What is Phthalic Anhydride Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Plasticiser Demand
Analysts Sentiment
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What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Neutral
The most recent published customs observation for HS 291735 is 2026-07 at USD 1,645.12/ton, +4.5% against the previous month and +20.1% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 5-economy panel was 40,416 tonnes over the window, 3,368 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +24.8%. The heading-level series is volatile: the largest month-on-month move in the window was +37.4% between 2025-10 and 2025-11, when reported value moved -29.2% and reported tonnage moved -48.4%, so that move reflects the mix and size of shipments filed under this heading rather than a single quoted price.
Next 1–3 Months — Outlook
This page is refreshed from public customs statistics rather than paid price assessments, so the next revision will roll in each newly published month for HS 291735. Direction shown here is a reading of published customs unit values, not a forecast.
Key Market Impact
Customs unit values for this heading are the single most checkable price signal available without a subscription: they combine the product mix actually crossing borders, the average contract level behind those shipments and freight-relevant volume. Treat them as the trade-weighted baseline for the heading, and read the coverage note above before applying them to a single grade.
How About the Price?
Data source: UN Comtrade public trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-05
Demand-side factors
- Phthalic anhydride demand splits between plasticiser esters for PVC, unsaturated polyester and alkyd resins, and smaller volumes in dyes, pigments and pharmaceutical intermediates.
- Related market pages on this site: ortho-Xylene (the feedstock oxidised to phthalic anhydride), Dioctyl Phthalate (the plasticiser ester made from it), Maleic Anhydride (the other anhydride competing for the same outlets), Trioctyl Trimellitate (the high-temperature plasticiser competing with phthalate esters).
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 291735 moved from USD 1,369.58/ton in 2025-08 to USD 1,645.12/ton in 2026-07 (+20.1% across the window). The window high was USD 1,690.81/ton in 2025-11 and the low USD 1,223.78/ton in 2026-03. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +24.8% against the previous one, which is classified here as neutral. The heading-level series is volatile: the largest month-on-month move in the window was +37.4% between 2025-10 and 2025-11, when reported value moved -29.2% and reported tonnage moved -48.4%, so that move reflects the mix and size of shipments filed under this heading rather than a single quoted price.
The same panel reported USD 56.0 million of export value on 40,416 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 3,368 tonnes a month. Values are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
The EU side of the same heading is one month fresher than the panel above: Eurostat Comext records EU27 imports of HS 291735 from outside the EU at USD 1,515.53/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 1,307.27/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +3.2% against 2026-07, on 2,811 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 47,963 tonnes. On the 12 months the two datasets share (2025-08 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +21.1% on the export panel and +18.6% on the EU import side, so the two agree on direction. At this volume the monthly unit value still moves with the mix of consignments, so read it as a cross-check rather than as a second price series. Import values are recorded on a CIF-type basis by a single bloc, so the level is not comparable with the export panel — the comparison above is directional.
2026-08 is deliberately not in the series: of the 5 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 4 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-05, while the heading drew 6 filers in total that month; 2026-09 drew 0 filings for this heading, 0 of them from panel members, and 2026-10 drew 0 (0 from the panel). Splicing a partly-filed month onto a fixed panel would move the unit value through composition alone, so the window stays at 2026-07 until the whole panel for 2026-08 has reported.
HS 291735 names phthalic anhydride on its own within the aromatic polycarboxylic acids, so the series is the anhydride rather than the acid group; terephthalic acid sits in 291736 and its salts and esters in 291737, and the plasticiser esters made from phthalic anhydride are classified in 2917 later lines. Only merchant anhydride crosses this line.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 5 economies: DEU (276), MYS (458), NLD (528), POL (616), USA (842). The panel is held constant in every period of the window so period-to-period movement is not a composition effect.
- Unit value range over the window: USD 1,223.78 to USD 1,690.81/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 1,645.12/ton, +4.5% against the previous month, on 2,810 tonnes.
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page.
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Data Sources
Every endpoint used for the series on this page, the EU cross-check, the exchange rate used to express it in dollars and the HS classification reference:
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
- Eurostat Comext DS-045409, EU27 extra-EU imports, monthly: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/api/comext/dissemination/statistics/1.0/data/DS-045409?format=JSON&freq=M&reporter=EU27_2020&partner=EXT_EU27_2020&flow=1&indicators=VALUE_IN_EUROS&indicators=QUANTITY_IN_100KG&product=291735&sinceTimePeriod=2025-07
- ECB euro reference rate, monthly average (EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A): https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/data/EXR/M.USD.EUR.SP00.A?format=csvdata&startPeriod=2025-07&endPeriod=2026-10
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Isophthalic Acid (IPA) | Used in place of PA in unsaturated polyester resins and alkyd resins where improved flexibility, corrosion resistance, and weatherability are required. Requires reformulation of resin recipes; not a drop-in replacement but widely used as a partial or full substitute in high-performance coatings and marine resins. |
| Trimellitic Anhydride (TMA) | Substitutes PA in the production of high-temperature-resistant plasticizers (trimellitate esters) for PVC applications requiring low volatility and heat stability above 150°C, such as automotive wire and cable insulation. Requires different esterification chemistry and is more expensive, so substitution is driven by performance requirements. |
| Maleic Anhydride (MA) | Can partially replace PA in certain unsaturated polyester resin formulations to increase reactivity and crosslink density. Typically used in combination with PA rather than as a full replacement; the ratio is adjusted to tune resin properties such as hardness and cure speed. |
| Adipic Acid | Replaces phthalate plasticizers (derived from PA) in flexible PVC formulations where regulatory restrictions on phthalates apply (e.g., toys, food contact, medical devices). Adipate esters (e.g., DEHA) offer good low-temperature flexibility. Requires reformulation of the PVC compound and may affect permanence and cost. |
| Terephthalic Acid (TPA) / Dimethyl Terephthalate (DMT) | Used instead of PA-based alkyd resins in certain polyester coatings and powder coatings where higher thermal and chemical resistance is needed. TPA-based polyesters are increasingly preferred in industrial coatings; substitution requires full reformulation of the resin system. |
| DINCH (Di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) | A non-phthalate plasticizer that replaces PA-derived phthalate esters (DINP, DEHP) in sensitive PVC applications such as toys, medical tubing, and food packaging, driven by regulatory pressure. It is a drop-in replacement in terms of processing but is significantly more expensive and has a different regulatory profile. |
| Citric Acid Esters (e.g., ATBC, TBC) | Bio-based non-phthalate plasticizers that substitute for PA-derived phthalates in food-contact PVC films, medical devices, and children's products. They are drop-in compatible in many flexible PVC formulations but offer lower plasticizing efficiency and higher cost compared to phthalate esters. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- ortho-Xylene — the feedstock oxidised to phthalic anhydride.
- Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP) — the plasticiser esterified from phthalic anhydride.
- Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) — the terephthalate plasticiser that substitutes phthalate esters.
- Trioctyl Trimellitate — the high-temperature plasticiser competing with phthalate esters.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Draft Risk Evaluation for Phthalic Anhydride (TSCA) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 2026 | Unreasonable risk to workers and consumers from dermal and inhalation exposure (strong respiratory and dermal sensitizer) across 38 of 44 conditions of use; risk management actions to follow peer review | https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluation-phthalic-anhydride |
| US | OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | 1989 (current) | 1 ppm (8-hour TWA); equivalent to 12 mg/m³ | https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/721 |
| EU | REACH Annex XVII (Restrictions) | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | ongoing (original 2005, concentrations applied) | 0.1% by weight phthalate plasticizers in toys and childcare articles | https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/understanding-reach/reach-restriction-list |
| US | UN Number for Transport | UN Model Regulations / DOT / IMDG | 1970s (current) | UN 2214 (solid form, class 8, packing group III) | (link removed 2026-10-12: not reachable when checked) |
| US | NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) | current | 1 ppm (10-hour TWA) | https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/721 |
| India | Anti-Dumping Investigation on Phthalic Anhydride imports | Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Ministry of Commerce & Industry | 2020 (ongoing) | Investigation into dumped imports from China PR, Indonesia, Korea RP and Thailand; final duties may be imposed | https://www.dgtr.gov.in/en/anti-dumping-cases/anti-dumping-investigation-concerning-imports-phthalic-anhydride-pan-originating |
| China | Ecology and Environment Law Code (new chemicals registration) | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2026 (effective) | Environmental management registration required before manufacturing or importing new chemicals; prohibitions on unregistered substances | (link removed 2026-10-12: not reachable when checked) |
| EU | REACH SVHC Candidate List (phthalates downstream of PA) | European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) | ongoing (updates 2025-2026) | DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP require authorization; concentration limits in Annex XVII | https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table |
Key Influence Events
Phthalic anhydride (PA) is the organic compound with the formula C8H4O3, appearing as white flaky or needle-like crystals with a mild characteristic odor. It is the anhydride of phthalic acid and one of the most important industrial aromatic chemicals. Produced primarily by the catalytic vapor-phase oxidation of ortho-xylene (or, historically, naphthalene) over vanadium pentoxide catalysts, it serves as a key intermediate in the manufacture of plasticizers (especially phthalate esters such as DEHP and DINP), alkyd resins, unsaturated polyester resins, dyes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals. It melts at approximately 131°C and sublimes readily, requiring careful handling due to its irritant properties.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Phthalic Anhydride Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and Plasticiser Demand
Phthalic anhydride (PA) is the organic compound with the formula C8H4O3, appearing as white flaky or needle-like crystals with a mild characteristic odor. It is the anhydride of phthalic acid and one of the most important industrial aromatic chemicals. Produced primarily by the catalytic vapor-phase oxidation of ortho-xylene (or, historically, naphthalene) over vanadium pentoxide catalysts, it serves as a key intermediate in the manufacture of plasticizers (especially phthalate esters such as DEHP and DINP), alkyd resins, unsaturated polyester resins, dyes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals. It melts at approximately 131°C and sublimes readily, requiring careful handling due to its irritant properties.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form (commercial) | Molten liquid, flakes, or prills | — | Depends on logistics |
Data Sources
Price and volume figures are derived from the directly verified public sources below. The customs unit values are USD/ton; they are not subscription price assessments. Numeric assay rows were removed because no public product-grade source is cited for them - confirm grade-level specifications with the supplier. Every monthly endpoint used for the series on this page is listed below, together with the HS classification reference.
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202508&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202509&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202510&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202511&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202512&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202601&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202602&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202603&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202604&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202605&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202606&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?reporterCode=156,842,699,410,276,528,356,360,764,458,724,40,56,251,380,616,826,124,76,484,792,682,784,704,490,702,643,36,710,818,364,203,348,300,620,372,208,246,752,578,320,508&period=202607&cmdCode=291735&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
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