Celanese Increases VAM Prices Again Amid Acetyl Chain Cost Pressures
Celanese has announced another round of price increases for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) in the US, Canada, and EMEA, effective May 11, 2026. This marks the third such adjustment this year, citing persistent raw material cost pressures.
Celanese Corporation has implemented further price increases across its acetyl chain, effective May 11, 2026. The cost of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) will rise by USD 0.15 per pound in the United States and Canada, and by EUR 300 per metric tonne in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The price adjustments also apply to acetic acid, ethyl acetate, acetic anhydride, formaldehyde, and methyl isobutyl ketone.
This May announcement represents the third pricing action by Celanese for its acetyl products in 2026, following previous increases in February and March. The frequency of these adjustments underscores sustained cost pressures on the acetyl value chain, driven by tightening feedstock economics for ethylene and acetic acid in both US and European markets.
VAM serves as the primary feedstock for polymers such as polyvinyl acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, widely used in adhesives, paints, coatings, paper, textiles, and construction chemicals. Downstream formulators in these industries now face compounded cost increases resulting from earlier price hikes and the latest VAM adjustment.
On the US market, VAM prices are currently trading above comparable Asian benchmarks. Buyers with alternative sourcing options in Asia may evaluate their landed cost spreads and consider rebalancing volumes away from US contract supply.