Acetic Acid Market Size and Outlook 2031

Report Description

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 16.49 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.72%
Fastest Growing Segment	Vinyl Acetate Monomer
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 27.23 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Acetic Acid Market will grow from USD 16.49 Billion in 2025 to USD 27.23 Billion by 2031 at a 8.72% CAGR. Acetic acid, or ethanoic acid, is a colorless organic liquid that serves as a critical intermediate in the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), purified terephthalic acid (PTA), and acetate esters. The global market is primarily driven by the robust expansion of the construction and automotive sectors, which necessitate high volumes of VAM for paints, adhesives, and coatings. Additionally, the flourishing textile industry fuels the consumption of PTA for polyester fiber manufacturing, providing a sustained impetus for market growth distinct from short-term trends.

However, the market faces a significant challenge in the form of raw material price volatility, particularly the fluctuating cost of methanol, which can severely impact profit margins and operational stability for manufacturers. This supply chain sensitivity is often exacerbated by geopolitical shifts and energy prices. According to the American Chemistry Council, in 2024, global chemical production was projected to expand by 3.4%, indicating a recovery in the broad industrial manufacturing activities that fundamentally support the demand for acetic acid and its derivatives.

Key Market Drivers

The sustained expansion of the construction and automotive sectors acts as a primary catalyst for the Global Acetic Acid Market, principally through the rising requirement for Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM). VAM serves as the key precursor for polyvinyl acetate, an essential ingredient in architectural coatings, adhesives, and sealants. This derivative segment tracks closely with global infrastructure investments and renovation activities, creating a consistent downstream pull for acetic acid. According to The Sherwin-Williams Company, October 2024, in the 'Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results', consolidated net sales increased to $6.16 billion, reflecting resilient demand in architectural finishes which directly sustains VAM consumption levels.

Concurrently, the acceleration of the textile industry amplifies market volume through the Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) value chain. Acetic acid functions as a vital solvent in the oxidation process to produce PTA, the base material for polyester fibers. This dependency ties the market performance directly to clothing trends and fiber manufacturing rates. According to Reliance Industries Limited, August 2024, in the 'Integrated Annual Report 2023-24', domestic demand for the polyester chain grew by 4% year-on-year, underscoring robust feedstock requirements. This sectoral momentum is supported by broader industrial activity; according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, in 2024, the value-added output of the chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing industry increased by 12.7% year-on-year in May.

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Key Market Challenges

The global acetic acid market faces a substantial hurdle due to the volatility of raw material prices, specifically the erratic cost of methanol. Since methanol is the primary feedstock, its price instability creates a precarious cost structure for manufacturers, directly threatening profit margins and operational planning. When feedstock costs spike unexpectedly, producers are often unable to immediately pass these increases onto downstream buyers in the vinyl acetate monomer or purified terephthalic acid sectors without risking demand destruction. This unpredictability compels companies to adopt conservative production strategies rather than expanding capacity, thereby stifling the market's ability to capitalize on industrial demand.

This supply chain fragility is further intensified by elevated energy costs, which exacerbate the financial burden on production facilities. High energy expenses reduce global competitiveness and force manufacturers in high-cost regions to curtail output. According to the European Chemical Industry Council, in 2024, gas prices in the European Union remained 76% above pre-crisis levels, severely impacting the region's chemical production capabilities. Such sustained cost pressures limit the overall market supply and hamper the industry’s growth potential by diverting capital away from innovation and expansion toward operational maintenance.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) Technologies is fundamentally reshaping the Global Acetic Acid Market as producers strive to decouple manufacturing from exclusive reliance on fossil fuel feedstocks. By capturing industrial carbon dioxide emissions and recycling them into the production loop, manufacturers are synthesizing low-carbon acetic acid that meets increasingly stringent environmental regulations and municipal procurement standards. This technological shift allows companies to reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of their acetyls without compromising chemical purity or performance, thereby securing a competitive edge in sustainability-focused supply chains. According to Celanese Corporation, February 2024, in the 'Celanese offering low-carbon acetic acid under the Eco-CC product name' announcement, the strategic utilization of recycled carbon dioxide as a raw material has enabled the company to provide low-carbon product options across more than 90% of its Acetyl Chain portfolio.

