Acetylene prices in the Asian market remained stable at high levels during early December 2025, following a sharp 6.6% increase in November. Tight inventories, rising feedstock calcium carbide costs, and strong seasonal demand from construction, PVC, and automotive sectors continued to support firm market fundamentals.
In India, acetylene prices remained stable at high levels during early week of December following the sharp surged in November. The sustained uptrend was driven by elevated calcium carbide prices and firm downstream demand, which together kept the market well balanced despite stable production rates.
Throughout November, the supply of materials in India was limited. High prices for feedstock calcium carbide were a result of strong prices for raw materials in Asia. Carbide producers had high replacement costs, which limited their ability to reduce prices and continued to raise the cost of acetylene production.
Domestic acetylene producers operated at steady rates; however, inventory replenishment remained conservative. Producers and distributors maintained low stock levels to manage cost risks, preventing any meaningful supply build-up. Strong foreign demand during the period also contributed to tighter availability in the domestic market.
Demand remained robust, supported by seasonal construction activity and strong infrastructure execution. Consumption from PVC manufacturing, welding, and metal cutting applications stayed firm as post-monsoon construction gathered pace. India’s construction and infrastructure sector continued to outperform globally, recording around 7.1% annual growth.
Procurement activity strengthened as buyers advanced purchases to secure volumes amid rising replacement costs. Sellers largely adopted a “limited supply” stance, offering material selectively and reinforcing the firm pricing environment. Tight inventories across the value chain sustained positive market sentiment.
In China, acetylene prices also remained high due to rising feedstock calcium carbide prices and strong industrial consumption. Rising carbide prices increased acetylene production cost, encouraging disciplined supply management and keeping inventory levels tight across the domestic market.
The automotive industry added to the overall volume of orders for Acetylene yet continued to be used heavily in the Oxy-Acetylene Welding/Cutting Process for making car body parts, car exhaust systems and precise metal fabrication. The Ongoing and strong Volume of Order Fulfillment in Automotive Repair & Manufacturing was the result of a very strong atmosphere of order volume being fulfilled each month with generally consistent offtake.
China’s automobile market showed resilience, with wholesale sales of new energy vehicles reaching 1.72 million units in November, up 7.0% month-on-month. This growth supported fabrication and maintenance activity, indirectly boosting acetylene consumption across automotive-related applications.
According to ChemAnalyst data, acetylene will continue to rise in price in the upcoming weeks. The traditional start-of-year seasonal restocking will be a factor for increasing buying interest, and the reduction of inventories from the December clearance activities may also provide support for stronger offers. Cost pressures continuing together with prudent supply will continue to provide a solid foundation for the acetylene market.
