Recently, the global adipic acid industry is undergoing multiple transformations including trade pattern adjustment, production capacity restructuring, intensified price volatility and accelerated green transition. Europe and the United States have introduced frequent trade remedy measures; leading international chemical enterprises are speeding up production capacity optimization; and Chinese enterprises continue to make breakthroughs in technology and expand market presence, jointly shaping a new landscape of the global adipic acid market.

In the trade sector, trade remedy actions targeting Chinese adipic acid launched by Europe and the United States have become the industry focus. On November 13, 2025, the European Commission issued an announcement making the preliminary anti-dumping ruling on adipic acid originating in China. The provisional anti-dumping duty rate for different Chinese enterprises ranges from 28.6% to 46.8%, among which Chongqing Huafeng Chemical Co., Ltd. is set at 28.6%, Tangshan Zhonghao Chemical Co., Ltd. at 46.8%, other cooperating enterprises at 32.0%, and all other Chinese producers and exporters at 46.8%. The EU CN code of the involved product is ex 2917 12 00 (TARIC code: 2917 12 00 10). The dumping investigation period covers the whole year of 2024, and the injury investigation period spans from 2021 to 2024. The announcement took effect officially on the next day of release, and interested parties may submit hearing applications and case comments within the specified period.

Similarly, on March 31, 2026, Brazil launched the second anti-dumping sunset review on adipic acid imported from China, Germany, the United States, France and Italy, with the involved tariff code 2917.12.10. The dumping investigation period is set from July 2024 to June 2025, further increasing the uncertainty of global adipic acid trade.

In terms of production capacity pattern, the strategic adjustment of global chemical leader BASF has drawn widespread industry attention. On August 29, 2024, BASF announced that it would shut down its adipic acid production plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany by the end of 2025, with an annual production capacity of 115,000 tons. The closure will affect about 180 employees, and BASF stated that it would provide internal re-employment support for affected staff. The shutdown is part of BASF’s strategic review of the Ludwigshafen site, aiming to adapt to market changes and enhance overall competitiveness. After the closure, BASF will consolidate its European adipic acid capacity at the joint venture site in Chalampé, France, while retaining production capacity at its Ulsan base in South Korea to ensure stable global supply chains.

In terms of global capacity, the global adipic acid market size reached 6.242 billion US dollars in 2024 and is expected to grow to 8.403 billion US dollars by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.4%. Invista, BASF and China Shenma Co., Ltd. together account for 65% of the global market share, maintaining a high industrial concentration. As a core player in global adipic acid production, China’s domestic output reached 726,000 tons in 2025 with a capacity utilization rate of 82.6%. Leading enterprises including Huafeng Group, Shenma Co., Ltd. and Hengli Petrochemical dominate the domestic market, with the top four enterprises occupying 85.8% of the domestic market share, highlighting sustained capacity advantages.

On price and cost fronts, global adipic acid prices have fluctuated significantly recently due to geopolitical and other factors. In April 2026, the price of adipic acid climbed to 10,300 yuan per ton, surging by 26% since late February. The core driving factor is that geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have pushed up the price of upstream pure benzene — the core raw material for adipic acid production, with 0.7 to 0.72 tons of pure benzene consumed per ton of adipic acid. As of April 17, 2026, the negotiation price of pure benzene in East China market stood at 8,800-8,920 yuan per ton, up 6.49% month-on-month and 42.22% year-on-year.

In addition, voluntary production restriction by the industry has provided support for prices. However, cost transmission presents a pattern of "strong upstream, weak downstream". The price increase of adipic acid lags behind that of pure benzene, squeezing the processing profits of some enterprises. Some production lines have to reduce operating load or shut down for maintenance due to slim profits. Downstream end manufacturers adopt an on-demand procurement strategy of "buy as needed" amid high costs, leaving the industry in a game deadlock between cost support and sluggish demand. From a long-term price perspective, the average domestic ex-factory tax-inclusive price of adipic acid was 14,280 yuan per ton in 2025 and is expected to rise slightly to 14,320 yuan per ton in 2026. The relatively stable price center indicates that the industry has entered a stage of high-quality development.

Green transition has become an important development direction of the global adipic acid industry, driven by breakthroughs in bio-based technology and EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. In 2026, China’s bio-based adipic acid has entered the ten-thousand-ton demonstration stage, with domestic enterprises shifting from follower to parallel runner in technology. Huafeng Group obtained ISCC PLUS international certification in 2024, qualifying to supply bio-based and bio-circular adipic acid. Its 500,000-ton/year bio-based PTMEG project uses furfural extracted from corn cobs as raw materials. The zero-carbon nylon 66 technology jointly developed with Donghua University will be officially commercialized in the second quarter of 2026. This technology produces adipic acid through enzymatic catalysis of non-grain biomass, reducing carbon emissions by 42% compared with the traditional benzene oxidation process.

The team led by Academician Tian Wei from Beijing University of Chemical Technology has completed the pilot test of 1-ton bio-based adipic acid, with a theoretical yield of 87% via a new biosynthetic pathway, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Major Scientific and Technological Achievements at the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum. Teams from Nanchang University and Suzhou University of Science and Technology developed a new two-step furfural acid process achieving an adipic acid yield of 91.4%, providing important technical reserves for the biomass route.

Internationally, US-based Genomatica has established in-depth strategic cooperation with DuPont, with Genomatica providing bio-based adipic acid technology licensing and DuPont responsible for production, application development and commercial promotion. Japan’s Toray and Thailand’s PTT have also launched joint layout, targeting an annual bio-based adipic acid capacity of tens of thousands of tons using agricultural waste by 2030.

Meanwhile, the superposition of EU carbon tariff and anti-dumping policies has forced Chinese adipic acid enterprises to adjust export layout. At present, Asia has become the core export market for Chinese adipic acid, accounting for more than 50% of total exports. Enterprises are accelerating the exploration of emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa and other regions to cope with the restructuring of global trade patterns.

Overall, the global adipic acid industry is in a critical period of structural adjustment and high-quality development, intertwined with four major trends: rising trade protectionism, optimized capacity layout, intensified cost volatility and accelerated green transition. In the future, with the continuous maturity of bio-based technologies, restructuring of global supply chains and expanding demand in downstream fields such as new energy vehicles and biodegradable plastics, the global adipic acid market will embrace new opportunities and challenges. Chinese enterprises are expected to occupy a more important position in the global market relying on their capacity advantages and technological breakthroughs.