MIBK prices decreased for the week of November 21, 2025, in China and India by 1.1% and in the U.S. by 2.1%. Sentiment has been pressured by weak downstream demand, steady supply, and softer feedstock acetone costs. Besides that, cautious procurement and oversupply conditions kept market activity subdued across regions.
During the week of 21st November, the prices of Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) have shown a downward trend in major markets due to a combination of weak downstream demand, steady supply, and cautious market sentiment. MIBK prices dropped by 1.1% in China, 1.1% in India, and 2.1% in the United States.
The prices of MIBK in the United States fell more dramatically, down 2.1%, as bearish factors converged. Feedstock acetone prices fell by 4.7% during the week, easing cost pressure but also pointing to weaker fundamentals. Softer upstream energy costs, lower market offers, and limited trading activity weighed on sentiment. Downstream demand from coatings, adhesives, and rubber chemicals remained soft, leaving buyers cautious. Supply levels continued to outpace demand, reinforcing weak market conditions. Overall sentiment in the U.S. MIBK market stayed subdued, with sellers facing difficulty in pushing volumes amid limited consumption.
In China, MIBK prices fell because feedstock acetone prices remained stable while supply conditions improved. Domestic acetone operating rates increased to 80% due to the ramp-up of new units at Fuyu Petrochemical and Zhejiang Petrochemical. Cargo arrivals replenished inventories at the ports to 26,000 tons, leaving supply relatively sufficient. Traders showed a high willingness to sell, but downstream adhesives, coatings, rubber chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and printing ink adopted "just in time" procurement strategies and avoided large stockpiles. Seasonal weakness in northern construction activity further undermined demand. Weak fundamentals were reflected in October's trade data, with extremely low imports and exports down 72% from a month earlier, indicating subdued downstream consumption for MIBK.
In India, MIBK prices fell under pressure from weak downstream demand and steady domestic production. Imports remained consistent, contributing to a market surplus. Feedstock acetone prices declined by 0.9% during the week, while softer benzene and propylene values added bearish sentiment. Demand from paints and coatings remained slack following the festive lull, with weak offtake continuing into November. Market participants, however, expect sentiment to improve in December and January as pharmaceutical demand rebounds. API manufacturers are forecasted to ramp up production schedules for the winter demand cycle, providing mild support. For now, pharma demand remains low, and steady MIBK imports risk oversupply unless shipment postponements occur to balance inventories.
This week's declines underlined a common theme across the two regions-abundant supply and cautious downstream demand. However, as per ChemAnalyst, India may see a pharmaceutical driven rebound in the coming months, but China and the U.S. are expected to remain pressured by oversupply and muted consumption, thus keeping MIBK prices on a bearish trajectory.
