For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• Throughout Q2 2025, the price of imported Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) in the U.S. showed a mixed trend, influenced by import tariffs, supply constraints in overseas markets, and persistent port congestion issues.
• In April, U.S. containerized import volumes remained high at 2.41M TEUs (+1.2% MoM), with record-low transit delays at U.S. ports. However, near the end of April, Chinese shipments declined significantly (~35% fewer arrivals at the Port of Los Angeles) due to looming tariffs, tightening short-term supply.
• Other Asia-Pacific suppliers, notably South Korea—the world’s largest SAP exporter—and India, helped fill the supply gap. Freight costs eased slightly with Shanghai–LA freight rates down 2%, but recent Peak Season Surcharge hikes by Asia-U.S. carriers added volatility to shipping costs.
• In May, supply remained stable with consistent shipments from Japan, Germany, France, and China, enabling a gradual inventory buildup amid limited drawdowns. Smooth logistics helped keep production costs steady, supporting a stable Superabsorbent polymer Production Cost Trend.
• In June, supply tightened significantly due to congestion at South Korea’s Busan port, delaying shipments and restricting SAP availability to U.S. buyers. This disruption contributed to increased freight costs and extended lead times, directly impacting the Price Index upwards.
Why did the Superabsorbent Polymer Price change in July 2025 in the US?
• The Price Index rose in July 2025 primarily because of export delays and port congestions, notably at critical Asian shipping hubs, restricting supply to the U.S. market. These disruptions increased scarcity, driving prices upward despite steady domestic demand.
• The Demand Outlook remains steady with consistent consumption across key end-use sectors such as detergents, water treatment, and construction materials.
• Given ongoing logistical constraints and cautious market restocking behavior, the Price Forecast for Sodium Silicate points to a continued moderate upward trend through the next quarter. Freight and tariff uncertainties may sustain price volatility in the near term.
Asia
• April 2025: The SAP Price Index in China increased, driven by higher feedstock prices—particularly acrylic acid and sodium hydroxide—which raised overall production costs.
• May 2025: The SAP Price Index declined by 1.42%, reaching approximately USD 1,320/MT FOB Qingdao, as improved supply and increased manufacturing output eased price pressures.
• June 2025: The SAP Price Index edged up by 0.4%, supported by steady downstream demand and strict pricing discipline maintained by producers despite easing feedstock costs.
Why did the Price of Superabsorbent Polymer change in July 2025?
• The SAP Price Index increased in July 2025 as rising feedstock prices and ongoing logistics challenges limited supply growth. Additionally, cautious but steady procurement from downstream users in hygiene and healthcare supported price stability and slight gains despite global trade uncertainties.
• The price forecast for SAP in Asia indicates a stable to slightly bullish trajectory for the coming months, assuming feedstock cost pressures persist, and logistical constraints continue to restrict supply flexibility.
• Production costs for SAP rose through Q2 2025, mainly due to increased costs of acrylic acid and sodium hydroxide. Despite some feedstock price easing by June, transportation and logistics challenges sustained elevated production costs into July.
Europe
• The SAP Price Index in Europe rose in April 2025 and then remained relatively stable over the following months, buoyed by feedstock (especially acrylic acid) inflation and steady downstream demand.
Why did the Price Index change in July 2025?
• In July 2025, the SAP Price Index increased slightly due to persistent feedstock costs and firm consumer and industrial demand, despite moderate logistical improvements.
• Production costs climbed in April and stayed elevated through Q2, primarily due to high acrylic acid prices, fixed energy costs, and moderate freight rate increases impacting producers across Europe.
• Price forecasts for the remainder of Q3 2025 anticipate mild upward pressure, driven by unchanged upstream feedstock costs and ongoing demand from hygiene, medical, and agricultural sectors.
• Demand outlook remains firm across Europe, supported by the hygiene industry (childcare and adult incontinence products), medical uses, and incremental interest in agricultural applications; momentum is expected to continue into late Q3.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
In Q1 2025, the Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) market in the United States faced a bearish trend, driven by weak domestic demand, increased competition from low-cost imports, and rising inflation. The combination of economic pressures, icy weather disruptions, and subdued activity in key sectors like hygiene and agriculture compounded the challenges for local manufacturers.
During January, icy weather impacted production activities at domestic facilities, while cheap imports from Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries flooded the market. The availability of these imports, facilitated by declining freight rates (down by 5% week-on-week early in January), led to heightened inventory levels and increased competitive pressure on domestic producers. The headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.5% month-over-month, reflecting inflationary challenges that further suppressed consumer spending in SAP-dependent sectors.
In February, the market continued its downward trajectory as freight rates from APAC to the U.S. West Coast dropped by 9.23%, reducing import costs and amplifying the influx of cheaper cargoes. SAP prices declined further, reflecting oversupply and moderate downstream demand. The hygiene sector, a primary SAP consumer, showed steady but unremarkable activity, failing to counterbalance the market's oversupply.
