What is Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and PMMA Demand
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
Neutral
Bearish
What's driving sentiment this week:
Latest published month (2026-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
The most recent published customs observation for HS 291614 is 2026-07 at USD 2,450.32/ton, +11.0% against the previous month and +22.6% against 2025-08.
Reported volume across the fixed 10-economy panel was 204,238 tonnes over the window, 17,020 tonnes a month on average, and the three-month trend is +17.4%.
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 291614. 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=291614&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-11-03
Demand-side factors
- MMA demand is anchored by PMMA for signs, light covers, automotive lenses and glazing, then by acrylic emulsion and solvent coatings, adhesives and sealants, by impact modifiers and processing aids for PVC, and by specialty monomers for optical, medical and dental uses, so its call follows construction, automotive and coatings demand.
- Related market pages on this site: Isobutene (the C4 feedstock for the isobutylene route), Acetone (the ketone feedstock for the acetone-cyanohydrin route), Acrylic Acid (the sibling acrylic monomer).
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-08 to 2026-07)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 291614 moved from USD 1,998.01/ton in 2025-08 to USD 2,450.32/ton in 2026-07 (+22.6% across the window). The window high was USD 2,450.32/ton in 2026-07 and the low USD 1,962.93/ton in 2026-04. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +17.4% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 439.7 million of export value on 204,238 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 17,020 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 291614 from outside the EU at USD 2,594.32/ton in 2026-08 (EUR 2,237.82/ton at the ECB monthly reference rate), +5.7% against 2026-07, on 14,115 tonnes; the twelve months to 2026-08 totalled 218,520 tonnes. On the 12 months the two datasets share (2025-08 to 2026-07), three-month blocks that far apart moved +10.7% on the export panel and +14.8% on the EU import side, so the two agree on direction. 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 10 economies that make up this page's fixed panel, 8 had filed both value and net weight for this heading when the page was rebuilt on 2026-11-03, while the heading drew 12 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 291614 covers the esters of methacrylic acid as a group, so MMA shares the line with ethyl, butyl, isobutyl and the other methacrylate esters; methacrylic acid itself is separated in 291613 and the acrylic (propionate) esters in 291612. Poly(methyl methacrylate) made from the monomer is classified in 3906, so only merchant monomer and ester crosses this line, and the series is a methacrylate-ester composite in which MMA is one component rather than the whole.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 10 economies: BRA (76), CAN (124), CZE (203), FIN (246), IRL (372), MYS (458), NLD (528), POL (616), SWE (752), USA (842). The panel is held constant in every month of the window so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 1,962.93 to USD 2,450.32/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-07: USD 2,450.32/ton, +11.0% against the previous month, on 17,464 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 monthly 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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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 | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Butyl Acrylate (BA) | In acrylic emulsion coatings, adhesives, and sealants, butyl acrylate can partially or fully replace MMA as a comonomer to adjust glass transition temperature (Tg) and flexibility. BA-rich formulations are used where lower hardness and higher elongation are desired. Requires reformulation of monomer ratios; not a drop-in replacement for PMMA sheet applications. |
| Ethyl Acrylate (EA) | Used as a comonomer substitute for MMA in latex paints, textile coatings, and paper coatings where a softer, more flexible film is acceptable. EA lowers Tg compared to MMA. Substitution requires adjustment of polymer composition and is application-specific; not suitable for optical or rigid PMMA applications. |
| Styrene | In general-purpose transparent or translucent plastics (e.g., GPPS or SAN copolymers), polystyrene can substitute for PMMA in applications where optical clarity requirements are moderate and cost is a primary driver. Styrene-based polymers are cheaper but have lower UV resistance and weatherability than PMMA. Used as a partial substitute in lighting diffusers, display cases, and packaging. |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | In glazing, safety shields, automotive lighting lenses, and optical applications, polycarbonate can replace PMMA where higher impact resistance is required. PC offers superior toughness but is heavier, more expensive, and less scratch-resistant than PMMA. Substitution is common in demanding structural or safety-critical transparent parts. |
| Methacrylic Acid (MAA) esters (e.g., Ethyl Methacrylate, Butyl Methacrylate) | Higher alkyl methacrylate esters can substitute for MMA in specialty coatings, dental materials, and adhesive formulations where modified flexibility, adhesion, or solubility profiles are needed. These are close chemical analogs and often require only minor reformulation. They are more expensive than MMA and used in niche applications rather than bulk replacement. |
| Acrylic Acid / Acrylate Esters | In water-based architectural coatings and pressure-sensitive adhesives, acrylate ester monomers (methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate) can replace MMA as the hard monomer component in copolymer systems, though they impart lower hardness and UV resistance. Substitution requires reformulation and is partial; MMA is often preferred for exterior durability. |
| Cyclopentyl Methacrylate / Isobornyl Methacrylate (IBOMA) | In high-performance UV-curable coatings, dental resins, and optical adhesives, specialty methacrylate monomers such as IBOMA can replace MMA to achieve higher Tg, lower shrinkage, or improved adhesion. These are specialty substitutes used in premium formulations and are significantly more expensive than MMA. |
Related PetroApex Market Pages
- Propylene — the propylene feedstock for the C3 oxidation route to methacrylic acid.
