What is Isobutyric Acid
Analysts Sentiment
Bullish
33.7%
Neutral
27.5%
Bearish
38.8%
What's driving sentiment this week:
Past Week (2026-06-01 to 2026-06-07) — Sentiment: Mixed
Rising naphtha prices to $716.36/mt on 2026-06-05 inflate feedstock costs, squeezing isobutyric acid producer margins and pressuring supply.
Strong container freight demand reported on 2026-06-07 signals robust downstream activity, supporting isobutyric acid consumption and propping up demand.
Soaring container and tanker freight rates, climbing 23% to $3,433 per 40ft container on 2026-06-04, hike logistics expenses and weigh on overall cost structure.
This Week (2026-06-08 to 2026-06-14) — Outlook: Neutral
Mixed cost drivers and demand signals balance out, creating a neutral outlook for isobutyric acid pricing and margins this week.
The US CPI release on 2026-06-10 is the key catalyst to watch, as it may shift interest rate expectations and indirectly impact producer capital costs.
A surprise macro shift in crude inventories or ECB monetary policy on 2026-06-10/11 could abruptly alter feedstock or FX cost dynamics, flipping the current outlook.
Key Market Impact
Supply-side cost inflation from naphtha and freight dominates margin pressure on isobutyric acid producers as of early June 2026.
Market participants are expected to hold back aggressive buying amid cost uncertainty while monitoring macro data for clearer price direction.
How About the Price?
Price Trajectory 2020–2026 (Brief Recap)
Phase 1 — Stable Start (2020–2021): Prices rose modestly from $1500.00 in January 2020 to $1600.00 in January 2021, with no recorded influencing events during this period according to the influence log.
Phase 2 — Moderate Growth (2021–2022): The price increased further to $1700.00 by January 2022, again with no documented supply or demand factors noted in the influence data.
Phase 3 — Initial Decline (2022–2023): Prices began to fall to $1650.00 in January 2023 with an absence of recorded influence events during this period.
Phase 4 — Significant Downturn (2023–2025): The price dropped sharply from $1650.00 in January 2023 to $1300.00 in January 2024, and further to $1250.00 in January 2025, despite a lack of noted impact factors in the influence log.
Phase 5 — Stabilization with Minor Recovery (2025–June 2026): Prices stabilized and saw a slight increase to $1283.33 in January and March 2026 before decreasing to $1230.00 by June 2026; no influence events recorded during this time frame.
Supply-side factors
- No recorded supply-side events or factors documented in the influence log from 2020 to mid-2026.
Demand-side factors
- No demand-side events or factors documented in the influence log for the entire reported period.
Substitutes & Alternatives
| Substitute / Alternative | Replacement Scenario / How It Substitutes |
|---|---|
| n-Butyric Acid | In flavor and fragrance ester synthesis, n-butyric acid esters (e.g., ethyl butyrate, isoamyl butyrate) can replace isobutyric acid esters when a straight-chain butanoic note is acceptable. The substitution requires reformulation of the ester since the branched vs. linear structure gives different odor profiles; not a drop-in replacement but widely used as a functional analog in food flavoring applications. |
| Propionic Acid | In antimicrobial and preservative applications (grain preservation, silage treatment), propionic acid can substitute for isobutyric acid where a shorter-chain acid is sufficient. It is a drop-in replacement in many feed preservation blends, though it is more volatile and has a slightly different efficacy profile against molds and bacteria. |
| Methacrylic Acid | In the production of methacrylate monomers, methacrylic acid is the direct end-product that isobutyric acid is sometimes used to produce (via dehydrogenation). When methacrylic acid is available at competitive cost, producers can bypass the isobutyric acid intermediate entirely and purchase methacrylic acid directly for downstream esterification to methyl methacrylate (MMA) or other acrylates. |
| Isobutyric Anhydride | In acylation reactions and pharmaceutical synthesis where isobutyric acid is used as an acylating agent, isobutyric anhydride can substitute as a more reactive acylating reagent. It is not a drop-in replacement but is preferred in reactions requiring higher reactivity or anhydrous conditions; it is itself derived from isobutyric acid. |
| 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid | In lubricant additive and metalworking fluid formulations, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (a branched C8 acid) can substitute for isobutyric acid as a corrosion inhibitor or metal-complexing agent when higher molecular weight and lower volatility are desirable. Requires reformulation to adjust dosage and compatibility. |
| Pivalic Acid (2,2-Dimethylpropanoic Acid) | In specialty ester synthesis and as a pharmaceutical intermediate, pivalic acid (a branched C5 acid) can substitute for isobutyric acid when greater steric bulk and hydrolytic stability of the resulting ester are required. Used as a partial substitute in prodrug design (pivaloyl ester prodrugs) and in certain coating resin applications. |
| Acetic Acid / Acetic Anhydride | In some flavor ester and pharmaceutical acylation applications where the specific branched-chain character of isobutyric acid is not critical, acetic acid or acetic anhydride can serve as lower-cost acylating agents. This substitution is limited to applications where the shorter chain length and different sensory or physicochemical properties are acceptable. |
Regulatory Status
| Region | Regulation / Policy Name | Issuing Authority | Year (enacted or latest revision) | Key Requirement / Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) | ECHA | Registered (pre-registration 2009; registration ongoing) | Chemical safety assessment per Article 14(1) for quantities of 10 tonnes or more per year per registrant; dossier evaluation and compliance checks; Annex XVII restrictions not applicable (no entry for this substance) | ECHA Substance Infocard (https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.001.087); SDS referencing Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 as amended by 2020/878/EU |
