Acetone markets in the U.S. surged through March on tight domestic availability and higher upstream costs amid seasonal restocking. Early in the month, buyers were cautious amid geopolitical uncertainty, but mid-month demand from coatings, automotive refinishing and electronics value chains picked up as inventories tightened. By late March, a pronounced rally developed as maintenance outages, restricted imports and freight disruptions compressed spot availability, prompting accelerated procurement and tighter markets. Demand showed sectoral unevenness: the bisphenol-A chain remained robust, elevating run-rates for acetone as phenol–acetone producers faced feedstock pressure; while substitution in industrial cleaning and certain coatings tempered volumes. Construction coatings and automotive refinishing rebounded with spring, supporting spot interest, while electronics and polycarbonate/adhesive resin feedstocks sustained demand. Domestic producers accounted for majority of U.S. demand. The market moved to markedly higher spot indications, with supply dynamics adding to the uplift. Near-term outlook remains biased higher but contingent on feedstock movements, import flows and logistics disruptions.
