US Sorbitol 70% solution activity softened into early February 2026 as the market moved from a choppy January. January opened calm, then a mid-January cold snap tightened logistics and feedstock flows, prompting a rally before sellers conceded ground later in the month. Overall sentiment shifted from weather-driven tightness to a more balanced late-month picture as import arrivals and comfortable distributor stocks reduced urgency. The February pullback reflects rebalancing amid ongoing upstream cost pressures for producers. Demand dynamics remained mixed across end-use sectors, with confectionery and oral-care buyers the strongest contributors, sustaining momentum mid-January while distributors and many industrial buyers exercised caution late in the month. Trade was muted toward month-end, with finished-product demand supportive in key personal-care and food applications. Upstream drivers, glucose availability, higher energy costs, and metal-price spikes, tightened margins, while mid-January logistics disruptions and later import timing eased constraints. Looking ahead, a stable, range-bound market is expected, though risks from input costs and weather-driven flows persist.
