Polybutylene Succinate Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Japan paid the most for polybutylene succinate in Q2 2026: USD 3,635/MT, up 3.3% from USD 3,520 in Q1.

Polybutylene succinate, PBS, is a biodegradable polyester copolymerised from succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol, valued for a melting point and mechanical profile closer to conventional polyethylene than most other biodegradable plastics, easing its adoption in existing processing equipment.

Injection moulding grade serves rigid biodegradable products, while film grade serves flexible packaging, with an increasing share of production now using bio-based succinic acid derived from fermentation rather than the traditional petrochemical route from maleic anhydride.

Japan holds a long-established position in PBS given the technology's origins there, while China has built substantial capacity more recently, giving it a cost advantage that has shifted global production's centre of gravity.

PBS's closer processing compatibility with conventional polyethylene equipment, relative to PLA or PBAT, has made it an easier material for converters to adopt without significant capital investment in new machinery, a meaningful practical advantage during early-stage market adoption.

The shift toward bio-based succinic acid, produced by fermenting sugar rather than processing maleic anhydride, is gradually changing PBS's own sustainability profile and cost structure, an evolution still very much in progress across the industry.

A buyer choosing between China and Japan in Q2 2026 faced a price gap of roughly 24%, the widest split among the regions in this report. Local production economics and import exposure explain most of that difference.

Polybutylene Succinate Price Forecast for 2026

Expect steady gains across all four markets through H2 2026 as biodegradable plastics demand continues its structural growth. China should retain its cost advantage given its more recently built, larger-scale production capacity. Japan's premium should persist given its established technology position and stricter quality specifications in its home market. The pace of bio-based succinic acid capacity additions is worth watching, since it will increasingly determine how much of PBS production shifts away from the traditional petrochemical route over the next several years.

H1 2026 closed with the 4 tracked markets averaging a 3.4% increase move quarter on quarter. That trajectory should hold into H2 unless one of the cost or demand drivers above shifts materially.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Polybutylene Succinate Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 2,930/MT
• Japan: USD 3,635/MT
• United States: USD 3,355/MT
• Europe: USD 3,505/MT

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in China

China's price gained 3.7% to USD 2,930/MT, ample newer production capacity met firming feedstock costs, ranking it the most affordable among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Succinate change in Q2 2026 in China?

Ample newer production capacity met firming feedstock costs, supporting a steady increase, working out to China trading about 12.7% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against China's own average pace of 1.8% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in faster than that pace.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in Japan

In Q2 2026, Japan priced at USD 3,635/MT, up 3.3% from USD 3,520/MT the previous quarter, placing it the priciest across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Succinate change in Q2 2026 in Japan?

Strong demand from the region's established biodegradable plastics industry, combined with stricter local quality specifications, kept Japan at the top of this group, leaving Japan running roughly 8.3% above the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is faster than the 1.6% average quarterly move Japan has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in United States

United States reached USD 3,355/MT in Q2 2026, growing demand for biodegradable packaging solutions kept US pricing climbing, putting it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

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

Growing demand for biodegradable packaging solutions kept US pricing climbing, with United States now sitting about 0.0% below the 4-region average this quarter.

United States has averaged 1.7% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in faster than that longer-run pace.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in Europe

Europe rose 3.4% to USD 3,505/MT in Q2 2026, firm packaging sector demand supported a steady quarter alongside rising feedstock costs, making it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Succinate change in Q2 2026 in Europe?

Firm packaging sector demand supported a steady quarter alongside rising feedstock costs, which puts Europe roughly 4.4% above the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 1.7% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, Europe's move this quarter landed faster than that trend.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Polybutylene Succinate Prices Q1 2026:

• China: USD 2,825/MT
• Japan: USD 3,520/MT
• United States: USD 3,245/MT
• Europe: USD 3,390/MT

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in China

China's price gained 1.3% to USD 2,825/MT, feedstock costs firmed modestly as the year opened, ranking it the most affordable among the 4 markets this report follows.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Succinate change in Q1 2026 in China?

Feedstock costs firmed modestly as the year opened, carrying through to a steady early-year increase, working out to China trading about 12.9% below this quarter's 4-region average.

Measured against China's own average pace of 1.8% a quarter across the six quarters this report tracks, this move came in slower than that pace.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in Japan

In Q1 2026, Japan priced at USD 3,520/MT, up 1.2% from USD 3,477/MT the previous quarter, placing it the priciest across the 4 regions covered in this report.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Succinate change in Q1 2026 in Japan?

Consistent demand from the region's established PBS industry carried prices higher, leaving Japan running roughly 8.5% above the 4-region average for the quarter.

That is slower than the 1.6% average quarterly move Japan has posted across the six quarters this report tracks.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in United States

United States reached USD 3,245/MT in Q1 2026, early-year demand from biodegradable packaging brands supported a firm start to 2026, putting it the 3rd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked this quarter.

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

Early-year demand from biodegradable packaging brands supported a firm start to 2026, with United States now sitting about 0.0% above the 4-region average this quarter.

United States has averaged 1.7% a quarter over the six quarters this report tracks; this move came in slower than that longer-run pace.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in Europe

Europe rose 1.3% to USD 3,390/MT in Q1 2026, growing packaging sector demand supported a steady early-year gain, making it the 2nd most expensive of the 4 markets tracked here this quarter.

Why did the price of Polybutylene Succinate change in Q1 2026 in Europe?

Growing packaging sector demand supported a steady early-year gain, which puts Europe roughly 4.5% above the average across the 4 regions this report tracks.

Set against a 1.7% average quarterly pace over the six quarters this report tracks, Europe's move this quarter landed slower than that trend.

Quarterly Polybutylene Succinate Price Trends

The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 3,082/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,356 by Q2 2026, a gain of 8.9% over six quarters.

What was Polybutylene Succinate Price in 2025?

Looking back at 2025, the global polybutylene succinate average ran from about USD 3,082/MT in Q1 to USD 3,204 by Q4, a 3.9% increase across the year.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in China in 2025

China prices moved from about USD 2,680/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 2,788 by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. China closed the year ranked 4 of the 4 markets this report tracks.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in Japan in 2025

Japan prices moved from about USD 3,350/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,477 by Q4, up roughly 3.8%, leaving Japan in 1 place among the 4 tracked markets heading into the new year.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in United States in 2025

United States prices moved from about USD 3,080/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,203 by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. That left United States ranked 3 of 4 tracked markets heading into 2026.

Polybutylene Succinate Prices in Europe in 2025

Europe prices moved from about USD 3,220/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,347 by Q4, up roughly 3.9%, placing Europe 2 of 4 tracked markets as 2025 closed out.

How We Can Help

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

Rather than reporting a single number in isolation, we follow polybutylene succinate pricing back to its roots: succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol costs, regional supply and demand balance, and the policy shifts that move both. That research gets updated on an ongoing basis across every region we cover.

Forecasts draw on production capacity data, feedstock cost trends, and demand signals from the regions we track, giving procurement and sourcing teams a grounded basis for budgeting and supplier negotiations rather than a single static number.

For a deeper regional cut, historical data beyond the six quarters covered here, or a sourcing analysis tailored to your own procurement footprint, get in touch with our analyst team directly.

We track bio-based and petrochemical-route succinic acid costs as a leading indicator for PBS pricing, since the industry's gradual shift between the two routes is an important undercurrent in this market.