| USA | TSCA Inventory (Toxic Substances Control Act) | EPA | 1976 (listed; active status confirmed) | Listed on TSCA Inventory as active substance (40 CFR Part 710); no additional risk evaluation or controls identified for this substance | EPA TSCA Inventory confirmation; SDS referencing TSCA Section 8(e) and 40 CFR Part 710 |
| USA | 21 CFR 172.515 (Synthetic flavoring substances and adjuvants) | FDA | Listed (GRAS; no specific amendment) | Used in minimum quantity required to produce intended effect; GRAS for food additive use with no numerical threshold or restriction specified | 21 CFR 172.515 (as of 6/04/2026); FDA EAFUS database (substance ID ISOBUTYRICACID) |
| EU | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives | European Commission / EFSA | 2008 (no amendment for this substance) | Authorised as food additive/flavouring under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; specific purity criteria in Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 | EFSA re-evaluation context for related esters; FDA/EFSA cross-reference in flavour databases |
| International | UN Model Regulations for Transport of Dangerous Goods (ADR, IMDG, ICAO) | UN / IMO / ICAO (national adoption) | UN number assigned (no revision) | UN 2529 (ISOBUTYRIC ACID); hazard class 3 (flammable liquid); packing group III; class 3+8 (corrosive) | SDS (Carl Roth, Fisher Scientific, etc.); ADR/RID/IMDG references |
| China | New Chemical Substance Notification / MEE environmental management | MEE | Order 12 (2020); ongoing environmental compliance | Notification required for manufacture/import/use; no specific emission/effluent thresholds or prohibition identified for this substance | MEE Order 12; no entry in MEE priority pollutant lists (2023/2025 editions) |
| Global Trade | No specific trade measures | WTO / customs | No enacted or revision | No anti-dumping duties, tariff adjustments, or export controls identified | WTO Anti-Dumping database; no matching investigations |
Key Influence Events
Isobutyric acid (2-methylpropanoic acid, CAS 79-31-2) is a short-chain branched saturated carboxylic acid with the molecular formula C4H8O2 and a molecular weight of 88.11 g/mol. It is a colorless, oily liquid with a pungent, rancid odor, miscible with water, ethanol, and ether. It occurs naturally in small amounts in certain plant materials and fermentation products. Industrially, it is produced primarily by the liquid-phase oxidation of isobutyraldehyde (derived from the oxo synthesis of propylene) or by the Reppe-based carbonylation route. It is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of esters for flavors and fragrances, as a feedstock for isobutyric anhydride, in the production of methacrylate monomers via dehydrogenation, as a pharmaceutical intermediate, and as a component in specialty coatings and lubricant additives.
Top Countries Production Capacity
Production Process of Isobutyric Acid
Isobutyric acid (2-methylpropanoic acid, CAS 79-31-2) is a short-chain branched saturated carboxylic acid with the molecular formula C4H8O2 and a molecular weight of 88.11 g/mol. It is a colorless, oily liquid with a pungent, rancid odor, miscible with water, ethanol, and ether. It occurs naturally in small amounts in certain plant materials and fermentation products. Industrially, it is produced primarily by the liquid-phase oxidation of isobutyraldehyde (derived from the oxo synthesis of propylene) or by the Reppe-based carbonylation route. It is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of esters for flavors and fragrances, as a feedstock for isobutyric anhydride, in the production of methacrylate monomers via dehydrogenation, as a pharmaceutical intermediate, and as a component in specialty coatings and lubricant additives.
Specs & Grades
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.0 | wt% | Technical / Industrial Grade |
| Purity (GC) | ≥ 99.5 | wt% | High-Purity / Reagent Grade |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless liquid | — | All grades |
| Color (APHA) | ≤ 10 | APHA | Technical Grade |
| Color (APHA) | ≤ 5 | APHA | High-Purity Grade |
| Water content (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.10 | wt% | Technical Grade |
| Water content (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.05 | wt% | High-Purity Grade |
| Acidity (as isobutyric acid) | ≥ 99.0 | wt% | Titration check |
| Boiling Point | 154–155 | °C at 1 atm | Physical constant |
| Melting Point | −47 | °C | Physical constant |
| Density (20 °C) | 0.949–0.951 | g/cm³ | All grades |
| Refractive Index (n20/D) | 1.392–1.394 | — | All grades |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | 56 | °C | Safety parameter |
| Residue on evaporation | ≤ 0.005 | wt% | High-Purity Grade |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 5 | ppm | Pharma / Food-grade |
| Isobutyric anhydride content | ≤ 0.2 | wt% | Technical Grade |
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| OQ Chemicals | Monheim am Rhein, Germany | Oberhausen, Marl, Bay City TX, Bishop TX, Amsterdam |
| Eastman Chemical Company | Kingsport, Tennessee, USA | Kingsport TN, Longview TX |
Our Analysis are Happy
"Global volatility doesn't have to be a risk for your business. We monitor feedstock shifts and geopolitical trends daily to help you anticipate price movements before they hit the market."
Theo James
"Data is only as good as its source. We go beyond the numbers to ensure that the product grade you select matches your specific application, reducing waste and optimizing your operational efficiency."
Emilia Munro
"Timing is everything in petrochemical procurement. Our goal is to align your purchasing cycles with market troughs, effectively lowering your cost basis and maximizing your margins."
Branden Griffiths
we’re here to all your questions
Everything you need to know about our market analysis, product quality, and procurement process.
How much for a custom market analysis?
Costs vary based on the scope. Please contact our sales team for a custom quote.
Do you offer trade credit or bulk pricing?
Yes, we offer flexible payment terms and volume-based pricing for corporate accounts.
Do you provide product quality documentation?
Yes, every delivery includes a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and safety documentation (MSDS).
Can you help me select the right product specification?
Certainly. Our technical experts are available to guide you to the ideal grade for your specific application.