- Isobutene — the isobutylene-route feedstock for MMA.
- Acrylic Acid — the sister acrylic monomer sharing emulsion and coatings outlets.
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | TSCA Chemical Inventory (all substances) | US EPA | May 28, 2026 | Methyl methacrylate (CAS 80-62-6) is listed as an existing active substance on the TSCA Inventory with no specific additional controls or requirements | US EPA (TSCA Inventory) |
| United States | Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program - Priority Product Listing: Nail Products Containing Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) | California DTSC | April 1, 2026 (effective date) | Manufacturers must submit Priority Product Notification (PPN) by June 1, 2026 for products containing MMA >1,000 ppm; compliance with alternatives analysis and potential prohibition | California DTSC (SCP regulation) |
| European Union | CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) and GHS harmonisation | ECHA | Ongoing (RAC recommendation 2021; CLP Annex VI classification applies) | Flammable liquid Category 2 (H225); Respiratory sensitisation Category 1 (H334); Skin sensitisation Category 1 (H317); No specific numerical threshold, but transport packaging and labelling mandatory | ECHA REACH/CLP (RAC recommendation) |
| European Union | REACH Registration (dossier evaluation) | ECHA | 2010 (registration number 01-2119452498-28) | Full tonnage-based registration dossier evaluated; no restriction or authorisation | ECHA REACH (dossier evaluation) |
| United States | OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) | OSHA / NIOSH | Current (unchanged since 1989/1992) | 100 ppm (410 mg/m³) TWA (8-hour OSHA PEL; 10-hour NIOSH REL); STEL 100 ppm; respiratory sensitisation risk noted | OSHA Chemical Data / NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| International Transport | IMDG Code (UN dangerous goods classification) | IMO (via IMDG) | Current (UN 1247) | UN Number 1247: METHYL METHACRYLATE MONOMER, STABILIZED; Class 3 (Flammable liquid), PG II; special provisions for stabilisation | IMDG Code / SDS (Carl Roth / BASF) |
Key Influence Events
It is the methyl ester of methacrylic acid and belongs to the family of acrylic monomers. MMA is primarily used as a monomer to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a transparent thermoplastic widely known under trade names such as Plexiglas, Lucite, and Perspex. It is also a key comonomer in acrylic emulsions, surface coatings, adhesives, and specialty polymers. MMA is a reactive monomer that polymerizes readily under heat, light, or free-radical initiators, and it is handled with inhibitors (typically hydroquinone monomethyl ether) to prevent premature polymerization during storage and transport.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) Market Analysis: Price Trend, Trade Data and PMMA Demand
It is the methyl ester of methacrylic acid and belongs to the family of acrylic monomers. MMA is primarily used as a monomer to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a transparent thermoplastic widely known under trade names such as Plexiglas, Lucite, and Perspex. It is also a key comonomer in acrylic emulsions, surface coatings, adhesives, and specialty polymers. MMA is a reactive monomer that polymerizes readily under heat, light, or free-radical initiators, and it is handled with inhibitors (typically hydroquinone monomethyl ether) to prevent premature polymerization during storage and transport.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|
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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&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=291614&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true
- https://comtradeapi.un.org/files/v1/app/reference/HS.json
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