The U.S. market for acrylamide has shown some reprieve in terms of price in November, with the demand being steady due to the use of acrylamide for water treatment, enhanced oil recovery, and the production of paper. As of August, U.S. imports of acrylic amides totalled almost 75,000 metric tonnes. The highest month was 10,829 metric tonnes, and the lowest was 7,738 metric tonnes. The main source of acrylamide in the U.S. during this time continues to be China, even though there have been complications relative to tariffs. The current tariff rates are about 47.5% for the U.S. and 31.9% for the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China. The U.S. is also enjoying a temporary "truce" with China on trade; this, combined with the reduction of freight costs (12-13%) from Shanghai to Los Angeles, has resulted in a decrease in total delivered costs of acrylamide. Economic indicators, such as the total output of the oil and gas industry, construction spending, and total output of the paper industry, indicate a continued resilient demand for acrylamide in the U.S.
