For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
In Q1 2022, the Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) price slipped in the first half of the quarter due to weak market sentiments and sufficient product availability. The exports to the European region and Canada were reduced due to the tepid market and inventories' stockpiling. However, in the second half of the quarter, the prices surged and were USD 2680/ton FOB New York. The market was seen to be driven by flooding interest and higher input costs. Downstream adhesive ventures saw development from consumers and businesses as modern exercises quit slacking, bringing about cost climbs. The sales and deals of the significant makers went up with the expansion in its utilization from the purchaser's end. However, spot costs of feedstock Ethylene had expanded given adequate supplies because of max ethane use in wafers. Compared with the previous quarter, the price of the Vinyl Acetate monomer slipped to 6.1%, when compared with the past quarter.
Asia Pacific
In this quarter, the price of VAM in China slipped in the first half, where the prices on Jan 2022 were USD 2291/ton FOB Dalian. Feedstock Ethylene and Acetic acid prices were also reduced due to oversupplies and deteriorating demand in the regional market of China. Weak market sentiments and sufficient product availability resulted in such a trend. Feedstock Acetic acid prices plummeted with oversupply exacerbated. However, in the second half of the quarter, the prices surged to USD 2192/ton FOB Dalian supported by the bullish upstream crude and Naphtha market. Major adhesive producers had also flooded the prices of their products by squeezing profits and robust demand. One of the variables that hinders the development of the adhesive and sealants industry is oil costs and the resulting expansion in raw material costs. Downstream EVA market was also flooded with expanding photovoltaic cells' utilization in solar power generation and agricultural ventures. The costs sneaked past 11.8% in this quarter in China when compared with the previous one. In India, the prices towards the end of the quarter were assessed at USD 2623/ton Ex-Hazira.
Europe
In this quarter, the price of Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) remained on the higher end supported by strong market demand and insufficient product availability. Imports from US and other European region increases with high freight cost and transportation cost. Russia-Ukraine conflict surged the price of Natural gas which impacted the prices in the regional market. In Germany the price of Vinyl Acetate Monomer in the month of Jan 2022 observed to be USD 2365/ton FD Hamburg. Major adhesive producers of VAM had increased their product prices in their domestic market. Traders started purchasing the product in bulk which disrupted the supply/demand equilibrium affecting the price trend.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
Compared to the previous quarter, the prices of VAM in North America observed to be on the higher end in Q4 2021. Supply of Feedstock acidic acid and Ethylene was tight for major part of the quarter that’s why VAM remained mostly in uptrend throughout the quarter. Slight stability was spotted toward 2nd half of the December. When compared monthly, the demand for VAM in October was observed to be on high side compared with the rest two months. In October, the prices increase due to supply shortage which maintain the demand robust but in rest of the two months the major VAM players had provided the sufficient stock and the prices fell comparatively. Downstream Construction, Paint and coating industry also struggled with drastic price increase and shortage of Acetic acid affected their production.
Asia Pacific
The Asian VAM market remained burst in Q4. In China the prices were maxed to $2740/ton FOB Dalian due to unprecedented robust trading after holidays uplifted the market sentiments and induced port congestion along with limited freight vessel availability. However, the small relaxation in prices were seen in November with stable supply and moderate imports from Taiwan, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. In India, the VAM prices continued to climb in the domestic market buoyed by firm demand for household applications. Pidilite Industry, a renowned player in the Indian VAM market in a recent update revealed the ease in pandemic situation has made people to focus on the home and office renovation projects due to an expected shift in their lifestyle in the coming months. In line with the improvement in demand for construction materials, VAM prices thus reached $2345 per MT Ex-Hazira on 12th November.
Europe
In Q4, the prices of Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) rushed to the new heights with increased feedstock Benzene and Ethylene prices. A significant reduction of long-haul shipments Europe to Asian market, weaker cracker operations in the fourth quarter from low margins and logistic constrains also accounted for the tight balance. There was a spike in VAM pricing following the energy curtailment as many plants were shut down due to the government intervention. High consumption of energy in the manufacturing of Acetic Acid has also influenced the high costs. Polymer, adhesives, and coatings have all had considerable downstream demand for the raw material VAM
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
In North America, an appreciable rise in Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) prices was observed during the third quarter. The shutdown of LyondellBasell’s La Porte plant in Texas after the accident of chemical leak in July gave another setback to the regional market. As this incident hampered VAM production, VAM producers were unable to keep pace for both domestic as well as export market which consequently pushed the VAM prices throughout the quarter. In addition, calamities like Ida hurricane further tightened VAM availability in the region as industrial infrastructure remained shut in August. FOB Texas VAM monthly average prices assessed at USD 2680/MT in September.
Asia Pacific
In Q3, spike in the prices of VAM was observed in the Asian market backed by the constrained supplies of feedstock Acetic Acid and sturdy demand from the downstream sectors. In addition, Celanese Corporation in China announced a fore majeure over VAM plant which further intensified the shortage of VAM in Asia. Moreover, a continuous increment in the values of Acetic Acid in the regional market backed by the supply crises due to the Ida hurricane also send ripples to the prices of VAM. In India, the shortage of shipping containers also levied an upward push upon price fundamentals of derivatives like VAM. Overall, the demand-supply gap widened substantially, throughout the quarter. Ex-Hazira VAM monthly average prices stood at USD 2097.59/MT showcasing a hike by around USD 246.13/MT since July in India.
