What is Adipic Acid
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
58.4%
Neutral
16.9%
Bearish
24.7%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Bullish
European chemical producer prices surged through April 2026 per the 2026-06-05 ICIS print, lifting cyclohexane, KA-oil and nitric acid input costs and pushing adipic acid cash margins for European producers deeper into negative territory.
Downstream nylon 66 and polyurethane buyers across the US and Europe are accelerating June 2026 procurement to front-run the incoming Section 301 tariff wave flagged on 2026-06-05, tightening prompt adipic acid availability at the destination.
The 2026-06-05 confirmation of US tariff replacement of IEEPA duties, paired with Asia-US container rates jumping more than 30% on pull-forward volumes, has rerated landed costs for Asian-origin adipic acid into North America and Europe sharply higher.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Bullish
Spot adipic acid offers in Europe and the US should grind higher this week as sellers pass through April cost inflation and tariff-loaded freight into June 2026 contract discussions.
The key catalyst is the staggered implementation schedule of the first US Section 301 tariff wave (expected) over 2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14, which will lock in the freight premium on Asian cargoes already on the water.
A sudden de-escalation of the US tariff timeline or a rapid normalization of Asia-US box rates back below the pre-surge baseline would collapse the import-parity floor and flip the call.
Key Market Impact
Cost-push from European feedstock inflation and tariff-amplified freight is now the dominant force, squeezing converter margins while handing integrated adipic acid producers pricing power into July 2026 nominations.
Traders should lift length on Asian-origin tons already cleared, buyers should accelerate Q3 2026 coverage at current numbers, and producers should push firm June-July offers rather than roll over May levels.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Initial Stability and Slight Decline (2020-01 to 2020-02): Prices started at $1205 in January 2020 before dipping to $1180 in February 2020, with no specific influencing factors identified in the records.
Phase 2 — Gradual Recovery and Uptrend (2020-03 to 2021-12): Prices steadily increased from $1190 in March 2020 to $1600 by December 2021, without noted external factors driving this trend according to the events log.
Phase 3 — Continued Growth with Moderating Rate (2022-01 to 2023-05): Prices rose from $1625 in January 2022 to $2000 by May 2023, yet the influence log remained empty, showing no recorded supply or demand events impacting pricing.
Phase 4 — Slowing Price Increase Approaching Peak (2023-06 to 2024-12): Prices showed slowing increments, reaching $2205 in December 2024, again with no listed factors influencing market dynamics.
Phase 5 — Plateau and Marginal Increase (2025-01 to 2026-05): Price stabilizes near $2240 by May 2026, with monthly increases of only 2 USD/ton and no recorded external events affecting prices.
Supply-side factors
- No supply-related factors documented in the influence log during 2020 to 2026.
Demand-side factors
- No demand-related factors documented in the influence log during 2020 to 2026.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Sebacic Acid | Can replace adipic acid as a dicarboxylic acid monomer in polyamide (nylon) synthesis and polyester polyols where greater chain flexibility, lower melting point, or bio-based sourcing is desired. Used in specialty nylons (e.g., nylon-6,10) and plasticizers. Requires reformulation of the polymer recipe; not a drop-in replacement due to different chain length and melting characteristics. |
| Azelaic Acid | Substitutes adipic acid in polyurethane polyols, lubricant esters, and plasticizer applications where improved low-temperature performance is needed. Also used in cosmetic and corrosion-inhibitor formulations. Partial or full replacement depending on the target property profile; requires formulation adjustment. |
| Dodecanedioic Acid (DDDA) | Replaces adipic acid in high-performance polyamides (e.g., nylon-6,12) and powder coatings where lower moisture absorption, higher melting point stability, or longer-chain flexibility is required. Used as a drop-in monomer swap in nylon synthesis with reformulation of the polymerization conditions. |
| Succinic Acid | Bio-based succinic acid can partially substitute adipic acid in polyurethane polyols, plasticizers, and certain polyester resins, particularly where bio-content or sustainability certification is a commercial requirement. Shorter chain length means it is not a direct drop-in for nylon-6,6 but is viable in flexible polyurethane and coating applications with reformulation. |
| Glutaric Acid | Substitutes adipic acid in polyester polyols for polyurethane foams and coatings, and in plasticizer blends. Often used in mixed-diacid systems alongside adipic and succinic acids. Partial replacement in polyol synthesis; the mixed-acid approach is common in flexible foam formulations to tune properties. |
| Isophthalic Acid (IPA) | Replaces adipic acid in certain polyester resin and alkyd coating formulations where aromatic rigidity, improved chemical resistance, or higher heat deflection temperature is desired. Not applicable to nylon-6,6 synthesis; relevant primarily in unsaturated polyester resins and PET-type copolymers. Requires significant reformulation. |