Concurrently, the Transition Toward Bio-Based Production Pathways is emerging as a critical trend, driven by the industry's move toward circular economy principles and biorefinery integration. Instead of relying solely on methanol derived from natural gas or coal, innovative producers are commercializing acetic acid recovered as a co-product from wood pulp processing and other biomass valorization methods. This approach not only diversifies the raw material base, mitigating exposure to volatile energy markets, but also delivers a product with a vastly superior environmental profile for downstream applications in textiles and consumer goods. According to the Lenzing Group, December 2024, in the 'Fiber customers rely on LENZING™ Acetic Acid Biobased' press release, their bio-based acetic acid generated from renewable wood sources achieves a carbon footprint that is more than 85% lower than that of conventional fossil-based acetic acid.

Segmental Insights

Vinyl Acetate Monomer represents the fastest-growing segment in the Global Acetic Acid Market, driven largely by rising requirements from the construction and packaging sectors. This compound is a primary intermediate for manufacturing polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol, which are essential for water-based adhesives, paints, and textile coatings. Continued global infrastructure development and the expanding scope of sustainable packaging solutions have directly intensified the demand for these derivatives. Consequently, industrial reliance on Vinyl Acetate Monomer for diverse downstream applications continues to accelerate its market expansion.

Regional Insights

North America commands a leading position in the Global Acetic Acid Market, primarily driven by the strategic abundance of raw materials in the United States. The region benefits from accessible, low-cost natural gas and methanol feedstock, which grants manufacturers a distinct competitive edge in production efficiency compared to global counterparts. This advantage supports robust industrial demand for vinyl acetate monomer, a critical ingredient utilized in the construction and automotive sectors for paints and adhesives. Furthermore, the presence of established producers like Celanese Corporation reinforces the region’s market dominance, ensuring a stable supply chain for essential chemical derivatives.

Recent Developments

In December 2024, the Lenzing Group announced a strategic collaboration with Italian chemical manufacturer CPL Prodotti Chimici and the fashion group Oniverse to introduce biobased acetic acid into textile supply chains. The partnership involved using the company’s renewable acetic acid, a co-product of its wood pulp production process, for dyeing fabrics used by Oniverse’s brands. This initiative aimed to significantly lower the carbon footprint of the dyeing process compared to fossil-based alternatives. The alliance highlighted the textile industry's shift towards circular economy principles and the adoption of sustainable chemical inputs to reduce the environmental impact of fashion manufacturing.
In November 2024, INEOS Acetyls and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GNFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of a new world-scale acetic acid plant in India. The proposed joint venture aimed to construct a facility with a production capacity of 600,000 tonnes per annum at the Bharuch, Gujarat site. This collaboration was designed to localize the production of this essential chemical, thereby reducing the region's reliance on imports. By combining the technology expertise of the UK-based company with the local operational capabilities of its Indian partner, the project targeted a startup date of 2028.
In March 2024, Celanese Corporation successfully commenced operations at its new acetic acid expansion unit at the Clear Lake, Texas manufacturing facility. This project added 1.3 million tons of annual production capacity, positioning the site as one of the most cost-competitive and environmentally efficient acetic acid plants in the world. The expansion utilized the company's existing infrastructure and advanced manufacturing technologies to minimize carbon emissions while meeting increasing global demand. This strategic milestone allowed the company to enhance its operational flexibility and offer low-carbon acetyl chain products to customers in the paints, coatings, and adhesive sectors.
In February 2024, climate technology company Again entered into a long-term strategic partnership with the global chemical distributor HELM AG to commercialize its low-carbon acetic acid. Under this exclusive agreement, the distributor committed to introducing the startup's product, derived from a proprietary biomanufacturing process that converts captured carbon dioxide emissions, to international markets. The collaboration aimed to leverage the distributor's extensive supply chain expertise to scale the availability of sustainable chemicals. This initiative addressed the growing industrial demand for carbon-negative raw materials, supporting broader efforts to decarbonize chemical value chains and reduce the environmental footprint of downstream products.

