Acetic Acid Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Acetic Acid Prices Worldwide
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See 7 monthly Acetic Acid price assessments covering 7 locations: United States, South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Middle East and Africa. Also check Acetic Acid price history since 2007 and forecasts. The chart below is a sample of Intratec Primary Commodity Prices - subscribe now and gain access to current prices of 226 commodities, including Acetic Acid.
Data Legend. The Acetic Acid price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) as follows:
- US: Acetic Acid, United States, transaction, fob
- SAM: Acetic Acid, South America, transaction, cif, Brazil
- EUR: Acetic Acid, Europe, transaction, cif, Belgium
- SEA: Acetic Acid, Southeast Asia, transaction, cif, India
- CN: Acetic Acid, China, spot, exw
- MDE: Acetic Acid, Middle East, transaction, fob, Saudi Arabia
- AFR: Acetic Acid, Africa, transaction, cif, South Africa
Data Use. Acetic Acid prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 226 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Intratec Primary Commodity Prices
Track global current prices of 226 commodities including Acetic Acid
Current Monthly Prices
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Plans Starting at $299 USD /year
Price Dynamics. The Acetic Acid price in United States decreased during December 2018 to 604 USD per metric ton, which represents a considerable decline of 14% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Acetic Acid prices in United States increased significantly by 40%. Meanwhile, in Belgium, the average price of Acetic Acid amounted to 579 USD per metric ton, from 432 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Acetic Acid price in Belgium is 22% higher than the price one month before.
The price of Acetic Acid in China rose considerably throughout December 2018, reaching 647 USD per metric ton. The price in China is 18% higher than the average price in the previous month and 4% lower than the average price one year before. In contrast, Acetic Acid prices in India decreased during December 2018, reaching 646 USD per metric ton, which means a decline of 6% from the previous month’s price and a rise of 14% from the previous year’s price.
The Acetic Acid prices in Saudi Arabia experienced a modest decline of 9 USD per metric ton from the prior month's price, to 657 USD per metric ton. Such price movement in Saudi Arabia meant a decrease of 1% on a monthly basis and a rise of 15% on a yearly basis. On the other hand, in December 2018, the Acetic Acid price in Brazil witnessed a rise of 40 USD per metric ton when compared against the previous month's price, to 485 USD per metric ton. The December 2018 price in Brazil is 11% higher than the price one year before.
In South Africa, the average price of Acetic Acid was 941 USD per metric ton on December 2018 – a little increase of 2 USD per metric ton, or 0.2%, compared with the previous month. On a year-over-year basis, the Acetic Acid price in South Africa is 16% higher than the price one year before.
About Acetic Acid. Acetic Acid (a.k.a. Ethanoic Acid, Hydrogen Acetate, Vinegar) is an organic compound, in the carboxylic acids class. It is a clear, colorless liquid, with sharp odor and burning taste, miscible with water and most organic solvents. It can be found naturally in dilute solutions in plants and animal systems, as well as in ocean water, rain and oilfield brines. Its existence has been known for more than 2,000 years, and, currently, it is the most commercialized organic acid worldwide. Acetic acid, in organic process, can be comparable to sulfuric acid in mineral chemical industries, as its movements mirror the ones of the industry as a whole, and a country’s consumption can help to establish the current state of its economy.
While acetic acid solutions have long been produced by ethanol fermentation, nowadays the commercial production of acetic acid is mainly based on methanol carbonylation and liquid-phase oxidation of n-butane.
Acetic Acid must be stored away from contact with oxidizing materials, in containers lined with stainless steel, glass, or polyethylene, or made from aluminum. It is usually transported in tank wagons, in amounts intermediate between drum and tank car shipment, with nominal capacities of 38-76 m3, made up of stainless steel or aluminum alloy. The acid is frequently transported and stored in concentrations greater than 99%, since water increases the corrosion power significantly; fortunately, acetic acid is not as hygroscopic as some other anhydrous organic compounds. Higher concentrations (glacial) freeze at around 16 °C, and for this reason, some precautions must be taken depending on the weather. Heating coils, electrical or steam heaters, and vents are usually employed to prevent crystallization.
Acetic Acid can be produced by biological and synthetic routes. While bacterial fermentation of ethanol is still used for Vinegar manufacture, the most important synthetic routes for the commercial production of Acetic Acid nowadays are based on methanol carbonylation and liquid-phase oxidation of butane, naphtha, or acetaldehyde. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Acetic Acid are listed below.
- Methanol + carbon monoxide (methanol carbonylation process, rhodium promoted with iodide as catalyst ),
- Acetaldehyde (liquid phase air oxidation process),
- n-Butane (or naphta) (catalytic liquid phase oxidation process, in the presence of metallic ions (such as cobalt, manganese or chromium)),
- Vinyl acetate (ester hydrolysis/isomerization, by product of acetaldehyde production),
- Ethanol (oxidation process)
The uses and applications of Acetic Acid may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Acetic Acid are glacial (99.4 wt% minimum purity); technical grade (usually 80 wt%); dilute (usually 36–37wt%) ; and vinegar (2-12 wt% aqueous solution).
The largest end uses of Acetic Acid are in the production of vinyl acetate monomer and acetic anhydride. Vinyl acetate monomer is primarily a feedstock for the manufacture of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA) and vinyl acetate copolymers, used in paints, adhesives, paper coatings, and textile treatment. Acetic anhydride, in turn, is a reagent in organic synthesis, mostly used in the production of cellulose acetate textile fibers, cigarette filter tow, and cellulose plastics.
