Calcium Carbide Price Trend Analysis 2026: Price Drivers, Latest News, Market Insights, Historical Prices & Supply Demand Analysis

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Written ByShriya Singh

Procurement Resource Database

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  • Global calcium carbide prices followed a softening trend through Q1, with post-holiday corrections and inventory pressure outweighing earlier stability in key producing regions.
  • Feedstock costs weakened as semi-coke prices declined, reducing cost support and forcing producers to lower prices to clear inventories.
  • Downstream demand remained subdued, especially from PVC, with slow post-festival recovery limiting procurement and keeping market sentiment weak.

Asia

In Asia, the prices were about RMB 2.55/kg in January and around RMB 2.46/kg in March, with prices declining by about 3.96% from February to March. The market remained relatively stable in January ahead of the Chinese New Year, supported by steady production and pre-holiday stocking. After the Spring Festival, prices declined sharply due to logistical disruptions and inventory accumulation, as transport restrictions on hazardous materials delayed shipments and led to stock build-up in production regions. Supply remained high as plants continued operating, while demand weakened due to the slow resumption in downstream sectors, particularly PVC, which accounts for a major share of consumption. Weakening semi-coke costs further reduced price support, reinforcing the downward trend.

Europe

In Europe, the market followed a similar weak trajectory, influenced by subdued downstream demand and sufficient availability of material. Industrial activity remained cautious, limiting procurement of carbide-based intermediates. Supply chains remained stable, but weak consumption from construction-linked chemicals and plastics sectors restricted price recovery. Producers faced pressure to align prices with softer global trends, as demand failed to absorb available supply.

North America

In North America, calcium carbide prices also showed a mild downward bias, reflecting balanced-to-long supply conditions and cautious buying patterns. Downstream industries maintained controlled purchasing, avoiding bulk procurement amid uncertain demand recovery. Stable production levels and adequate inventories limited any upward movement, while weak global sentiment and reduced cost pressures kept the market subdued.

About Calcium Carbide

Calcium Carbide, also known as calcium acetylide, is basically a chemical compound. One of Its primary applications is its use in the manufacturing of acetylene and calcium cyanamide at industrial scale. In appearance, pure material of this chemical compound is colourless, however pieces of technical-grade Calcium Carbide are grey or brown in colour and consist of about 80–85% CaC2.

Calcium Carbide Product Detail

Chemical Formula

CaC2

Cas Number
75-20-7
Molecular Weight
64.099 g/mol
Industrial Uses

Solvent, Steelmaking, Acetylene gas, Carbide lamps, Fertiliser, Toy cannons

Synonyms

Calcium acetylide, Calcium ethynediide, Calcium percarbide, Calcium dicarbide

Supplier Database

Acros Organics, Madhuraj Industrial Gases Pvt Ltd, Majufa Traders & Exporters

Regional Coverage

Asia Pacific

China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand

Europe

Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece

North America

United States and Canada

Latin America

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru

Africa

South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)

Supplier Database AvailabilityYes

Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer

Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery

Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.

Calcium Carbide Production Process

  • Production of Calcium Carbide via Lime and Coke Mixture

In order to produce Calcium Carbide via Lime and Coke an electric arc furnace is utilised where the mixture of lime and coke is burned around 2,200oC.

Frequently Asked Questions

During Q1 2026, calcium carbide prices in China showed a slight upward trend. From January to March, calcium carbide prices showed a 2.1% increase in China. The rise was supported by steady procurement from acetylene-based chemical users, higher energy-linked production costs, and controlled supply from energy-intensive production regions.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, calcium carbide prices in China increased by 2.7%. Previous quarter average prices and current quarter average prices were not shown, but the percentage movement indicates a firm pricing environment. The increase reflected improved buying activity, controlled plant operating rates, and cost support from electricity, coke, and lime-based production inputs.
The calcium carbide outlook for 2026 remains steady to moderately firm. Demand is expected to be supported by PVC, BDO, acetylene gas, steel desulfurization, and chemical synthesis applications. However, weak margins in calcium carbide-based PVC may limit strong price gains. Supply growth is expected to remain controlled because calcium carbide production is energy-intensive and faces stricter efficiency requirements.
The main factors affecting calcium carbide prices in Q1 2026 were energy costs and downstream PVC demand. Calcium carbide production requires high electricity consumption, lime, and carbon-based feedstocks, so any movement in power tariffs and coke costs influenced production economics. Demand from acetylene-based PVC and BDO supported procurement, while weak construction-linked PVC consumption limited sharper price increases.
China is by far the dominant producer and consumer of calcium carbide globally, supported by its coal-based chemical industry and calcium carbide-based PVC chain. Other important markets include India, Germany, Japan, the United States, and parts of Central Asia. Key companies include Inner Mongolia Baiyanhu Chemical, Ningxia Jinyuyuan Chemical, Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical, Junzheng Group, Beiyuan Group, Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical, Ningxia Yinglite Chemical, Alzchem Group, Denka, and Carbide Industries.
In 2026, Ningxia Shuangying New Materials advanced a 1 billion yuan polyvinyl alcohol project that is expected to enter trial production by the end of November 2026. The project is relevant to calcium carbide because it is designed to consume around 200,000 tonnes of calcium carbide annually, strengthening the linked demand from the acetylene-based chemical chain.
Calcium carbide is mainly produced from quicklime and coke in an electric arc furnace at very high temperatures. The value chain includes limestone mining, lime production, coke sourcing, electric furnace production, cooling, crushing, packaging, storage, and distribution. Calcium carbide is then used to produce acetylene gas, calcium cyanamide, PVC intermediates, BDO-related chemicals, and metallurgical treatment products.
Calcium carbide demand is mainly driven by PVC production, acetylene gas generation, metal fabrication, mining, steelmaking, and chemical synthesis. In China, calcium carbide-based PVC remains a major demand center. Acetylene produced from calcium carbide is used in welding, cutting, and chemical intermediates, while calcium carbide also supports desulfurization and deoxidation applications in metallurgical industries.
In May 2026, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that all calcium carbide-based PVC producers will be subject to mandatory energy-efficiency supervision by the end of 2026. The policy targets an industry with nearly 30 million tons of PVC capacity, of which about 72% uses the energy-intensive calcium carbide process. Authorities expect approximately 3 million tons of outdated and inefficient capacity to exit the market, accelerating industry consolidation and encouraging investment in energy-saving upgrades.
Procurement Resource employs a structured methodology combining primary research, secondary market data, analytical models, and validation processes to assess calcium carbide prices and trends. Price evaluations incorporate supply-demand dynamics, feedstock movements, trade flows, and value chain analysis, supported by continuous market monitoring to ensure accurate and reliable insights.

Our Price Analysis Methodology

About the Author

Shriya Singh profile photo

Shriya Singh

Business Insights Analyst

Helping procurement and sourcing teams navigate complex markets through data-driven research, category intelligence, and actionable insights - with a focus on identifying market trends, analyzing supply-side developments, and delivering clear intelligence that supports informed business decisions.

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