For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• In the United States, the Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, due to subdued synthetic fiber demand.
• ASF production costs faced mixed pressures in Q3 2025, with PPI rising 2.6% year-over-year in August 2025.
• Propylene feedstock costs declined in Q3 2025, while ammonia feedstock costs experienced upward pressure during the quarter.
• ASF demand outlook was bearish in Q3 2025, as consumer confidence declined to 94.2 in September 2025.
• Industrial production marginally increased by 0.1% year-over-year in September 2025, indicating weak industrial demand.
• Retail sales increased by 5.42% year-over-year in September 2025, supporting consumer-facing ASF applications.
• CPI rose 3.0% year-over-year in September 2025, and unemployment was 4.3%, impacting consumer purchasing power.
• Acrylonitrile production rates were affected by limited ammonia supplies in Q3 2025, impacting precursor availability.
Why did the price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) change in September 2025 in North America?
• Subdued synthetic fiber demand and chemical market deterioration tempered buying interest in Q3 2025.
• Acrylonitrile production costs faced mixed pressures from declining propylene and rising ammonia in Q3 2025.
• Weakening consumer confidence and marginal industrial production growth impacted ASF demand in Q3 2025.
APAC
• In China, the Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, driven by weak industrial demand.
• Acrylonitrile (AN) prices, key ASF feedstock, softened in China during Q3 2025, reducing production costs.
• China's Manufacturing Index contracted in September 2025, signaling reduced production for ASF sectors.
• Industrial production increased 6.5% year-on-year in September 2025, providing some support for ASF demand.
• CPI declined 0.3% year-on-year in September 2025, impacting consumer purchasing power for ASF products.
• PPI fell 2.3% year-on-year in September 2025, reflecting weak pricing power for ASF manufacturers.
• Domestic apparel sales improved in China during Q3 2025, partially offsetting declining apparel exports.
• Automotive vehicle sales significantly increased in Q3 2025, boosting ASF demand in industrial applications.
Why did the price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) change in September 2025 in APAC?
• Weak industrial demand, with a contracting Manufacturing Index in September 2025, pressured ASF prices.
• Softening Acrylonitrile (AN) and upstream propylene costs in Q3 2025 reduced production expenses for ASF.
• Deflationary pressures from a 0.3% CPI decline in September 2025 impacted consumer purchasing for ASF goods.
Europe
• In Germany, the Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter, influenced by contracting manufacturing in September 2025.
• ASF production costs rose in Q3 2025, driven by European ammonia price surges in September and elevated gas prices.
• Demand for ASF declined in Q3 2025 as Germany's textile sector experienced a significant downturn.
• The Manufacturing Index contracted in September 2025, signaling reduced demand for ASF.
• Consumer confidence was significantly negative (-23.6 index) in September 2025, dampening discretionary spending.
• Industrial production in Germany declined by 1.0% year-over-year in September 2025, reducing ASF demand.
• Despite a 3.9% unemployment rate, a 2.4% CPI YoY in September 2025 indicated inflationary pressures.
• Producer Price Index (PPI) declined by 1.7% year-over-year in September 2025, reflecting lower input costs.
• European chemical production continued to decline in Q3 2025, decreasing ASF supply and capacity utilization.
Why did the price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Contracting manufacturing activity in September 2025 reduced ASF demand.
• European ammonia price surges in September 2025 increased ASF production costs.
• Negative consumer confidence in September 2025 dampened discretionary spending.
For the Quarter Ending June 2023
North America
The price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) showed a mixed trend during the second quarter. In the first month of the second quarter, the price of ASF decreased due to low production costs amid falling crude oil and acrylonitrile prices.
However, producers had to reduce their run rates to meet the low demand, which added to the market pressure. Despite these weak fundamentals, the market was supported by high producer inventories and the weak global economy. Meanwhile, the price of ASF recovered slightly in the second month. Looking ahead, the US Bureau of Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose by 0.1% in May, providing further support for price increases.
Finally, in the last month of the quarter, weak demand in the region and rising inventories caused prices to fall again. Market participants also expected the ASF market to be challenging for about three months due to a significant slowdown in export demand from Europe due to the off-season for knitwear. Ultimately, the ASF 1.5D price declined to settle at USD 2650/MT FOB Texas.
APAC
The price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) experienced mixed sentiment in the second quarter of 2023, with prices mainly on a downward trend. The slowdown in orders reinforced this trend, as downstream demand declined and plants in Korea cut back production. Major ASF producers were forced to cut prices to attract customers, but buyers and consumers were reluctant to place new orders. Market sources said that it was difficult to improve the region's weak demand and that inventories were rising. In addition, export orders were low amid weak seasonal demand for woolen clothing. However, by the middle of the quarter, the price of ASF rose slightly as a result of tight material availability. This shortage provided some support to the ASF market despite the downward trend in the acrylonitrile market. Downstream orders from the upholstery sector increased during the quarter, but demand for knitwear declined. Overall, limited material availability was the main factor influencing the price of ASF during the period. In the first half of the year, the price decline was mainly driven by weak demand from sectors such as sweaters and hand-knitting yarns, which signaled a pessimistic outlook for ASF. The market had also experienced limited demand and minimal trading activity, which further exacerbated the downward price trend. As a result, the ASF price showed a mixed trend, hovering around USD 2602/MT CFR Busan.
