The 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid market in China was under continuous pressure during November 2025, with prices dropping by around 4%. The market was shaped by easing feedstock costs and moderate automotive demand growth outweighed by declining construction demand.
The 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid market in China experienced significant price decline in the month of November 2025 owing to a turn in the market fundamentals to bearish. The movement of this commodity in the market during the month showed exposure to volatility of feedstock as well as the pattern of usage in downstream, especially in certain key application industries, which saw conflicting trends.
The prices for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid Prices were stable in the first week, then fell by about 0.35% during the second week and then dropped further by 0.42% in the third week. The last week saw the strongest weekly correction as prices declined by 3.2% with traders rolling positions to year-end. This aggregate 4% drop in November contrasted with the relatively flat prices in October, suggesting that the 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid market sentiment was changing and influenced by production economics and demand side considerations.
The feedstock supply and demand outlook kept fluctuating for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid manufacturers in the month. The main raw material, i.e. 2-Ethylhexanol has been quite volatile, down 1.4% at first and then moving up by 2% in the third week of November. However, the raw material market experienced drastic growth during the last week, with prices increasing by 6.8%. Moreover, Propylene, another key feedstock for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid production, prices were relatively weak with a 1% loss by mid-month followed by gains of 5.6% and 1% in the following weeks. Even though the upstream prices recovered towards the end of the month, the negative sentiment had already taken hold for the 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid market.
China's automotive industry, a significant user of 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid in coatings and lubricants, showed a more than 12% year-on-year growth in October production, indicating sectoral strength in November. Passenger vehicle sales rose 11.2% year on year in October, and sales of new energy vehicles are anticipated to exceed 1 million units for the third month in a row. Despite this good sales trend in the automotive industry, there was no immediate turning point for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid prices in November because this demand situation well met due to sufficient stocks.
The construction industry exhibited mixed trends in November 2025. China's construction and services activity fell significantly in November, contracting for the first time since December 2022. Weakness in this segment had a direct effect on the demand of 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid used in plasticizers for architectural glass and in paint driers for decorative coatings. In addition, 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid demand for construction-related usage was affected by a 1.7% decline in fixed-asset investments in the first three quarters of 2025.
As of December 2025, the prospect in the 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid market is unpredictable. The strong rise of the feedstock 2-Ethylhexanol and propylene cost in the late November may bring the upward pressure on the price if sustained. But reduced building activity and sufficient stocks bode for a limited growth in the near term. Players in the market will also wait for trends in year-end automotive production and changes in the construction sector performance, as these will be critical to shaping the demand and price for 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid in 2026.
