For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• In USA, the Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Price Index fell by 3.92% quarter-over-quarter, pressured by inventories.
• The average Methyl N-Amyl Ketone price for the quarter was approximately USD 4333.33/MT, reflecting exports.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Spot Price softened as Price Index signalled oversupply amid rising Gulf-Coast inventories.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Price Forecast suggests modest upside from winter coatings seasonality and export recovery.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Production Cost Trend eased as acetone and butyraldehyde prices declined, reducing support.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Demand Outlook remains mixed with strong Asian imports offsetting US coatings consumption.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Price Index reflected full Gulf operating rates, freight lanes and export bookings.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Spot Price rose as sellers trimmed FOB lists to clear Gulf inventories.
Why did the price of Methyl N-Amyl Ketone change in September 2025 in North America?
• Rising Gulf inventories, steady production increased available FOB volumes, weakening domestic and spot price traction.
• Lower acetone and butyraldehyde prices eased production costs, reducing pricing power and prompting seller discounts.
• Export demand from Mexico and Asia absorbed volumes but did not offset domestic weakness.
Europe
• In Germany and France, MAK production was steady, supported by local acetone availability.
• Supply chains were stable, though transportation delays in Mediterranean ports affected delivery schedules.
• Production cost trends remained moderate due to stable feedstock prices.
• Demand from coatings and specialty chemical sectors showed cautious growth.
• Inventories remained balanced, preventing major disruptions in supply.
• Spot availability was moderate as European exporters maintained routine shipments.
Why did MAK activity change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Stable feedstock availability supported consistent production.
• Transportation delays impacted delivery schedules, creating short-term logistical adjustments.
• Regional demand patterns remained cautious, limiting rapid uptake.
APAC
• In India, the Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Price Index fell by 4.07% quarter-over-quarter, due to weak demand.
• The average Methyl N-Amyl Ketone price for the quarter was approximately USD 4757.01/MT CFR JNPT.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Spot Price eased as CFR offers softened, keeping the Price Index subdued.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Price Forecast signals modest recovery from festival restocking and easing port congestion.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Production Cost Trend weakened as acetone feedstock declines reduced upstream cost support.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Demand Outlook remains cautious; coatings restocking may support only modest incremental volumes.
• Methyl N-Amyl Ketone Price Index reflected ample imports and balanced inventories, limiting sustained price rallies.
• MAK spot tightness was temporary as major exporters maintained rates, capping rally in Price Index.
Why did the price of Methyl N-Amyl Ketone change in September 2025 in APAC?
• South Korea and US supply influx increased competitive CFR offers, pressuring landed values in September.
• Weaker acetone feedstock costs reduced production cost pressure, removing upstream support for domestic MAK prices.
• Monsoon-related port congestion and delayed arrivals created timing volatility, prompting hand-to-mouth buying and subdued procurement.
For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK) Price Index in North America increased marginally by 1.0%, settling at approximately USD 4,430/MT FOB Louisiana in June.
• Why did the price of Methyl n-Amyl Ketone change in July 2025 in North America?
Prices likely stabilized as downstream coatings and chemical demand held steady, while exporters continued to clear surplus volumes under favorable freight spreads to Europe, Mexico, and Asia.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Price Forecast for Q3 remains neutral to slightly bullish, supported by steady global pull, regulatory shifts toward green-solvent systems, and targeted R&D in low-VOC coating technologies.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Production Cost Trend eased through Q2 as acetone prices fell 3–4% and butyraldehyde declined ~2%. With Gulf Coast plants operating at full capacity and no major outages reported, storage tanks filled rapidly, contributing to spot price softness.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Demand Outlook remained broadly supportive. Domestic consumption was stable in the adhesives, coatings, and solvent segments, while export markets played a key balancing role.
• Demand from Mexico surged in May, while buyers in China and Europe re-engaged in June amid favorable trade dynamics.
• U.S. green chemistry policy and coatings-sector innovation remained key pillars of demand. Formulators focused on ultra-low-VOC and water-based lines in response to tightening air-emission norms and sustainability mandates.
• While domestic consumption trends plateaued, international interest provided relief. Latin America and Europe capitalized on lower U.S. offers, and Indian buyers opportunistically secured discounted cargoes amid price-led procurement strategies.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
• Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK) Price Index in APAC declined by 1.5% quarter-on-quarter, settling at USD 4448/MT in June CFR JNPT.
