The Acrylic Acid market in China and Europe is exhibiting mixed trends. In China, the market is experiencing a slight upward movement as participants re-enter following the Lunar New Year, leading to increased activity. Meanwhile, in Germany, Acrylic Acid prices remain stable at the lower end, indicating a bearish outlook due to continued sluggishness in the downstream construction sector. Given the demand-driven nature of the market, spot activity is expected to remain subdued in Germany until the second quarter of 2025, signaling a slow start to the year.

In China, the Acrylic Acid market witnessed a modest uptick of 0.3% in its trend during the week ending February 14. Overall, market sentiment remains bullish, driven by a rise in both domestic and international orders following the Lunar New Year. However, the increase in market activity due to growing orders for Acrylic Acid was somewhat restrained by declining production costs and the weaker performance of the downstream construction sector, resulting in only a slight overall incline in the Acrylic Acid market sentiment.

Regarding the downstream sector, China’s residential property market continued to decline in January, with both new home sales and existing home prices falling. According to the China Index Academy, average existing home prices in the top 100 cities dropped by 7% year-on-year, while major developers experienced a 17% decline in sales value. Despite government interventions such as subsidies and financing support for state-owned enterprises, market sentiment remains subdued. This real estate downturn has put pressure on China’s construction sector, leading to reduced demand for materials and slowing overall activity.

In Germany, the Acrylic Acid market remained stable at a lower level, reflecting a bearish trend during the week ending February 14. Although production costs of Acrylic Acid have risen amid an incline in the feedstock Propylene prices, weak demand from the downstream construction sector—marked by limited new orders—has prevented significant price fluctuations. While sluggish demand has kept sellers from raising prices, widespread discounting has not been observed. Additionally, export sales continue to decline in line with Germany’s broader economic slowdown, with the government projecting a 0.3% drop in exports for 2025, driven by reduced competitiveness and increasing geopolitical uncertainties.

Due to the market’s reliance on-demand, spot activity is projected to remain sluggish until at least the second quarter of 2025, indicating a slow start to the year. Despite an adequate supply of Acrylic Acid, distributors faced difficulties in securing deals as buyers remained cautious. Germany’s economic recovery has encountered new obstacles, with the government lowering growth forecasts amid escalating trade tensions and political uncertainties. Furthermore, the struggling construction sector has further weighed on market sentiment, resulting in workforce reductions and decreased material purchases. While the decline in buying activity has stabilized to some extent, the overall bearish outlook persists, keeping pressure on the Acrylic Acid market.

According to ChemAnalyst, the Acrylic Acid market in China and European nations is expected to follow a mixed trend. In Europe, prices are likely to remain bearish due to the continued weak performance of the downstream coating and construction sectors. Meanwhile, in China, demand for Acrylic Acid —both domestically and internationally—is projected to rise following the Lunar New Year.