Energy related disruption led to a sharp Belgium acetone price increase in the early days of 2026, with Belgium leading an overall 13.11 % increase, as supply-side disruptions made their impact felt on the market. Domo Chemicals’ Leuna operation filed for insolvency and INEOS Phenol shut down its Gladbeck plant on a permanent basis, both have taken or risk the removal of substantial quantities of regional acetone capacity. After Orlen exited Poland and now further cuts to operating rates, Acetone is going through a structural supply squeeze. Although acetone demand appeared weak overall, downstream industries such as BPA, MMA and solvent started to restock in the early days of the year, resulting in rising competition for traded goods. According to ChemAnalyst, with the high energy prices, carbon taxes and import competition putting continued pressure on producers, the acetone market in Europe is likely to remain firm into February 2026.
Key Highlights
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INEOS Gladbeck’s closure removed ***,*** t/y of acetone capacity from the European market.
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Domo Chemicals’ insolvency at Leuna raised fears of further acetone supply disruption in Germany.
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Orlen’s Plock plant decommissioning added to European acetone structural supply contraction.
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Improving downstream restocking amplified acetone price sensitivity amid shrinking regional output.
In the first week of January ****, acetone prices in Belgium rose USD **/MT from USD ***/MT to USD ***/MT, up **.*** week-on-week. The price surge comes after a number of major disruptions that have redefined Europe’s phenol–acetone scene. High costs for energy, strict carbon policies and poor margins have led a number of producers to either close plants outright or continue operating in a state of financial uncertainty, taking significant quantities out of the regional market.
One of the most immediate shock results of Domo Chemicals,...
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