• Why did the price of Methyl n-Amyl Ketone change in July 2025 in India?
Prices likely stabilized in early July as acetone costs bottomed out and construction-related demand offered limited but steady support. Meanwhile, some downstream sectors reassessed procurement strategies following deep price corrections in Q2.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Price Forecast for Q3 suggests a cautiously stable trend, with prices expected to hover between 4400–4500/MT, supported by modest construction demand, steady ink and adhesive consumption, and expectations of seasonal restocking in the coatings sector.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Production Cost Trend remained under downward pressure throughout Q2 due to declining acetone prices in India and 3.9% m-o-m in Northeast Asia.
• Butyraldehyde prices in Asia remained flat, while global freight routes operated efficiently, facilitating steady low-cost import flows from South Korea, the U.S., and Southeast Asia.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Demand Outlook remained subdued through the quarter. Industrial coatings demand weakened due to soft decorative paint sales and competitive pressure, with companies like Asian Paints reporting sharp profit drops and facing regulatory scrutiny.
• India’s adhesive, ink, and industrial solvent sectors-maintained baseline activity, while construction-related offtake lent mild support. However, procurement remained cautious, short-term, and highly price-sensitive due to tighter margins and competitive intensity.
• Automotive-related thinning demand stayed soft amid seasonal slowdown and limited sentiment recovery, while ongoing consolidation moves—like JSW’s acquisition of Akzo Nobel’s Indian business—added near-term uncertainty for major buyers and distributors.
Europe
• Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK) Price Index in Europe showed a mixed-to-stable trend through Q2 2025.
• Why did the price of Methyl n-Amyl Ketone change in July 2025 in Europe?
Prices in early July held steady as stable import flows from South Korea and India supported supply, while demand remained rangebound.
• Importers also benefited from slightly improved freight economics, which tempered upward price pressure.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Price Forecast indicates a mostly flat trajectory for Q3, with spot values expected to fluctuate modestly based on global shipping conditions and seasonal demand from construction coatings and printing applications.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Production Cost Trend in Europe remained largely shaped by import dynamics, as local production remained limited.
• Costs were influenced by currency fluctuations, freight charges, and feedstock trends in origin countries.
• South Korean and Indian exporters continued to offer cost-competitive cargoes, helping European buyers manage margins.
• The Methyl n-Amyl Ketone Demand Outlook in Europe was mixed. While construction and packaging-related sectors offered some seasonal support, the industrial coatings and decorative paint segments showed restraint.
• Adhesives and printing ink manufacturers maintained regular procurement, but high inventories and cautious forward bookings kept overall momentum subdued.
• Although the market avoided sharp swings, sentiment remained cautious. Import dependency, margin compression, and limited local production capacity meant Europe’s MAK market remained reactive to external trends.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
In Q1 2025, the North American Methyl N-Amyl Ketone (MAK) market showcased a gradually stabilizing price trend. January began on a bullish note with FOB Louisiana prices rising by 4.2% to USD 4400/MT, driven by feedstock constraints and improved industrial output. However, February brought logistical disruptions from an Arctic Blast and port congestion, dampening supply and causing prices to increase modestly again by 2.3%.
Despite geopolitical uncertainties around tariffs on Mexico and Canada, no major cost shocks emerged, keeping the market fundamentally balanced. Demand trends remained divergent: the cosmetics sector continued to support MAK usage, particularly in fragrances and clean beauty formulations, while the paints and coatings industry faced demand softness due to weak housing activity and restructuring efforts by key players like Sherwin-Williams and PPG.
Overall, Q1 2025 saw early-quarter price growth followed by stabilization, supported by steady cosmetics sector demand and recovering supply chains, though partially offset by subdued consumption in industrial coatings.
APAC
The APAC Methyl N-Amyl Ketone (MAK) market exhibited a mixed price trend in Q1 2025. January began with bullish momentum, driven by supply tightness caused by limited feedstock Butylene availability and low export volumes, pushing CFR JNPT prices up by 6.6%. Strong demand from the cosmetics and automotive sectors, particularly in India, reinforced upward pressure on prices.
However, February saw a shift, as U.S. production was disrupted by an Arctic Blast and port congestion, leading to reduced export availability and import declines into India. Despite this, stable demand from cosmetics and coatings sectors maintained market resilience. By March, prices corrected slightly—falling by 2.09%—amid recovering U.S. supply chains and normalized logistics, which eased procurement costs.
