Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Prices in USA Continue to Strengthen as Feedstocks March Northwards

In the latest assessment by ChemAnalyst, the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene market has been termed as firm owing to strong cost pressure and stable demand fundamentals. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene prices have observed an incessant rise in February after a sluggish start to the year.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styreneprices have been assessed at USD 2975 per MT on an FOB basis during the 1^st week of March 2022. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene prices have gained more than USD 120 per MT since the last week’s assessment.

All three feedstocks, Acrylonitrile, Butadiene and Styrene, have been stable to firm in the latest assessment. Other than rising crude oil prices in the USA, pricing dynamics are also being influenced by various factors. US Styrene has been observing a heavy maintenance season in Q1 2022 which has restricted the supply availability of the material in the market.

Styrene prices stand at USD 1525 per MT during the initial assessment in March on FOB basis. Butadiene prices have gained 3% in February while Acrylonitrile prices have increased by USD 40 per MT on FOB basis. This has constrained the production rates of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene in the North American region as manufacturers have to deal with limited availability and rising costs of raw materials.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene prices remain strong throughout 2021 owing to production disruptions and robust demand from the downstream automotive industry. The latest gain has again sent the shockwaves in the US ABS market which recovered up to a certain extent at the beginning of 2022.

As per ChemAnalyst, “Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene prices are expected to strengthen further as feedstock pressure is unlikely to relent in coming weeks given strong volatility in crude oil prices. Meanwhile, the demand from the automotive sector is expected to improve in the coming quarter after sluggish Q4 2021 and Q1 2022.”