US-based petrochemical producer Celanese on Thursday announced North American price increases of 5 cents/lb for vinyl acetate monomer and 2 cents/lb for acetic acid, effective April 1 and as contracts allow, without specifying a reason for the increases.
On February 15, Celanese announced a 3 cents/lb price hike for VAM and 2 cents/lb for AA, which brings the total increases to 8 cents/lb ($176/mt) for VAM and 4 cents/lb ($88/mt) for AA in the year.
However, sources said that those price increases have found resistance among US buyers as feedstock methanol prices have remained stable in the last four months on the back of abundant supply and stable inventory levels.
On March 22, US AA prices and VAM values were assessed at $525-530/mt and $835-845/mt, respectively.
Meanwhile, in Central and South America Celanese increased prices $50/mt for AA and $125/mt for VAM, effective April 1 and as contracts allow. This increase is in addition to the announcements of January 13 and February 15 that resulted in price hikes of $50/mt and $75 for AA and VAM, respectively. The cumulative price increases in the year is $100/mt for AA and $200/mt for VAM, based on company's information.
In Europe, prices were increased Eur100/mt for AA and VAM in addition to earlier increases of Eur50/mt for AA and Eur80/mt for VAM. This brings the total price increase for the year to Eur150/mt for AA and and Eur180/mt for VAM.
Asian prices outside China were also increased by $100/mt for AA and VAM, bringing the total price increases for the year to $150/mt for both AA and VAM.
Inside China, prices were increased by Yuan 100/mt for AA and Yuan 300/mt for VAM. This brings the total price increases to Yuan 400/mt for AA and Yuan 600/mt for VAM.
The company did not provide the final prices for the products in their announcement.
