Stearic Acid Prices

Stearic Acid Prices September 2024

The stearic acid prices in the United States for Q3 2024 reached 1400 USD/MT in September. The region saw price growth as a result of increased manufacturing expenses in Southeast Asia due to palm oil shortages and shipment surges. Moreover, limited supplies from countries like Indonesia and Malaysia added pressure, with palm oil prices rising globally. This impacted import costs and pushed up prices domestically, reflecting an overall positive pricing environment throughout the quarter.

The price trend for stearic acid in Japan for Q3 2024 settled at 1145 USD/MT in September. The market faced a marked hike in product prices, influenced by rising palm oil costs. Moreover, production limitations in Malaysia and Indonesia, alongside policy-driven demand increases, affected supply. These factors led to significant regional price escalations, maintaining a steady upward trend and reinforcing positive market sentiment throughout the quarter.

In the Netherlands, the stearic acid prices for Q3 2024 reached 1530 USD/MT in September. The market faced substantial price shifts in this quarter. Higher palm oil costs from Southeast Asia, logistical challenges, and reduced exports drove up prices. Moreover, production decline due to seasonal challenges further impacted supplies. As a result, the product price closed on an upward note, underlining an industry marked by ongoing supply and pricing challenges.

The price trend for stearic acid in Brazil for Q3 2024 settled at 1410 USD/MT in September. The market faced a notable price increase due to higher feedstock costs and supply chain issues stemming from Southeast Asia. Moreover, reduced palm oil exports and rising production costs contributed to the steady price climb. The market showed a positive trend throughout the period, closing with strengthened prices due to persistent demand and external factors.

Stearic Acid Prices June 2024

The stearic acid prices in the United States for Q2 2024 reached 1250 USD/MT in June. The region saw price fluctuations, primarily driven by reduced automotive sector demand and supply chain challenges. Moreover, lower palm oil costs also impacted pricing. Besides this, seasonal changes, like decreased summer tire production, influenced this trend. Despite stable year-over-year prices, quarterly declines pointed to weaker market conditions owing to broader economic and logistical issues.

The price trend for stearic acid in Japan for Q2 2024 settled at 1140 USD/MT in June. The market faced significant price shifts due to high input costs and a weaker Yen. Moreover, rising freight expenses, coupled with steady palm oil prices and revived production, pushed prices upward despite subdued seasonal demand. The market showed resilience, closing the quarter with an upward trajectory amid logistical and currency-driven challenges.

In Germany, the stearic acid prices for Q2 2024 reached 1560 USD/MT in June. The market faced consistent price declines, impacted by reduced consumption in the automobile sector and labor strikes. Along with this, palm oil rate drops contributed to lower manufacturing costs, while environmental and port issues added to market pressures. The resulting excess stockpile and lesser lead times led to a challenging market landscape.

The price trend for stearic acid in Brazil for Q2 2024 settled at 1345 USD/MT in June. The market faced a significant price decrease, affected by falling palm oil prices and seasonal demand dips. Despite stable conditions early in the quarter, continued supply chain disruptions and industry-specific challenges led to further declines. The negative trend highlighted the difficulties faced by the market throughout the quarter.

Stearic Acid Prices December 2023

The stearic acid (rubber grade) prices in South Korea for Q4 2023 reached 1322 USD/MT (Rubber Grade) in December. South Korea's stearic acid market showed resilience despite currency fluctuations, which affected pricing. Stable supplies from key exporters and continued demand, especially from sectors needing winter tires, helped maintain market stability. The impact of these economic factors on the stearic acid market was evident, reflecting broader regional dynamics.

The stearic acid (rubber grade) price trend in the Netherlands for Q4 2023 reached 1576 USD/MT (Rubber Grade) in December. The country encountered slight price increases for the compound, driven by a competitive market environment and modest product demand from the winter tyre sector. Moreover, the diminishing industrial activities led to reduced inventory levels. Besides this, cosmetic-grade stearic acid remained less affected as the season progressed, highlighting a differentiated impact across various sectors.