| Caprolactam | As the monomer for nylon-6, caprolactam is the primary commercial alternative to the adipic acid + hexamethylenediamine (HMD) system for nylon-6,6. In applications where nylon-6 properties are acceptable (slightly lower melting point, similar mechanical profile), manufacturers may switch to caprolactam-based nylon-6, avoiding adipic acid entirely. This is a process-level substitution requiring different polymerization equipment. |
| Citric Acid | Replaces adipic acid as a food acidulant (E330 vs E355) in beverages, confectionery, and processed foods. Citric acid is more widely available, cheaper, and has a more familiar taste profile; it is effectively a drop-in acidulant substitute in most food and beverage applications where adipic acid's slower dissolution and milder tartness are not specifically required. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH Registration | ECHA | 2010 | Full registration dossier submitted and accepted for large-scale use; ongoing compliance required | REACH Consortium documentation and ECHA Substance Information (100.004.250) |
| EU | Anti-Dumping Measures | European Commission | 2026 | Definitive duties imposed on imports from the People's Republic of China ranging from 29.1% to 42.3% (specific rates: Chongqing Huafon Chemical 29.1%, Tangshan Zhonghao Chemical 42.3%, other cooperating companies 31.5%) | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/913 of 4 May 2026 and European Commission announcement (5 May 2026) |
| US | TSCA Chemical Activity Status | EPA | active | Adipic acid listed as active under TSCA with no unreasonable risk finding in pre-manufacture notifications | EPA Chemicals under the TSCA database |
| China | Industrial Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) Emissions Control Action Plan | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) | 2025 | Target to achieve internationally leading (advanced) N₂O emission levels per unit product by 2030 in adipic acid production; promotion of source/in-process abatement, catalytic equipment, and tail-gas recovery/purification | MEE Action Plan (joint with NDRC and MIIT); IGSD bilingual version (2025) |
Key Influence Events
Adipic acid (hexanedioic acid, HOOC-(CH2)4-COOH) is a white crystalline dicarboxylic acid with molecular formula C6H10O4 and molecular weight 146.14 g/mol. It is the most commercially important aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, produced globally at roughly 2.5–3 million tonnes per year. Its primary use—accounting for about 90% of output—is as a monomer in the production of nylon-6,6 (polyamide 6,6), where it reacts with hexamethylenediamine to form the polymer backbone. It is also used as a plasticizer intermediate (notably for polyurethanes and PVC plasticizers), as a food acidulant (E355), in polyester polyols, and in various specialty coatings and adhesives. The dominant commercial production route is the two-step oxidation of cyclohexane: first to a cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone mixture (KA oil) using air, then to adipic acid using concentrated nitric acid.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Adipic Acid
Adipic acid (hexanedioic acid, HOOC-(CH2)4-COOH) is a white crystalline dicarboxylic acid with molecular formula C6H10O4 and molecular weight 146.14 g/mol. It is the most commercially important aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, produced globally at roughly 2.5–3 million tonnes per year. Its primary use—accounting for about 90% of output—is as a monomer in the production of nylon-6,6 (polyamide 6,6), where it reacts with hexamethylenediamine to form the polymer backbone. It is also used as a plasticizer intermediate (notably for polyurethanes and PVC plasticizers), as a food acidulant (E355), in polyester polyols, and in various specialty coatings and adhesives. The dominant commercial production route is the two-step oxidation of cyclohexane: first to a cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone mixture (KA oil) using air, then to adipic acid using concentrated nitric acid.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assay (purity) | ≥ 99.7 | % w/w | Technical / Polymer |
| Assay (purity) | ≥ 99.8 | % w/w | Food Grade (E355) |
| Melting point | 151–154 | °C | All grades |
| Color (APHA) | ≤ 10 | Hazen | Polymer / Food |
| Iron content | ≤ 1 | ppm | Polymer Grade |
| Iron content | ≤ 1 | ppm | Food Grade |
| Ash content | ≤ 0.002 | % w/w | Polymer Grade |
| Moisture (water content) | ≤ 0.2 | % w/w | All grades |
| Nitric acid content | ≤ 0.001 | % w/w | Polymer Grade |
| Glutaric acid | ≤ 0.05 | % w/w | Polymer Grade |
| Succinic acid | ≤ 0.03 | % w/w | Polymer Grade |
| Bulk density (powder) | 700–900 | kg/m³ | All grades |
| Particle size (d50, granular) | 400–800 | µm | Granular / Nylon grade |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 5 | ppm | Food Grade |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| INVISTA | Wichita, Kansas, USA | Victoria, TX |
| Ascend Performance Materials | Houston, Texas, USA | Pensacola, FL |
| BASF SE | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Onsan, South Korea, Chalampé, France |
| Radici Partecipazioni S.p.A. | Gandino, Italy | Zeitz, Germany |
| Asahi Kasei Corporation | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Huafon Chemical | Chongqing, China | Chongqing, China |
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