In early December 2025, the U.S. Stearic Acid market experienced a rise in value as a result of fewer imported shipments entering the United States from Malaysia and Indonesia, and prolonged buildup activities from the market participants. The East Coast had low inventory levels and extended shipping times which limited the number of available shipments of Stearic Acid. Additionally, a postponed delivery scheduled to ship in January 2022 from one of the major suppliers will contribute to limited supply.
In early December 2025, the stearic acid market, which has its headquarters in the U.S., had a positive change, with imports from overseas decreasing and higher demand from the end-use consumers (i.e., rubber companies, plastic additives, and personal care). As well, the demand for triple-pressed stearic acid was primarily satisfied by imports from Malaysia and Indonesia. Delays in voyages, sporadic congestion at U.S. ports, and an increase in worldwide shipping costs have also resulted in an even tighter supply situation for U.S. buyers.
In addition to the strengthening of feedstock fundamentals supporting the market, palm-based crude stearin, which is used as the main upstream raw material in the production of Triple Pressed Stearic Acid, has continued to exhibit strong pricing across Southeast Asia as a result of strengthened plantation sector balance and demand pull driven by biodiesel. As such, regional equivalent export prices for producers of stearic acid in Southeast Asia have remained high. Additionally, a Malaysian supplier has confirmed that they will be postponing loading assignments for January due to scheduled maintenance, heightening concerns regarding supply availability in the short term.
Demand remains firm to steady at the consumers end, following the trend for rubber. The rubber sector has continued to use Stearic Acid in the formulation of tires, hoses, and gaskets in large quantities and the volume of Stearic Acid sold is consistent with light vehicle production from the North American market, which is roughly equal to its most recent annual production. In addition, Stearic Acid buyers of additive plastics have been calling for their products in volume to tie their products to year-end construction projects, and personal care products have been binding their formulation on the results of palm oil's bio-sustainability design performance. With buying ahead, there was a spike in forward buying activity in December because the buyers of Stearic Acid wanted to avoid any warehouse surcharge on their purchases in early January, which also hit the marketplace by limiting merchants' inventories.
As per the ChemAnalyst's anticipation, Stearic Acid is expected to showcase bullishness price outlook in coming sessions due to limited availability of the raw material coming out of the Southeast Asian region and steady prices of palm oil-based fats. On top of this, Imports are projected to remain constrained and the steady demand from the Rubber, plastics and personal care industry will be a consistent factor contributing to the stability of the pricing throughout the January timeframe. Distributors may be purchasing Stearic Acid in advance to mitigate year-end inventory risk related to price fluctuations therefore, prices will likely reflect a mild bullish trend.
