 2025

In the United States, prices moved from about USD 15.40/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 15.20/KG by Q4, down roughly 1.3%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3 and Q4 as cellulose costs and pharma demand moved in turn. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in the United States is 0.7% lower at USD 15.10/KG.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in Germany in 2025

In Germany, prices moved from about USD 16.00/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 16.70/KG by Q4, up roughly 4.4%. Prices rose in every quarter as supply conditions and grade mix changed through the year. Since the 2025 close of USD 16.70/KG, the price in Germany has moved up 0.1%, reaching USD 16.72/KG in Q3 2026.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in Japan in 2025

In Japan, prices moved from about USD 17.40/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 17.50/KG by Q4, up roughly 0.6%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3, then rose in Q4 as cellulose costs and pharma demand moved in turn. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in Japan is 0.6% lower at USD 17.40/KG.

Ethyl Cellulose Prices in China in 2025

In China, prices moved from about USD 11.60/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 11.50/KG by Q4, down roughly 0.9%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3 and Q4 as supply conditions and grade mix changed through the year. Since the 2025 close of USD 11.50/KG, the price in China has moved down 0.9%, reaching USD 11.40/KG in Q3 2026.

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We follow ethyl cellulose prices in the main producing and consuming countries, and trace each move back to cellulose costs, ethyl chloride supply, pharma demand and demand. Our forecasts draw on cellulose costs, ethyl chloride supply and pharma demand across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.