World Analysis – Acetyls

Long-term outlook to 2060

Global acetic acid demand is primarily driven by two major derivative sectors: Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) and Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA). Other significant consumption segments include acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate (EAC), while smaller but important end uses include monochloroacetic acid (MCA), n-butyl acetate (BAC), sec-butyl acetate, and ethanol. Beyond its industrial applications, acetic acid is widely recognized for its role in the food industry, most notably in vinegar production, and in various pharmaceutical processes.

VAM demand is largely supported by downstream production of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which are extensively used in adhesives, paints, and coatings. VAM is also a key precursor for ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), a segment experiencing strong growth due to increasing photovoltaic panel installations. Additional niche consumption channels include ethylene, vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE).

Acetic acid is predominantly produced via methanol carbonylation, the most cost-effective commercial technology. Because methanol is the primary feedstock, natural gas prices heavily influence global acetic acid production economics by shaping methanol cost structures and margins. In mainland China, however, coal prices play a central role, as coal-based methanol remains the dominant route for acetic acid production.

VAM is primarily manufactured using the ethylene process, which consumes ethylene, acetic acid, and oxygen as feedstocks. In mainland China, the acetylene-based VAM route remains prevalent due to structurally lower acetylene production costs.

Meanwhile, growing emphasis on sustainability is accelerating interest in bio-based acetic acid. This can be produced partially or fully from biomethanol using mass-balance methodologies, aligning with broader industry efforts to reduce carbon footprints and support circularity across chemical value chains.

Long-term outlook to 2060

The World Analysis – Acetyls provides an in-depth assessment of the global acetyls market, offering comprehensive analysis and strategic insights into the key developments that will shape the long-term supply, demand, trade, and pricing outlooks. This service equips industry participants with the analytical foundation needed to navigate market volatility and anticipate structural shifts across the acetyls value chain.

Subscribers gain access to a full suite of reports, data files, analytical tools, and visualization modules, available online and downloadable from our website, including:

• A strategic report outlining critical insights and the future trajectory of global and regional markets

• Online Data Browser access to supply, demand, and capacity databases

• Continuously updated company/shareholder capacity listings, capacity integration analysis, and rankings of top producers/consumers, including surplus/deficit capacity profiles

• A comprehensive Data Appendix (Excel) featuring supply/demand and capacity tables, plus a dashboard with standard visualizations for all countries and regions

• Excel data files with long-range supply/demand graphics and price forecasts through 2060, along with detailed trade grids showing country- and region-level trade flows with 5- and 10-year projections

• An interactive online dashboard visualizing capacity, integration, supply/demand balances, trade flows, and price, cost, and margin forecasts

• Explanatory Notes detailing data sources, methodology, assumptions, units, conversion factors, and full World Analysis deliverables

• Energy and macroeconomic assumptions used in the long-term outlook

• Price assessment methodology and forecasting framework

This World Analysis provides detailed intelligence on capacities, production, demand, and trade across all major producing and consuming countries, regions, and global hubs. While robust data collection underpins the historical and forward views, the true value of the service lies in the expert interpretation and market analysis applied by our global team.

Data verification is a central pillar of our approach. Direct engagement with key industry participants ensures that our conclusions reflect real-world market behavior and deliver the most accurate, realistic forward outlook for the global acetyls industry.

Long-term outlook to 2060