Asian Acetic Acid/VAM: AA prices fall as methanol costs decline / Methanol costs drop $120.90/mt in China / Acetic acid FOB China falls $19/mt over week / VAM prices hold steady amid weak demand

Oct 17, 2026

Asian acetic acid (AA) prices ended the week lower as falling methanol costs weighed on sentiment, while Asian vinyl acetate monomer markets were largely unchanged amid thin trading activity. Upstream, methanol prices in East China fell sharply, dropping 810 Yuan/mt ($120.90/mt) week over week to 3,890 Yuan/mt Oct. 15, with discussions heard at 3,886- 3,934 Yuan/mt extank. Market participants said elevated methanol prices had undermined the economics of methanol-to-olefins production and downstream derivative sectors, prompting the recent correction in methanol values. In the East China domestic acetic acid market, spot cargoes were discussed at 4,400-4,650 Yuan/mt ex-tank Oct. 15, down 175 Yuan/mt from the previous week. In the export market, FOB China offers were heard at $620/mt. FOB China acetic acid at $610/mt Oct. 15, down $19/mt week over week,...

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