Europe
In the European region, VAM supplies were impacted during the third quarter backed by the delayed imports due to the supply chain disruption caused by Ida hurricane in the Gulf Coast of US in August. In addition, congestion on several ports of China as well as soaring freight costs also contributed to the hike in prices of VAM in the region. Overall demand witnessed a spike from the downstream sectors in contrast to previous quarter. FD Hamburg VAM monthly average prices settled at USD 2246/MT in September.
For the Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Aftermaths of the US freeze fallout severely hampered the North American Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) market in Q2 as the market supplies were sluggish due to a series of plant closures. Some of the plants restrained from operating at full efficiencies amidst restricted availability of the feedstock Acetic Acid. US exports of VAM to the European region were almost negligible till May. Demand surged from the construction sector with improved offtakes of the acetyl derivatives from the paints and coating industries. Enquiries were also improved from the packaging and adhesives industries. Prices remained upbeat throughout the quarter with FOB Texas offers settling at USD 2390 per tonne in June, observing an increment of nearly 30% from the assessments in March 2021.
Asia Pacific
During the first half of the second quarter, the supplies of VAM in the Asia Pacific region were severely impacted with some plant turnarounds reported in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Some suppliers were heard diverting shipments to the European region in anticipation of better netbacks. Prices in China eased in the latter half of the quarter after surging to historic highs in April. FOB Shanghai price was assessed at USD 1929 per tonne in June. Demand was high throughout the quarter in China due to new EVA capacities by Sinochem Quanzhou and Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical.
Europe
VAM supplies in the European region were improved compared to the previous quarter owing ease in shipments from the USA as the industrial infrastructure in the US Gulf Coast (USGC) region restarted. Whereas the Asian cargoes were delayed due to the Suez Canal blockage in April starting. Market sentiments were bolstered as traders replenished the inventories which caused the slowdown in recovery pace of VAM supplies to the European market. Demand observed a seasonal hype from the construction sectors with better offtakes from the adhesives industries.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
The VAM market in the region was tight during the Q1 of 2021, as the several plant outages were heard for nearly two weeks due to sub-freezing temperatures in Texas. Due to the domestic market volatility and surged prices of VAM across the US, the key VAM exporter, buyers shifted towards the Asian suppliers to balance out market dynamics. In the meanwhile, improved consumption from the downstream building & construction and paints & coatings surged the demand of VAM in the region. US VAM exports showed marked reduction during the quarter with the prices settling at USD 1350 per MT FOB Texas in the final week of March.
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
VAM supplies were tight in the first half of the Q1 2021, as the several plants in China remained under maintenance shutdown. However, the situation improved towards the quarter end as the various plants resumed operations. The global supply shortage due to several plant turnarounds in US provided better netbacks to the Asian VAM suppliers, who implemented a positive revision in their offer prices amidst the supply shortage. The demand during the period improved as the utilization from the downstream sector increased with economic rebound in China. The Indian market faced inflationary pressure in VAM that affected the gross margins of most consumer companies in the near term. With the market translating strong influence of global supply shortage, VAM the prices in India were averaged around USD 1215/tonne during the quarter.
Europe
VAM supplies remained tight throughout the quarter, as maintenance shutdowns were scheduled at various facilities across the region. Market was unstable throughout the quarter amid the second COVID wave, however the mass vaccination program kept market optimism high in the European region. The deficit in imports from the US was balanced by the Asian VAM, as capacity utilization improved from the downstream adhesives sector.
For the Quarter Ending September 2020
Asia
Spate of plant turnarounds from Taiwan and South Korea throughout the third quarter of 2020 tightened the overall availability of VAM cargoes in Southeast Asia. Thus, prices of VAM in Q3 of 2020 Southeast Asia averaged around USD 807 per MT influenced by its healthy demand fundamentals and scarce product availability. Despite the restricted availability, paramount producers like Celanese and Dairen Chemicals continued to operate their plants at reduced rates amid fears of uncertainty prevailing from the second wave of Coronavirus in several parts of the region. Downstream demand for derivatives like Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) witnessed marginal recovery in Northeast Asia as countries restarted their business activities to save the sputtering economy.
North America
Market fundamentals of Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) in North America remained weighed up buoyed by strong values of feedstock acetic acid and series of plant outages in the Gulf coast region due to a wave of seasonal hurricanes. Since much of the US VAM is used for catering the global demand, abrupt outages and logistic concerns restricted the trading activities, thereby confining the export revenue of the region. As per Celanese Corporation, 10% quarterly increment in demand from its major importer China was registered but the gains were overshadowed by the consistent availability of material due to high production rates in the native country.
Europe
The European Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) market witnessed severe supply issues primarily due to the turnaround of Celanese plant in Germany followed by few other temporary turnarounds in the region. Strong consumption from paints and coating sector on the arrival of summer season in the country bolstered its demand fundamentals. Although supply issues were resolved by the end of the quarter, momentum of recovery was hindered by the buzz of resurgence of Coronavirus in several parts of the region.
