The US Sorbitol markets weakened through February as buying remained routine rather than opportunistic, with late-February selling pressure pushing values lower. Early declines gave way to a flatter mid-month tone before a renewed round of spot liquidity and sharper selloffs in late February underscored the soft price environment. Participants attributed the move to balanced inventories and the absence of demand surges from major end-users. Logistics stayed orderly and feedstock conditions offered little impetus for a rebound, leaving sellers inclined to discount to clear positions as the month closed. Downstream demand from food, personal care and pharmaceutical buyers remained broadly steady, keeping transactional volumes consistent but not generating upside momentum. The market benefited from a benign cost backdrop: glucose feedstock remained stable, production ran at normal rates and inventories were adequate, limiting pricing power for sellers. The near-term outlook signals limited upside unless supply tightens or restocking accelerates, with further downward pressure possible if spot selling persists.