Regional Coverage

The report provides a detailed analysis of the stearic acid market across different regions, each with unique pricing dynamics influenced by localized market conditions, supply chain intricacies, and geopolitical factors. This includes price trends, price forecast and supply and demand trends for each region, along with spot prices by major ports. The report also provides coverage of ex-works, FOB, and CIF prices, as well as the key factors influencing the stearic acid price trend.

Global Stearic Acid Price

The report offers a holistic view of the global stearic acid pricing trends in the form of stearic acid price charts, reflecting the worldwide interplay of supply-demand balances, international trade policies, and overarching economic factors that shape the market on a macro level. This comprehensive analysis not only highlights the current price but also provides insights into stearic acid historical price trends, enabling stakeholders to understand past fluctuations and their underlying causes.

The report also delves into stearic acid price forecast models, projecting future price movements based on a variety of indicators such as expected changes in supply chain dynamics, anticipated policy shifts, and emerging market trends. By examining these factors, the report equips industry participants with the necessary tools to make informed strategic decisions, manage risks, and capitalize on market opportunities. Furthermore, it includes a detailed stearic acid demand analysis, breaking down regional variations and identifying key drivers specific to each geographic market, thus offering a nuanced understanding of the global pricing landscape.

Europe Stearic Acid Price

Q3 2024:

The European market for stearic acid during the third quarter of 2024 witnessed a slight rise in prices, influenced by the increased cost of Southeast Asian palm oil. Moreover, manufacturing limitations and high transport expenses further drove up European prices, with the region's market affected by expensive imported supplies. In Southeast Asia, palm oil production was restricted, notably in Malaysia and Indonesia, where prices surged due to lower output. The move by Indonesia to increase the content of palm oil in applications like biodiesel compounded the supply issue, boosting global product prices. This led to fluctuations in European prices, marked by periods of instability. The Netherlands also saw major shifts, reflecting the volatility in the market. The quarter ended with a positive pricing trend, highlighting the ongoing problems in balancing demand and supply.

Q2 2024:

During Q2 2024, the price of Europe's stearic acid faced continuous declines, largely influenced by weak consumption in sectors like automobiles amid ongoing strikes of labor and port disruptions. Along with this, the decreasing rate of palm oil that fell sharply in the second month of the quarter further reduced manufacturing expenses. In the region, Germany saw major price shifts, with quarterly declines and a notable dip in the initial months of the quarter, driven by port congestion and environmental interruptions. Moreover, reduced product demand, in spite of improved sales of electric vehicles (EV), led to increased levels of stockpiles.

Q4 2023:

The European stearic acid market in Q4 2023 was shaped by modest product demand from the winter tire sector amid decreasing industrial activity, leading to reduced inventory levels. Moreover, the automobile demand remained steady, with little change in sales across regions like the Netherlands. Additionally, marginal price increases occurred due to market competition and demand factors, while the cosmetic grade stayed subdued as the season progressed.

This analysis can be extended to include detailed stearic acid price information for a comprehensive list of countries.

North America Stearic Acid Price

Q3 2024:

During the third quarter of 2024, the market for stearic acid in North America saw stable price hikes. This was largely attributed to higher manufacturing expenses in Southeast Asia, driven by disruptions in palm oil output in leading exporting nations. These factors pushed import expenses up, impacting domestic pricing. Moreover, additional pressures came from increased shipment rates and congestion in ports, further complicating supply chains. Along with this, the market experienced constrained supplies from countries like Indonesia and Malaysia due to a reduction in palm oil availability. Malaysia’s late-September surge in palm oil prices, prompted by production declines, added to the challenges. Additionally, Indonesia faced similar issues, with production drops and increased demand due to new biodiesel mandates. These global trends pushed up North American prices, reflecting an upward pricing trend sustained throughout the quarter.

Q2 2024:

During Q2 2024, the stearic acid prices in North America faced notable setbacks due to major factors impacting pricing trends. The rubber and automobile sectors saw reduced demand, coupled with logistical issues and changing palm oil prices, which fell significantly in May. These elements, along with geopolitical uncertainties and increased shipping costs, led to declining stearic acid prices. The U.S. product industry saw the most notable price volatility, with a slight decline from Q1 and a minor reduction amongst the two parts of quarter two. Despite stability in prices over the previous year, market demand weakened. Moreover, lower production utilization for summer tires further impacted the negative pricing trajectory, underscoring the complex market conditions shaped by economic and industry-specific pressures.