Key Market Players

Celanese Corporation
INEOS Group
Eastman Chemical Company
Jiangsu SOPO (Group) Co. Ltd
Daicel Corporation
Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited
Helm AG
Pentoky Organy India Limited
Dow Chemicals Company
Indian Oil Corporation

By Application	By End User Industry	By Region
Vinyl Acetate Monomer Purified Terephthalic Acid Acetate Esters Ethanol Others	Food & Beverage Plastic & Polymers Paints & Coatings Pharmaceutical Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Acetic Acid Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Acetic Acid Market, By Application:

Vinyl Acetate Monomer
Purified Terephthalic Acid
Acetate Esters
Ethanol
Others

Acetic Acid Market, By End User Industry:

Food & Beverage
Plastic & Polymers
Paints & Coatings
Pharmaceutical
Others

Acetic Acid Market, By Region:

North America

United States
Canada
Mexico

Europe

France
United Kingdom
Italy
Germany
Spain

Asia Pacific

China
India
Japan
Australia
South Korea

South America

Brazil
Argentina
Colombia

Middle East & Africa

South Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Acetic Acid Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Acetic Acid Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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Table of content

1. Product Overview

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Scope of the Market

1.2.1. Markets Covered

1.2.2. Years Considered for Study

1.2.3. Key Market Segmentations

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Objective of the Study

2.2. Baseline Methodology

2.3. Key Industry Partners

2.4. Major Association and Secondary Sources

2.5. Forecasting Methodology

2.6. Data Triangulation & Validation

2.7. Assumptions and Limitations

3. Executive Summary

3.1. Overview of the Market

3.2. Overview of Key Market Segmentations

3.3. Overview of Key Market Players

3.4. Overview of Key Regions/Countries

3.5. Overview of Market Drivers, Challenges, Trends

4. Voice of Customer

5. Global Acetic Acid Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Application (Vinyl Acetate Monomer, Purified Terephthalic Acid, Acetate Esters, Ethanol, Others)

