Supply and demand in balance offset global pressures to keep Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) prices steady in Asia and America during the first week of November 2025. In China, operating rates were stable with abundant inventories. Feedstock markets gave mixed signals as acrylonitrile prices stabilized, while butadiene inched up and styrene remained weak. Demand was subdued with downstream factories focused on replenishment and merchants being compelled to offer discounts amid high stocks. In Brazil, consumption was propped up by stable imports and resilient automotive activity despite softer retail sales. In the United States, vehicle sales dramatically declined, especially electric vehicles after subsidy cuts, while supply and industrial demand for ABS were balanced.
In China, ABS prices were stable, with supply conditions broadly in balance. Operating rates across the domestic industry remained at an average of stable levels, as Zhenjiang Qimei restarted its 7-series line while Zhejiang Petrochemical continued equipment upgrades. Sinopec's Ineos Benzene Line remained under maintenance and slightly reduced the load levels, whereas inventories at aggregation enterprises hovered around high levels, ensuring abundant availability.
Feedstock markets showed mixed signals, with acrylonitrile settling after earlier losses, while butadiene edged higher from low levels and styrene was weak on high port stocks.
Downstream factories were operating at average loads on the demand side, and procurement was mainly replenishment. The momentum for proactive buying was not high. Merchants still had high inventory of ABS, and some offered discounts to promote sales. The electrical appliance shell industry, which mainly consumed ABS, continuously suffered from poor profits and flat production. The turbulence of overseas markets negatively affected export sentiment.
Prices for ABS in Brazil were stable because supply was balanced by steady demand, which counteracted the pressures of global oversupply. Imports continued to arrive regularly, as vessel turnaround times remained stable in key Latin American ports like Rio Grande, Acajutla, and Corinto. Localized congestion in Nicaragua and hurricane-related disruptions in Haiti and Jamaica had negligible impacts on Brazil's inbound supply chain.
In Brazil, ABS demand was underpinned by automotive activity: sales of vehicles decreased 1.6% y-o-y in October, yet total registrations of cars and light commercial vehicles reached 247,877 units; direct sales accounted for 54.1% of the total, with ongoing fleet and institutional demand. The ongoing leading position of the Fiat Argo model testified to consumer interest in more affordable models, supporting ABS consumption for applications such as automotive interiors and components.
However, in the United States, light-vehicle sales in October were down 6.5% to an annualized rate of 15.3 million units. Sharp declines in electric vehicle sales after the loss of federal subsidies cut into dealer volumes. Analysts said concerns about the labour market and near-term tariff-related price increases may restrain a near-term rebound. Despite the slowdown, ABS prices were steady because of balanced supply conditions and steady industrial demand.
According to ChemAnalyst, during the first week of November 2025, the ABS market in both Asia and America was cautious and stable, with abundant supply, subdued demand, and unrelenting automotive activities that may altogether be barring volatility. Though feedstock cost, logistics, and consumer sentiment continue to show challenges, the balance between production and consumption strengthened stability in the prices of ABS in both regions.