Consistent demand from India’s growing beauty, coatings, and infrastructure sectors helped buffer steeper declines. Import cost optimizations and a stable rupee further supported a balanced supply-demand dynamic. Overall, Q1 2025 closed with a mixed performance—strong early-quarter pricing followed by easing trends toward quarter-end, shaped by evolving supply conditions and steady downstream demand across personal care, coatings, and automotive applications.
Europe
In Q1 2025, the Methyl N-Amyl Ketone (MAK) market in Europe displayed a mixed trend, shaped by fluctuating production costs, sector-specific demand shifts, and gradual supply chain recovery. January began with firm pricing, supported by high crude oil prices and winter-driven energy costs. However, by February, easing feedstock prices and improved logistics led to slightly softer prices in parts of the region.
Demand varied across sectors—automotive activity remained subdued amid cautious inventory strategies and economic uncertainty, while the cosmetics and personal care industry sustained MAK usage due to strong e-commerce performance and demand for sustainable, fragrance-rich formulations.
By March, pricing largely stabilized as suppliers adopted a rollover approach in the absence of major cost or demand shifts. Weakness in industrial coatings was offset by resilience in consumer-facing segments.
Overall, the quarter reflected a balance of bullish and bearish factors, with the European MAK market maintaining resilience despite ongoing macroeconomic pressures.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Methyl N-Amyl Ketone (MAK) market experienced fluctuating price movements driven by several factors. In October, prices were stable, supported by steady production and moderate supply availability. However, by November, the market saw a 7.2% decline due to reduced export orders, supply chain disruptions caused by hurricanes, and lower Acetone prices, which negatively impacted production costs. Despite these challenges, demand for MAK remained strong across key sectors like automotive and cosmetics, driven by increased vehicle sales and e-commerce growth during the Black Friday period.
Entering December, the market experienced a price rebound, with a 3.2% increase. This recovery was attributed to steady domestic demand, particularly in the cosmetics sector during the holiday season, along with limited availability of existing stocks. The rise in crude oil prices also contributed to increased production costs, further supporting the price increase.
Overall, the fourth quarter saw a shift from stability to a brief decline and a subsequent recovery, reflecting the balance of strong domestic demand, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating production costs. The market ended with a net 4% increase compared to the previous quarter, indicating resilience despite external challenges.
APAC
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Methyl N-Amyl Ketone (MAK) saw a notable 5% increase in demand compared to the previous quarter, driven by a combination of sector-specific growth and steady production dynamics. In October, a surge in demand from the paints and coatings sector, along with strong manufacturing activity, pushed prices higher. This was supported by elevated feedstock costs and rising production expenses, particularly due to labor and transportation costs. The steady demand from key industries like automotive and cosmetics provided additional support for market growth. By mid-quarter, the market experienced a slight 0.2% decline, attributed to weaker demand from the automotive sector amid lower vehicle sales. Despite this, the cosmetics sector witnessed strong growth, particularly driven by seasonal demand in personal care products, such as perfumes and makeup, which helped maintain steady overall demand for MAK. In December, the market rebounded, with a 4% increase in demand, driven by stable production, growing demand in the paints and coatings sector, and expanding markets in Asia. The demand from the automotive sector remained mixed, but continued strength in the cosmetics and personal care industries fueled the overall growth. This positive trend reflects a stable supply-demand balance, supported by steady industrial activity and seasonal upticks in demand.
Europe
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Methyl N-Amyl Ketone (MAK) market in Europe experienced fluctuating price movements influenced by a combination of supply chain challenges, demand variations, and production dynamics. Initially, prices remained stable, supported by consistent production and moderate supply availability. However, in November, the market faced a brief downturn due to reduced export orders and disruptions caused by supply chain issues, including logistical challenges and lower acetone prices, which impacted production costs. Despite these hurdles, demand for MAK remained robust in key sectors such as automotive and cosmetics, driven by increased vehicle sales and e-commerce growth during the holiday season. As the market moved into December, a recovery was seen, with prices rebounding due to strong domestic demand, particularly in the cosmetics sector. The holiday season boosted consumer spending, supporting demand for personal care products that utilize MAK. Additionally, rising crude oil prices led to increased production costs, which contributed to the upward price movement. Overall, the fourth quarter reflected a shift from stability to a brief decline, followed by a recovery, indicating a resilient market. The quarter ended with a notable increase compared to the previous period, showcasing the market's ability to balance strong demand and external challenges.