By March, SAP prices remained under pressure, with local manufacturers scaling back operations to mitigate losses. Despite steady availability, sluggish demand and competitive pricing have maintained a challenging market environment.
APAC
In Q1 2025, the APAC superabsorbent polymer market exhibited cautious recovery amid subdued manufacturing activity and fluctuating demand. Supply chains faced persistent input cost inflation and logistical delays, prompting firms to adopt inventory reduction strategies and cautious stock management. Demand showed modest improvement driven by restocking efforts and steady consumption in hygiene and agricultural sectors, although export markets remained uneven. Overall, market sentiment remained fragile with balanced supply-demand dynamics and incremental growth prospects as the quarter progressed. In Indian, Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) market experiences a heavy downfall recording a 13.12% decline in first quarter 2025. The abundant supply and excess inventory played a vital role in the sharp drop. Additionally, imports were affected falling by 3.98%, as the domestic market struggled to absorb existing stock.
South Korea's SAP prices increased marginally by 0.23% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging USD 1293/MT. The intra-quarter price trend was relatively flat, reflecting cautious buying amid subdued manufacturing and inventory drawdowns. Price resilience was supported by rising input costs and selective demand recovery, despite fragile export conditions. The market outlook remains stable with anticipated steady demand and moderate price growth driven by restocking and seasonal factors.
Europe
In the first quarter of 2025, the European Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) market witnessed a continued decline, driven by subdued demand and cautious procurement trends across key industries.
The market saw a rise in competition from imported SAP, particularly from Asia, where lower production costs and favorable freight rates allowed suppliers to offer cheaper alternatives. This influx of imports reduced the pricing leverage of European manufacturers, forcing many to adopt competitive pricing strategies to retain market share.
Hygiene products remained the primary application driving SAP demand; however, growth was lackluster, constrained by economic uncertainties and high inflation across the region. Consumers, faced with rising costs, prioritized essential purchases, adopting a conservative approach to buying. This cautious behavior led to subdued order volumes, further weakening market dynamics.
In response to oversupply and high inventory levels, European producers scaled back manufacturing capacities to align with the reduced demand. The overall market sentiment in Q1 2025 remained bearish, reflecting a combination of external economic pressures and regulatory challenges.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the U.S. Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) market experienced significant price fluctuations. In October, SAP prices declined due to a combination of moderate demand growth and increased competition from imports, particularly from Asia and Germany. The stable supply of SAP, bolstered by consistent imports, helped maintain competitive pricing. However, weak domestic demand, particularly from hygiene product sectors, and a reduction in consumer spending led to softening prices despite steady consumption from end-use industries like diapers and adult incontinence products.
In November, the market stabilized, supported by cheaper imports from China. The decline in global freight rates contributed to lower shipping costs, enhancing the competitiveness of imported SAP. However, demand remained subdued due to high interest rates impacting the construction and manufacturing sectors, further slowing SAP consumption. A slight recovery in domestic demand followed the Presidential Election, although overall market activity remained cautious.
By December, SAP prices surged due to rising import costs, primarily driven by increased freight rates from China. Supply chain disruptions, including port congestion and fluctuating fuel prices, added to the overall cost structure. Despite these challenges, demand for SAP in hygiene products and healthcare remained strong, intensifying upward pressure on prices and reflecting the complex market dynamics of Q4 2024.
APAC
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) market exhibited varying trends across different regions. China saw stable prices throughout the quarter, with no significant fluctuations observed. The stability was due to a balanced supply and demand environment, despite weaker export demand and reduced activity in the construction sector. Manufacturers in China operated at consistent production levels, ensuring an adequate supply of SAP while managing logistics effectively, without any major disruptions.
In Korea, SAP prices remained stable as well, benefiting from steady production and moderate demand. The market was supported by consistent consumption, especially from key sectors such as hygiene and personal care products, contributing to a stable pricing environment.
However, India experienced a decline in SAP prices during Q4 2024. This downturn was attributed to weak demand in the personal care and hygiene sectors, as well as a slowdown in manufacturing activity. Economic uncertainty and export challenges further pressured the Indian market, leading to reduced consumption and price decreases.
Overall, while China and Korea maintained stable SAP prices, India faced a decline, reflecting regional differences in demand and economic conditions during the final quarter of 2024.
Europe
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) prices in Europe experienced a consistent decline, driven primarily by a downward trend in feedstock costs, particularly acrylic acid. As the price of acrylic acid softened, it provided relief to SAP producers, contributing to the overall reduction in SAP prices. Despite this, downstream demand remained subdued, with no significant recovery observed from key industries such as hygiene products and healthcare. The lack of substantial order values from customers further contributed to the weak pricing trend.
Throughout the quarter, downstream activities in Europe showed little momentum, as buyers remained cautious and focused on managing existing inventories rather than placing new orders. This cautious sentiment was a result of broader economic uncertainties, including inflationary pressures and reduced consumer spending, which weighed on manufacturing activity. Additionally, the absence of major disruptions or fluctuations in supply chains helped stabilize the European SAP market at lower price levels.