5.2.2. By End User Industry (Food & Beverage, Plastic & Polymers, Paints & Coatings, Pharmaceutical, Others)

5.2.3. By Region

5.2.4. By Company (2025)

5.3. Market Map

6. North America Acetic Acid Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Application

6.2.2. By End User Industry

6.2.3. By Country

6.3. North America: Country Analysis

6.3.1. United States Acetic Acid Market Outlook

6.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.1.1.1. By Value

6.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.1.2.1. By Application

6.3.1.2.2. By End User Industry

6.3.2. Canada Acetic Acid Market Outlook

6.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.2.1.1. By Value

6.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.2.2.1. By Application

6.3.2.2.2. By End User Industry

6.3.3. Mexico Acetic Acid Market Outlook

6.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.3.1.1. By Value

6.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.3.2.1. By Application

6.3.3.2.2. By End User Industry

7. Europe Acetic Acid Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Application

7.2.2. By End User Industry

7.2.3. By Country

7.3. Europe: Country Analysis

7.3.1. Germany Acetic Acid Market Outlook

7.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.1.1.1. By Value

7.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.1.2.1. By Application

7.3.1.2.2. By End User Industry

7.3.2. France Acetic Acid Market Outlook

7.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.2.1.1. By Value

7.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.2.2.1. By Application

7.3.2.2.2. By End User Industry

7.3.3. United Kingdom Acetic Acid Market Outlook

7.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.3.1.1. By Value

7.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.3.2.1. By Application

7.3.3.2.2. By End User Industry

7.3.4. Italy Acetic Acid Market Outlook

7.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.4.1.1. By Value

7.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.4.2.1. By Application

7.3.4.2.2. By End User Industry

7.3.5. Spain Acetic Acid Market Outlook

7.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.5.1.1. By Value

7.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.5.2.1. By Application

7.3.5.2.2. By End User Industry

8. Asia Pacific Acetic Acid Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.1.1. By Value

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.2.1. By Application

8.2.2. By End User Industry

8.2.3. By Country

8.3. Asia Pacific: Country Analysis

8.3.1. China Acetic Acid Market Outlook

8.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.1.1.1. By Value

8.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.1.2.1. By Application

8.3.1.2.2. By End User Industry

8.3.2. India Acetic Acid Market Outlook

8.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.2.1.1. By Value

8.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.2.2.1. By Application

8.3.2.2.2. By End User Industry

8.3.3. Japan Acetic Acid Market Outlook

8.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.3.1.1. By Value

8.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.3.2.1. By Application

8.3.3.2.2. By End User Industry

8.3.4. South Korea Acetic Acid Market Outlook

8.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.4.1.1. By Value

8.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.4.2.1. By Application

8.3.4.2.2. By End User Industry

8.3.5. Australia Acetic Acid Market Outlook

8.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.5.1.1. By Value

8.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.5.2.1. By Application

8.3.5.2.2. By End User Industry

9. Middle East & Africa Acetic Acid Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.1.1. By Value

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.2.1. By Application

9.2.2. By End User Industry

9.2.3. By Country

9.3. Middle East & Africa: Country Analysis

9.3.1. Saudi Arabia Acetic Acid Market Outlook

9.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.1.1.1. By Value

9.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.1.2.1. By Application

9.3.1.2.2. By End User Industry

9.3.2. UAE Acetic Acid Market Outlook

9.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.2.1.1. By Value

9.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.2.2.1. By Application

9.3.2.2.2. By End User Industry

9.3.3. South Africa Acetic Acid Market Outlook

9.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.3.1.1. By Value

9.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.3.2.1. By Application

9.3.3.2.2. By End User Industry

10. South America Acetic Acid Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.1.1. By Value

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.2.1. By Application

10.2.2. By End User Industry

10.2.3. By Country

10.3. South America: Country Analysis

10.3.1. Brazil Acetic Acid Market Outlook

10.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.1.1.1. By Value

10.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.1.2.1. By Application

10.3.1.2.2. By End User Industry

10.3.2. Colombia Acetic Acid Market Outlook

10.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.2.1.1. By Value

10.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.2.2.1. By Application

10.3.2.2.2. By End User Industry

10.3.3. Argentina Acetic Acid Market Outlook

10.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.3.1.1. By Value

10.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.3.2.1. By Application

10.3.3.2.2. By End User Industry

11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers

11.2. Challenges

12. Market Trends & Developments

12.1. Merger & Acquisition (If Any)

12.2. Product Launches (If Any)

12.3. Recent Developments

13. Global Acetic Acid Market: SWOT Analysis

14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

14.1. Competition in the Industry

14.2. Potential of New Entrants

14.3. Power of Suppliers

14.4. Power of Customers

14.5. Threat of Substitute Products

15. Competitive Landscape

15.1. Celanese Corporation

15.1.1. Business Overview

15.1.2. Products & Services

15.1.3. Recent Developments

15.1.4. Key Personnel

15.1.5. SWOT Analysis

15.2. INEOS Group

15.3. Eastman Chemical Company

15.4. Jiangsu SOPO (Group) Co. Ltd

15.5. Daicel Corporation

15.6. Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited

15.7. Helm AG

15.8. Pentoky Organy India Limited

15.9. Dow Chemicals Company

15.10. Indian Oil Corporation

16. Strategic Recommendations

17. About Us & Disclaimer

Report Description

Table of content

Figures and Tables

Frequently asked questions

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