India’s Sorbitan Monostearate market softened in January 2026, as seasonal soft offtake and comfortable supply allowed buyers to defer large purchases. Early January saw domestic producers run steadily, and imports from China sustained availability, while mid-to-late month activity shifted to small replenishment as procurement managers adopted a wait-and-watch stance. Downstream users front-loading stocks before December drew inventories rather than issuing large new tenders, leaving activity subdued across end-use segments. Demand weakness was concentrated in food and personal-care channels, while pharmaceuticals remained routine. Bakery, confectionery, and processed-food segments slowed fresh tenders for emulsifiers and weighed on consumption; personal-care formulators likewise limited call-offs for cosmetic emulsions. Pharmaceuticals continued routine purchases for ointment bases, but volumes did not fully offset softer food-sector pulls. Imports still covered some parts of the demand, and spot assessments edged lower across the month. Near-term downside risk through February and March persists, with a modest recovery expected later in the quarter on selective restocking.