Q4 2023:

In Q4 2023, the stearic acid market in North America saw prices impacted by various factors. A downward trend emerged, driven by increased supply levels from cost-effective imports and escalating domestic production expenses. Demand fluctuations in sectors like automobiles, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), alongside strong seasonal demand from the winter tyre industry, further impacted pricing dynamics. Additionally, the continuation of Mexico's nearshoring activities, with automotive producers establishing bases due to elevated input expenses, led to changing market sentiment.

Specific stearic acid historical data within the United States and Canada can also be provided.

Middle East and Africa Stearic Acid Price

The report explores the stearic acid pricing trends in the Middle East and Africa, considering factors like regional industrial growth, the availability of natural resources, and geopolitical tensions that uniquely influence market prices.

In addition to region-wise data, information on stearic acid prices for countries can also be provided.

Asia Pacific Stearic Acid Price

Q3 2024:

During the third quarter of 2024, the Asia Pacific region saw a marked hike in prices of stearic acid. Rising palm oil costs, owing to supply shortages in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, played an important role in this shift. Moreover, Malaysia’s production setbacks led to price hikes, while Indonesia's output was impacted by similar constraints and increased domestic demand for biodiesel. This policy moves further straining the availability of palm oil, pushing prices higher. The reduced export volumes from these regions added to global market pressures. Furthermore, Japan saw significant price fluctuations, indicating how deeply intertwined regional production costs are with the industry dynamics. This consistent rise showcased a firm pricing environment for stearic acid across the region.

Q2 2024:

During Q2 2024, the Asia Pacific stearic acid market displayed a generally upward pricing trend. The price movements were influenced by steady and fluctuating palm oil costs, which were impacted by moderate manufacturing costs and logistical issues. Notably, shipment charges surged due to port congestion in the region. Although the automobile industry's demand waned following manufacturing halts as a result of safety issues, product prices stayed the same in May. In the region, Japan faced major shifts in rates, driven by rising input expenses and a diminished value of Yen. Despite seasonal dips in summer demand, elevated input costs and a revitalized manufacturing sector pushed prices higher compared to last year. Along with this, stearic acid rubber prices reached higher levels by the end of the quarter.

Q4 2023:

During Q4 2023, the stearic acid market in the Asia Pacific region was stable, supported by a steady supply from some nations in the region. In spite of lower rates of feedstock palm oil, a hike in product demand in the winter tire industry kept market stability intact. In South Korea, currency appreciation affected local pricing dynamics, although specific trends and seasonal effects were not detailed. Overall, modest pricing and steady supply characterized the region's market conditions.

This stearic acid price analysis can be expanded to include a comprehensive list of countries within the region.

Latin America Stearic Acid Price

The analysis of stearic acid prices in Latin America provides a detailed overview, reflecting the unique market dynamics in the region influenced by economic policies, industrial growth, and trade frameworks.

This comprehensive review can be extended to include specific countries within the region.

Stearic Acid Price Trend, Market Analysis, and News

IMARC’s newly published report, titled “Stearic Acid Prices, Trend, Chart, Demand, Market Analysis, News, Historical and Forecast Data Report 2024 Edition,” offers an in-depth analysis of stearic acid pricing, covering an analysis of global and regional market trends and the critical factors driving these price movements.

It encompasses an in-depth review of spot price of stearic acid at major ports, a breakdown of prices including Ex Works, FOB, and CIF, alongside a region-wise dissection of stearic acid price trend across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

The report examines the elements influencing stearic acid price fluctuations, such as changes in raw material costs, supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical factors, and industry-specific developments. Additionally, it integrates the latest market news, providing stakeholders with up-to-date information on market shifts, regulatory changes, and technological advancements, thereby offering a comprehensive overview that aids in strategic decision-making and forecasting.

Stearic Acid Market Analysis

The global stearic acid market size reached 9 Million Tons in 2023. By 2032, IMARC Group expects the market to reach 14.4 Million Tons, at a projected CAGR of 5.40% during 2023-2032.

