Udeesha Tomar
AVP - Strategy and Solutions
Leading procurement research solutions across chemicals, materials, and food & beverages, with expertise in price forecasting and market analytics.
Isobutyric acid Price Trend Analysis 2026: Latest News, Historical Prices, Supply Demand Analysis, Price Drivers & Market Insights
Written ByUdeesha Tomar
Isobutyric Acid Price Trend Q4 2025
Asia
In Q4’25, the Isobutyric acid market in Asia mostly saw lower prices. After the holiday period, demand was weak, as many buyers focused on using previously purchased stocks and only ordered what was immediately needed. Supply remained adequate, which put pressure on the market. Early in December, some producers reduced production slightly, which helped support prices temporarily. However, by mid-December, demand continued to be soft, and prices gradually moved down. Trading activity was generally slow, and the market mood was cautious.
Europe
In Europe, prices of Isobutyric acid were relatively stable, but with a slight downward trend over the quarter. Industrial buyers were careful and preferred small orders. Supply remained steady, with producers maintaining production to prevent oversupply. Raw material costs were mostly stable, so they provided little push to prices. Market activity was moderate, and negotiations generally focused on the lower side of price ranges. Overall, the European market remained balanced but lacked strong momentum.
North America
In North America, the Isobutyric acid market also stayed fairly stable during Q4’25. Demand was moderate, with most buyers ordering only what they immediately needed. Supply and inventories were well-managed, keeping the market in balance. At the start of December, prices showed minor gains when production tightened slightly, but weak demand in the following weeks kept prices steady. Trading volumes were limited, and buyers remained cautious.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, Isobutyric acid prices are expected to stay mostly stable, with small fluctuations depending on changes in supply and short-term demand.
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Asia
During Q3’25, isobutyric acid prices in Asia showed a slightly firm trend, driven mainly by changes in the upstream isobutyraldehyde and propylene markets. The shutdown of key PDH plants in China, especially Tianjin and Quanzhou, caused a drop in the availability of propylene a crucial feedstock for isobutyraldehyde, which in turn affected isobutyric acid market.
Despite weak demand in the downstream chemical and plastic sectors, the supply limitations supported prices for much of the quarter. However, the overall buying interest stayed cautious due to sluggish activity in industries like coatings and resins, keeping the market from experiencing any sharp price spikes.
Europe
In Europe, isobutyric acid prices remained mostly flat to slightly weak over the quarter. Feedstock propylene was in good supply, and production of isobutyraldehyde remained stable as cracker operations continued without major disruptions. However, demand from end-use sectors such as solvents, pharmaceuticals, and chemical intermediates was not strong enough to create any price momentum.
The market was also influenced by steady imports, including some inflows from Asia, which kept supply levels comfortable. Overall, with weak consumption and balanced supply, the market maintained a soft undertone throughout the quarter.
North America
In North America, isobutyric acid prices stayed under pressure during Q3. The region experienced high availability of upstream feedstocks, especially propylene, as refinery and gas plant activity remained strong. This led to stable to lower production costs for isobutyraldehyde and, by extension, isobutyric acid.
However, demand from downstream sectors such as coatings, plastics, and additives stayed muted, with buyers sticking to minimal purchasing patterns. Additionally, limited export movement and weak international interest kept domestic supply levels high, which further contributed to the downward price trend.
About Isobutyric Acid
Isobutyric Acid, also known as 2-methylpropanoic acid, is a carboxylic acid with the chemical formula CH3CH(CH3)COOH. It is a colorless, volatile liquid with a pungent odor resembling sweaty socks or rancid butter. As a branched-chain fatty acid and isomer of butyric acid, Iso Butyric Acid exhibits distinct properties.
It has a boiling point around 154-155°C (309-311°F) and a density of approximately 0.97 g/cm³. It is weakly acidic and can react with bases to form isobutyrates. Found in nature as a product of certain bacterial metabolism, Iso Butyric Acid finds applications in the flavor and fragrance industry, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and other industrial sectors.
Isobutyric acid Product Detail
HS Code
79-31-2
Chemical Formula
C4H8O2
CAS Number
29156010
Industrial Uses
Flavor and fragrance industry, Plastics and polymer synthesis, Solvent, Pharmaceutical
Synonyms
2-methylpropanoic acid, Isobutanoic acid
Supplier Database
Beijing Humaoyuan Fragrance Flavour Co. Ltd. Inc, Perstop Holding AB, OXEA GmbH, Blue Marble Biomaterials, Tokyo Chemical Industry Co Ltd, Snowco Industrial Co Ltd, Eastman Chemical Company
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.
Isobutyric Acid Production Processes
Iso butyraldehyde is oxidized with an oxidizing agent at a precise, regulated temperature to produce Iso Butyric Acid as the end product, along with a few byproducts. To ensure a high-quality yield of the commercial chemical, it is also necessary to use a catalyst while maintaining a specific temperature and pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
The current isobutyric acid outlook points to mostly stable prices with small fluctuations driven by supply shifts and short-term demand. Asia faced downward pressure from weak post-holiday buying and adequate supply, while Europe and North America held relatively steady amid cautious purchasing and well-managed inventories. Brief production cuts in early December offered temporary support, but soft demand quickly eroded gains. Stable raw material costs and balanced supply should keep the market grounded, though any supply disruptions or a pickup in downstream demand could tilt prices higher.
In Asia, seasonal post-holiday demand weakness can drive buyers to draw down stocks rather than place new orders, suppressing spot demand and pushing prices lower despite adequate supply, with brief production cuts typically offering only short-lived support. In Europe, producers tend to hold production steady to prevent oversupply, anchoring prices in a stable range, while stable raw material costs remove cost-push pressure and cautious small-order buying keeps negotiations toward the lower end.
The major isobutyric acid producers are Eastman Chemical Company (USA), OQ Chemicals GmbH (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Chemex Chemicals (India), Beijing Humaoyuan Fragrance Flavour Co. Ltd. (China), Snowco Industrial Co Ltd (China), Perstop Holding AB (Sweden), and Blue Marble Biomaterials (USA). Key consuming regions span Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Production is concentrated among a small number of specialised chemical firms, which warrants attention for supply security.
Isobutyric acid is produced by oxidizing isobutyraldehyde using tetrabutylammonium hydrosulfate as the oxidizing agent under controlled temperature and pressure. Isobutyraldehyde itself is made via the hydroformylation (oxo process) of propylene, which is derived from crude oil and naphtha. The finished acid serves as a chemical intermediate for esters, cellulose acetate butyrate resins, plasticisers, and surfactants, as well as a precursor for ibuprofen and valproic acid in pharmaceuticals, animal feed additives, food flavors, and fragrance ingredients.
The flavor and fragrance industry is a primary demand driver, with isobutyric acid serving as a key precursor for perfumes, aromatic products, and food additives. The pharmaceutical sector contributes through drug intermediates, while plastics and polymer synthesis, plus chemical and petrochemical sectors, use it for polymer production and as a solvent in varnishes and disinfectants. Together, these industries underpin steady baseline demand, though periods of soft ordering, as buyers draw down existing stocks rather than replenish, tend to keep price pressure muted across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Procurement Resource assesses isobutyric acid prices through a structured, data-driven methodology that combines primary engagement with producers, suppliers and traders, secondary market data, continuous monitoring of feedstock and input costs, trade-flow and inventory tracking, and exchange or spot benchmarks. These inputs are validated and translated into a transparent price assessment and outlook. The detailed methodology is available on the Procurement Resource website.
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