US acetone buyers faced a tight spot market into May, with firmer buying interest and limited availability underpinning sentiment. The April period saw a sharp reaction to upstream disruptions and restocking activity, while mid-April activity benefited from resumed polymer-related consumption and steady merchant orders. In April and into May, procurement remained firm as buyers chased scarce spot volumes and producers prioritized contract fills, keeping spot liquidity constrained and sending sentiment toward the upside. Demand across BPA and coatings/manufacturing supported the run-up, as paints and coatings orders held firm and BPA producers sustained elevated merchant requirements. A restart of Dow Chemical's PMMA sheet line refreshed MMA demand in the region. The market cited substantial cost pressure from upstream feedstock costs and earlier crude and propylene movements, compounded by ethylene outages that tightened supply. The outlook remains firm to modestly higher as inventories are managed and order books stay closed, with downstream pull and co-product strength supporting continued upside risk.
