In August 2025, the price of Ethyl Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) in China fell by 0.6%, despite production costs in Japan increasing due to increased upstream Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) prices and a plant closure, as demand has been weak from downstream customers making packaging and using inventory in the automotive sector. Recent production closures, high inventories of PET, and seasonal slowdowns compounded weak demand. There was a decline of 5.0% in Japanese EVOH exports to China causing prices to be pressured, which was caused due to logistical issues as a landslide in Yunnan disrupted the grocery chain. Between U.S.-China tariffs (20-30% on certain imports) and declining intra-Asian freight rates, downstream customers are intimidated by the increased competition as the easier access for cheaper imports floods the market and sustains the bearish outlook.
Key Takeaways:
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Ethyl Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) prices dropped due to high PET inventories and weak demand from packaging and automotive sectors, despite rising VAM costs in Japan.
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Japanese EVOH exports to China fell x.xx, from xx,xxx MT to xx,xxx MT, impacted by logistical issues from a Yunnan landslide.
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U.S.-China tariffs (xx-xxx) and falling freight rates (USD xxx to USD xxx per xx ft container) intensified price competition.
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ChemAnalyst forecasts a rebound outlook for EVOH prices, with renewed demand likely to persist.
Despite rising production costs in Japan due to a spike in upstream VAM prices and a xx-day maintenance shutdown at Nippon Gohsei’s Kita-ku, Okayama City facility (xx,xxx TPM capacity) from August xx–xx, China’s EVOH prices continued to decline by x.xx in the first half of August xxxx, reaching USD xxxx/MT, CFR Qingdao. The major driver was persistently weak demand from downstream packaging and automotive...