Europe
The price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) fell in the German market during the second quarter of 2008, as crude oil prices fell on the back of gloomy forecasts for the global economy and concerns about the US banking system. Buying sentiment was also affected by reduced operating rates in the textile industry. However, due to low domestic demand, recent offers in the domestic market showed slight price declines. By the middle of the quarter, the price increase in the German ASF market suggested that the manufacturing sector in the region was only marginally affected. Consumer demand, however, remained mixed. Low stocks in the region supported the upward price trend, but this was not enough to justify the price increase, as the European market was also struggling with rising inflationary concerns. Meanwhile, there was no support from the feedstock market as the acrylonitrile market in the European region was in decline. Uncertainty in the European market with low inventories therefore led to a partial recovery in ASF prices in the second month of the quarter. However, by the end of the second quarter, the price of ASF 1.5D had fallen back to settle at USD 2320/MT FD Hamburg. Monthly inflation, as estimated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, also fell by 0.5% in June 2023. However, the off-season for knitwear continued to weigh on the market as demand from end-user industries fell sharply.
For the Quarter Ending March 2023
North America
The cost of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) increased during the first quarter of 2023 due to the rising demand and fluctuating feedstock prices. The main driver was the rising cost of upstream Acrylonitrile, which is the primary raw material used in the production of ASF. This increase in cost was due to the fluctuation in crude oil prices globally, which impacted the price of the feedstock acrylonitrile. In addition, there was a slowdown in production rates due to labor disputes between union dock workers and their employers. This resulted in reduced inventories for some ASF enterprises, which led to selling pressure. However, despite the reduced inventories, the operating rate of textile industries remained mild, which helped to keep the ASF market bullish throughout the first quarter of 2023.
APAC
The first quarter of 2023 saw varied patterns in the price of Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) in Asian markets, with prices falling in Far East Asia and rising in Southeast Asia. Additionally, after China's Lunar New Year holiday, export demand increased. Following the holiday break, production rates quickly rose along with demand from the textile industry's downstream sector. Businesses also tried to increase stocks in anticipation of growing demand from downstream industries. However, downstream demand for sweaters and knitting supplies began to fall towards the end of the quarter, which turned the pricing trend for ASF around. Because of this, the price of ASF 1.5D fluctuated throughout the first quarter of 2023, with prices circling about USD 2425/MT FOB Qingdao in February.
Europe
A limited supply of raw materials and increased feedstock prices put pressure on the European Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) market. Production rates were low as producers tried to wait for some calmness in the feedstock market. The fundamentals of demand were also not very positive, and it seemed that downstream orders were small. However, despite having substantial stockpiles on hand, the price for ASF rose as demand was healthy from downstream sectors. As a result, increased demand, rising inflation, and changes in the price of imported raw materials all had an impact on the price of Acrylic Staple Fibre during the first quarter of 2023.
For the Quarter Ending December 2022
North America
During Q4 2022, the Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) market displayed mixed sentiments. A decline in demand from downstream textile industries was the main reason for the price drop in the first half. Meanwhile, decreased orders revealed the huge inventory and kept the pressure on both local and export pricing. Regional export and domestic prices were continuing weak pricing trends as a result of a lack of buying activity. Numerous reasons, including excessive inventory, rising inflation, and distrust among customers, were affecting the profitability of some producers. However, the demand for winter wear increased in the middle of the quarter, and production costs increased, resulting in a slight increment in prices. As a result, the price of ASF 1.5D in the US market fluctuated throughout the fourth quarter, reaching USD 2845/MT FOB Texas in November 2022.
APAC
Poor demand fundamentals led the Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) market to shrink in the Asian market during this quarter. The price in the Chinese market was low and stable, and the supply chain lacked assurance. As the terminal ran out of orders, the operational rate gradually fell. In the meantime, several areas have reduced their prices to promote shipment. In the first part of Q4, the consumption of clothing and light textiles in downstream industries was once again subpar. Later, due to the rigorous Zero-Covid Policy, small businesses found it difficult to meet their production goals in order to guarantee supplies over the winter. As a result of continued market fluctuations, the price ultimately settled at USD 2309/MT FOB Qingdao in November 2022.
Europe
Acrylic Staple Fibre (ASF) prices in Europe also fluctuated throughout the fourth quarter of 2022. Rising inflationary pressure and soaring energy prices had consequently weakened the consumer's attitude toward textile products. However European textile sector was also struggling with slow demand from its downstream sectors. Later, as inventories remained limited, the major driving factor behind price increment was rising feedstock Acrylonitrile prices amidst limited stocks, which had caused market participants to increase their offers. In Conclusion, the price for ASF 1.5D settled at USD 2418/MT FD Hamburg during October, considering high product availability and overall weak demand from the downstream textile sector in the second half of Q4.