• The widespread product utilization in a number of personal care products, including soaps, cosmetics, and various detergents due to its emulsifying and cleansing properties represents the key factor driving the market growth.
• Furthermore, the surging use of this compound in the production of rubber and rubber products, including tires, is providing an impetus to the market growth as demand for tires with longer service life and more wear resistance continues to grow.
• According to IMARC, the global tire market is projected to be valued at US$ 256.8 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.9%, which is further contributing to the market growth.
• In confluence with this, the rising product employment in the manufacturing of plastic products across the thriving plastics industry, particularly as a stability and slippage agent in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is creating a positive outlook for market expansion.
• Additionally, the flourishing expansion of the food industry, wherein this compound is utilized as an additive and emulsifier in confectionery and chocolate products as well as in the margarine industry is acting as another significant growth-inducing factor.
• Besides this, the market is also benefiting from increasing industrialization and urbanization across the world, spurring the demand for this acid in construction to manufacture adhesives, coatings, and paints.
• The burgeoning growth of the textile sector, where this compound is extensively utilized for its fabric-softening property, is presenting lucrative opportunities for market expansion.
• The escalating awareness about the biodegradable and non-toxic nature of this compound aligns with the global shift towards sustainability and efforts to curb carbon emissions, which is further bolstering the market growth.
• Moreover, recent breakthroughs in production technologies enabling the use of cost-effective manufacturing processes and enhancing product quality are propelling the market forward.
• Apart from this, the supportive regulatory environment encouraging the adoption of this compound in a plethora of industrial applications owing to its favorable environmental impact is fueling the market expansion.

Stearic Acid News

The report covers the latest developments, updates, and trends impacting the global stearic acid market, providing stakeholders with timely and relevant information. This segment covers a wide array of news items, including the inauguration of new production facilities, advancements in stearic acid production technologies, strategic market expansions by key industry players, and significant mergers and acquisitions that impact the stearic acid price trend.

Latest developments in the stearic acid industry:

• In 2021, BASF and PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad collaborated together to expand the annual production capacity of 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid (2-EHA) from 30,000 to 60,000 metric tons by 2024.

Product Description

Stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid, is a versatile compound with widespread applications across various industries. In its solid form, it appears as a white, waxy substance with a slight odor. The primary source of stearic acid is natural fats and oils, particularly animal fats like beef tallow and vegetable oils such as palm oil and coconut oil. Stearic acid is commonly produced through the saponification of these fats and oils, followed by fractional crystallization.

In the industrial sector, stearic acid finds extensive use as an intermediate in the manufacturing of various products. Besides this, it is also used as an emulsifier and surfactant in the production of cosmetics, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Due to its ability to stabilize emulsions and form creamy textures, stearic acid is widely incorporated into creams, lotions, and ointments, imparting smoothness and consistency to the final products. Moreover, in the cosmetics industry, it is particularly valued for its moisturizing properties and its ability to enhance the spreadability of formulations.

Furthermore, stearic acid serves as a crucial ingredient in the production of soaps and detergents. Its role as a surfactant enables it to reduce the surface tension of water, facilitating the dispersion and removal of dirt and grease from surfaces. Additionally, stearic acid contributes to the formation of lather in soaps, enhancing their cleansing efficacy and providing a luxurious feel to the user.

Report Coverage

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report presents a detailed analysis of stearic acid pricing, covering global and regional trends, spot prices at key ports, and a breakdown of Ex Works, FOB, and CIF prices.
• The study examines factors affecting stearic acid price trend, including raw material costs, supply-demand shifts, geopolitical impacts, and industry developments, offering insights for informed decision-making.
• The competitive landscape review equips stakeholders with crucial insights into the latest market news, regulatory changes, and technological advancements, ensuring a well-rounded, strategic overview for forecasting and planning.
• IMARC offers various subscription options, including monthly, quarterly, and biannual updates, allowing clients to stay informed with the latest market trends, ongoing developments, and comprehensive market insights. The stearic acid price charts ensure our clients remain at the forefront of the industry.