Isobutene Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Germany paid the most for isobutene in Q2 2026: USD 1.20/KG, up 2.6% from USD 1.17 in Q1.

Isobutene, also known as isobutylene, is a branched C4 olefin recovered from the mixed C4 raffinate stream produced by steam crackers and fluid catalytic crackers. It is also generated by cracking MTBE or dehydrating tert-butanol where those routes are economical.

Its largest downstream use is butyl rubber production, prized for its exceptional impermeability to air, which makes it the material of choice for tire inner liners and inner tubes. It also feeds polyisobutylene, MTBE and ETBE fuel oxygenates, and a range of specialty chemical intermediates.

Because isobutene is extracted from a shared C4 stream rather than made as a standalone product, its supply and pricing are closely linked to overall steam cracker operating rates and the broader olefins complex.

Comparing the four markets side by side, Germany sat about 8% above China as Q2 closed. That kind of gap is common where import exposure and domestic production costs diverge as sharply as they do here.

Key Price Drivers

• Steam cracker and FCC operating rates, which determine C4 raffinate stream availability
• Butyl rubber demand from tire manufacturing, the largest single downstream use
• MTBE and fuel oxygenate demand, a secondary but meaningful pull on supply
• Regional energy costs, which affect cracker margins and therefore C4 output

Isobutene Price Forecast for 2026

Expect steady gains across all four markets through H2 2026 as butyl rubber demand from tire manufacturing continues its gradual recovery.

Germany should retain its position as the highest-cost market given tighter regional cracker capacity and higher energy input costs.

Any pickup in overall steam cracker utilisation would likely ease the tightness in the C4 stream and moderate the pace of increase.

On balance, the first half of 2026 brought a 3.8% increase average move across the 4 markets covered here, a trend that should persist through year end absent a material change in the underlying drivers.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Isobutene Prices Q2 2026:

• United States: USD 1.13/KG
• China: USD 1.11/KG
• Germany: USD 1.20/KG
• South Korea: USD 1.15/KG

Isobutene Prices in United States

In Q2 2026, United States priced at USD 1.13/KG, up 3.7% from USD 1.09/KG the previous quarter, making it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

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

Steady cracker utilisation met firm butyl rubber demand from tire producers, supporting another incremental gain, which puts United States roughly 1.5% below the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Isobutene Prices in China

China reached USD 1.11/KG in Q2 2026, growing domestic tire manufacturing capacity kept demand firm against, ranking it the most affordable among the 4 markets this report follows.

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

Growing domestic tire manufacturing capacity kept demand firm against a tightly balanced regional C4 supply, working out to China trading about 3.3% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Isobutene Prices in Germany

Germany rose 2.6% to USD 1.20/KG in Q2 2026, higher regional energy costs kept Germany at the top, placing it the priciest across the 4 regions covered in this report.

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

Higher regional energy costs kept Germany at the top of this group, tracking the same underlying tire-demand recovery as the other three markets, leaving Germany running roughly 4.6% above the 4-region average for the quarter.

Isobutene Prices in South Korea

USD 1.15/KG. That is where South Korea landed in Q2 2026, up 3.6% from USD 1.11/KG in Q1 2026, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Isobutene change in Q2 2026 in South Korea?

Strong petrochemical export demand and steady cracker operating rates supported a firm quarter, with South Korea now sitting about 0.2% above the 4-region average this quarter.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Isobutene Prices Q1 2026:

• United States: USD 1.09/KG
• China: USD 1.05/KG
• Germany: USD 1.17/KG
• South Korea: USD 1.11/KG

Isobutene Prices in United States

In Q1 2026, United States priced at USD 1.09/KG, up 1.7% from USD 1.07/KG the previous quarter, making it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

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

Cracker utilisation held steady through the quarter, supporting a modest early-year gain in step with firming rubber demand, which puts United States roughly 1.4% below the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Isobutene Prices in China

China reached USD 1.05/KG in Q1 2026, early-year tire production ramp-up lifted demand as the new, ranking it the most affordable among the 4 markets this report follows.

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

Early-year tire production ramp-up lifted demand as the new year began, working out to China trading about 5.0% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Isobutene Prices in Germany

Germany rose 1.6% to USD 1.17/KG in Q1 2026, energy costs firmed alongside broader European input cost trends, placing it the priciest across the 4 regions covered in this report.

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

Energy costs firmed alongside broader European input cost trends, supporting Germany's premium, leaving Germany running roughly 5.9% above the 4-region average for the quarter.

Isobutene Prices in South Korea

USD 1.11/KG. That is where South Korea landed in Q1 2026, up 1.6% from USD 1.09/KG in Q4 2025, putting it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

Why did the price of Isobutene change in Q1 2026 in South Korea?

Consistent petrochemical complex operating rates supported steady early-year pricing, with South Korea now sitting about 0.5% above the 4-region average this quarter.

Quarterly Isobutene Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 1.04/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.15 by Q2 2026, a gain of 10.9% over six quarters.

What was Isobutene Price in 2025?

Isobutene pricing trended upward through 2025 on a global average basis, starting the year around USD 1.04/KG and ending it at USD 1.09, a 5.0% increase over the four quarters.

Isobutene Prices in United States in 2025

United States prices moved from about USD 1.02/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.07 by Q4, up roughly 5.1%, placing United States 3 of 4 tracked markets as 2025 closed out.

Isobutene Prices in China in 2025

China prices moved from about USD 0.980/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.03 by Q4, up roughly 5.3%. China closed the year ranked 4 of the 4 markets this report tracks.

Isobutene Prices in Germany in 2025

Germany prices moved from about USD 1.10/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.15 by Q4, up roughly 4.7%, leaving Germany in 1 place among the 4 tracked markets heading into the new year.

Isobutene Prices in South Korea in 2025

South Korea prices moved from about USD 1.04/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 1.09 by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. That left South Korea ranked 2 of 4 tracked markets heading into 2026.

How We Can Help

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

We monitor isobutene markets across every region with meaningful production or consumption, connecting the price you see to the butane, butene, MTBE, and tert-butanol costs and demand conditions behind it. The result is a regularly updated view built from the ground up rather than a single static figure.

Our forecasts combine production capacity data with feedstock cost trends and regional demand signals, giving sourcing teams a defensible basis for budgeting and supplier negotiations beyond a single point estimate.

Get in touch with our analysts if you need a more detailed regional view, historical pricing beyond the six quarters shown here, or a sourcing analysis built specifically around your procurement footprint.