In early February 2026, U.S. Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) prices steadied following a pronounced rise in January, when values advanced 6.94% month on month amid tightening fundamentals. Trading activity evolved from a quiet start to the year into firmer mid-month conditions, as constrained prompt supply and higher upstream costs lifted spot offers.
From the price front, Weekly movements showed a clear progression through January before stabilizing in early February. As of this week the price of the SAN in the USA reached to 2570 USD/MT FOB-Houston extending an ongoing multi-week bullish run of prolonged buildup activities from the market participants. Early January saw subdued activity and a calm tone, while mid-month supplier firmness and tighter prompt availability pushed spot offers higher. Per ChemAnalyst data, SAN recorded a month-on-month increase of 6.94% in January 2026, with tight feedstock availability and rising compliance costs cited as key contributors to higher SAN spot offers and upward pressure on margins.
Demand dynamics for SAN were a clear supporting factor for January’s gains. Procurement from the automotive and electronics sectors remained strong as buyers sought to secure volumes ahead of planned production schedules and anticipated cost pressures; ChemAnalyst data notes robust procurement activity in both sectors during the weeks. Industrial demand stayed steady, providing an additional baseline of consumption. This combination of proactive buying by downstream users and steady industrial pull reinforced supplier confidence and underpinned the continuation of a multi-week bullish trend in SAN prices.
On the supply side, rising upstream pressures tightened prompt availability and increased production costs of SAN. ChemAnalyst data highlights a feedstock squeeze and higher compliance-related costs that constrained prompt supply and squeezed margins, prompting manufacturers to manage inventories more conservatively. Several suppliers restricted spot allocations and prioritized term commitments to protect margins, while logistics conditions remained broadly steady and did not materially alleviate the tightness. The result was a market where controlled inventories and cautious selling amplified the impact of steady demand and higher upstream costs.
As per the ChemAnalyst anticipation, the price of the SAN is expected to showcase upward pressure to persist based on current market dynamics, though any further moves will be contingent on feedstock availability, compliance cost trajectories and how aggressively suppliers allocate spot volumes versus term business. Buyers continuing to secure volumes ahead of cost pressures will remain a supportive factor, while any easing in upstream feedstock tightness or a shift toward more liberal spot allocations could moderate near-term momentum.
