In the first week of March 2025, the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) prices remained mixed in the global market. The US ABS price trend remained stable, while the Asian market declined due to weak demand and oversupply. Despite, fluctuations in the raw material costs, the balanced supply and demand situation in the USA sustained price consolidation for the time being. At the same time, the Asian ABS market struggled with inventory buildup and weak regional demand.

The US ABS prices rolled over in the first week of March 2025 due to moderate supply and weak downstream automotive demand. The high supply in the ABS market countered any price increases for the time being. However, the uncertainty about the possible tariff adjustments may impact the prices of the ABS later in the year. The feedstock Styrene was stable in the US market prompting stability in the cost pressure for the ABS producers. Meanwhile, the feedstock butadiene and acrylonitrile prices remained fluctuating and had a minimal impact on the ABS prices due to balanced demand-supply levels. The low trading activities and stable production costs prevented any significant dip in the ABS pricing movement during this timeframe.

In Asia, the ABS industry's operating rate remained unchanged since February. The ABS prices showed a declining pricing momentum in the first week of March 2025 as the average weekly output increased at the end of February 2025, indicating an accumulation trend. The orders of petrochemical plants have not been improved, the traders have failed in the delivery of the material. Thus, the supply side did not support the ABS prices in the previous month.

The three upstream ABS materials showed a generally robust trend in February before becoming weak, which helped to strengthen ABS's cost side. The spot price increased at the start of the month due to a low industry load of domestic acrylonitrile, low inventories, and a tight supply. However, after the bulls left, the market price continued to fall due to the recovery of production capacity as well as the general reduction in exports and domestic demand. However, the recent decline in acrylonitrile has been somewhat restrained by the uncertainty surrounding forecasts and the spot resource uncertainties in March.

On the demand side, the downstream buying sentiments in the automotive sector recovered slowly at the start of March 2025 in the ABS market, and the prior flat pattern was carried over. The terminal factory's reopening was postponed for the entire month, and the overall load position gradually improved in February 2025. The market's purchasing sentiments are down, the flow of goods is sluggish, and the terminal businesses still have inventories to process. Overall, the demand side's ability to sustain the ABS market is lacking. February saw volatility and declines in the domestic ABS market. In March 2025, the supply of the ABS market is expected to remain strong amid weak demand in the APAC region.

As per ChemAnalyst, the US ABS market is anticipated to remain stable, amid raw material fluctuations and Tariff adjustments. Meanwhile, Chinese ABS may face a downward price trend due to oversupply and weak downstream consumption during March 2025.