US acrylamide prices eased through January 2026 as improved import availability and softer freight rates countered pockets of stronger industrial buying. Early-month feedstock easing and smoother port logistics lowered landed costs for U.S. buyers; mid-month, a localized force majeure in Shanghai limited knock-on effects as shippers maintained shipments; late-month strength from wastewater treatment and technical-textile restocking failed to offset softer domestic manufacturing appetite. Overall, the market traded with ample CFR availability, leaving sellers under pressure even as orders from utilities and specialty sectors firmed toward month-end. Demand dynamics were mixed across end-uses, with divergence helping shape the price slide. Wastewater treatment remained the strongest sector, driven by infrastructure projects and restocking, lifting interest in acrylamide-based flocculants, municipal nutrient-removal systems, and smart-water technologies; in contrast, general manufacturing weakened, reducing buying urgency. Pulp and paper and technical textiles provided moderate support—e-commerce packaging, medical-grade papers, and smart fabrics showed steady offtake. Near-term outlook remains mixed, with upside in the coming months and softer later.