Despite some expectation for seasonal demand growth during the year-end period, it did not materialize as expected, leaving the market in a state of continued price decline. Overall, the combination of lower feedstock costs and weak demand from downstream sectors shaped the European SAP market in Q4 2024, leading to a consistent decrease in prices throughout the quarter.
For the Quarter Ending September 2024
North America
In Q3 2024, Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) prices in North America, especially in the USA, showed a mixed trend. Market dynamics were shaped by strong demand from the construction sector, rising global freight rates, and container shortages. The first two months of the quarter saw a downward trend in prices, driven by inexpensive imported cargo from overseas. However, in the last month, prices increased by 2.5% due to supply chain disruptions. The construction industry in the USA experienced moderate growth, which led to higher consumption of SAP.
Concurrently, rising labor costs and supplier charges further pushed prices upwards. The market faced additional uncertainties stemming from potential strikes at ports and approaching storms in the Gulf of Mexico, which impacted purchasing decisions. Moreover, disruptions in shipping routes and congestion at ports exerted additional pressure on prices, while plant shutdowns further intensified the supply chain challenges throughout the quarter.
The quarter recorded a 6% increase from the previous quarter, with a 2% price variance between the first and second half of the quarter. Ultimately, the quarter-ending price stood at USD 1620/MT of SAP CFR USGC in the USA, reflecting a positive pricing environment characterized by increasing trends and strong demand.
APAC
The third quarter of 2024 has been characterized by a mixed trend in Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) pricing across the APAC region. Several key factors have influenced this market dynamic. The first two months of SAP market declined in China and latter quarter rose due to supply disruptions. Traders reported varied demand conditions: some experienced moderate demand, while others saw sluggish activity, with some buyers choosing to wait and see. Chinese factory activity slowed, exacerbating economic strain amid a prolonged property sector crisis. Further, heavy rainfall and flooding in some areas complicated construction efforts and caused logistical challenges. These adverse conditions led to a slowdown in ongoing projects and hesitance to initiate new ones, reducing demand for the product and reflecting the trend of weakened construction activity in the affected regions. These factors collectively contributed to the stable SAP market, as demand constraints balanced out with supply challenges. Consequently, firms reduced their purchasing activity, although employment levels remained relatively steady. In the latter quarter typhoon Bebinca intensified the situation, causing severe flooding and disrupting logistics during the Mid-Autumn Festival, making transportation more challenging and adding to the already moderate demand. These factors have created significant uncertainty for market participants, who are dealing with tight supply, and logistical obstacles, all of which are contributing to the incline in SAP prices. Moreover, a 2% price hike was observed from the preceding quarter, indicating a continued upward trajectory. The quarter-ending price for SAP in China stood at USD 1343/MT FOB Qingdao, underscoring the prevailing positive sentiment in the pricing landscape.
Europe
In Q3 2024, the Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) market in Europe experienced a generally stable pricing environment, characterized by minimal fluctuations. This stability was largely supported by steady demand from essential sectors such as hygiene, agriculture, and healthcare, which continued to drive consumption despite broader economic uncertainties. However, Germany stood out with notable price fluctuations, reflecting a more dynamic market landscape. Several factors contributed to this volatility, including ongoing supply chain disruptions that hindered the timely delivery of raw materials and finished products. Additionally, rising input costs—stemming from energy price increases and raw material shortages—placed pressure on manufacturers, prompting them to adjust pricing strategies. Throughout the quarter, the balance between supply and demand remained relatively stable, allowing many manufacturers to adapt effectively to changing market conditions. Some companies focused on optimizing production processes and exploring alternative sourcing strategies to mitigate cost pressures. As a result, while the overall European SAP market exhibited resilience, the specific challenges faced in Germany highlighted the complexities of regional dynamics within the broader landscape. This adaptability underscores the industry’s capacity to navigate evolving economic conditions.
FAQ
1. What is the current Price Index of Superabsorbent Polymer in the USA?
The Superabsorbent Polymer Price Index in the USA showed mixed trend in Q2 2025 due to short supply and limited availability. Prices remain elevated as of mid-2025, reflecting ongoing supply constraints from overseas market. In June the price of SAP settled at USD 2510/MT on a CFR USGC.
2. Who are the top Superabsorbent polymer producers in the U.S.?
Major SAP producers in the United States include BASF Corporation, Evonik Corporation, and LG Chem America, serving both hygiene and agricultural sectors.
3. What is influencing the Superabsorbent polymer Production Cost Trend in the U.S.?
The Superabsorbent polymer Production Cost Trend is shaped by fluctuating acrylic acid costs, regional labor shortages, and ongoing inflation in utility and transportation sectors.
4. What is the Superabsorbent polymer Demand Outlook for the U.S. market in H2 2025?
The Superabsorbent polymer Demand Outlook is strong, led by high hygiene sector usage (baby diapers, adult care), rising demand in smart agriculture, and stable procurement by medical and packaging industries.
