US Isophthalic Acid Prices Decline 3.33% in Late August as Supply Availability Improves

The US isophthalic acid market lost momentum in late August after a mid-month rally, as renewed spot availability and cautious downstream buying outweighed earlier logistics and replacement-cost pressure. July prices had already declined 2.0% as construction-linked demand softened, although PET resin producers maintained relatively steady consumption. By August, packaging remained the market's most dependable demand base, while unsaturated polyester resin, composites and coatings continued to show limited purchasing appetite. The broader U.S. manufacturing sector remained resilient, but construction weakened: July housing starts fell 12.4% month on month, while single-family starts declined 9.9%, reinforcing pressure on construction-related resin consumption. Supply remained adequate, while Asian availability and softer U.S. meta-xylene values reduced replacement-cost pressure. Logistics were functional, with U.S. rail traffic remaining elevated. Looking ahead, a recovery remains possible into September if PET and pre-quarter-end restocking improves, but the late-August correction suggests buyers are unlikely to chase higher offers aggressively.