News Release: April 24, 2025
Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) Price Trend, Production, and Global Market Updates in 2025
The Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend has shown noticeable shifts in 2025 as global demand and supply metrics have evolved due to changes in polymerization activities, regulations, and raw material dynamics. For a detailed breakdown, the full Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend analysis is now available.
In-depth research on Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend and production news is also accessible on Datavagyanik’s latest publication: Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend and production news.
Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) Price Trend in Past Five Years and Factors Impacting Price Movements
From 2020 to 2024, the Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend experienced both volatility and seasonal steadiness due to variable feedstock pricing, shifts in demand from downstream polymer markets, and environmental regulations in Asia and Europe.
In 2020, the average Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price stood at around $3,200/MT, primarily impacted by disruptions due to COVID-19 and production bottlenecks in China. In 2021, demand surged from North American plastics producers, pushing the average price to $3,600/MT. Supply chain constraints further pushed Q3 prices close to $3,950/MT.
The year 2022 saw moderate corrections as capacity expansions in Southeast Asia began easing pressure. Prices stabilized at an average of $3,500/MT. However, by late 2023, environmental mandates in Europe impacted a number of plants, pushing Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) prices up again to $3,900/MT.
In 2024, rising costs of precursors like acetone cyanohydrin led to a significant spike, with prices peaking at $4,400/MT in Q3. Increased consumption from the automotive and electronics sectors added to this upward trend.
Key factors influencing the five-year Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend:
- Feedstock volatility (acetone cyanohydrin, hydrogen cyanide)
- Regulatory tightening in China and the EU
- Shifting trade policies affecting intermediate chemicals
- Rising demand from specialty polymers, adhesives, and coatings
These factors, in conjunction with global inflationary pressures, shaped the overall pricing trajectory of Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) leading into 2025.
Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) Price Trend Quarterly Update in $/MT (2025)
Q1 2025
The Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price opened strong due to aggressive restocking by major polymer manufacturers. Average Q1 price: $4,550/MT
Q2 2025 (Estimated)
Moderation expected as new production lines in South Korea go online. Forecasted price: $4,300/MT
Q3 2025 (Estimated)
Prices likely to climb again due to turnaround maintenance in Japan and peak demand season. Forecasted price: $4,600/MT
Q4 2025 (Estimated)
End-of-year slowdown in construction polymers may lead to a slight correction. Forecasted price: $4,350/MT
Throughout 2025, Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price trend remains reactive to regional supply shocks and policy-driven shifts in hazardous chemical transportation.
Global Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) Import-Export Business Overview
The Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) import-export landscape in 2025 is undergoing dynamic reconfiguration driven by regional policy changes, logistics realignments, and localized investments in chemical infrastructure.
Asia-Pacific: Key Exporter and Regional Price Setter
China continues to lead global Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) production and export activities, accounting for more than 40% of global output. Despite recent environmental inspections tightening operations, domestic producers have expanded capacity to cater to Southeast Asia, India, and Eastern Europe.
In 2025, China’s average export price ranges from $4,200 to $4,400/MT, reflecting slightly lower costs due to raw material proximity. South Korea and Japan are major importers within the region, with Japan increasingly focusing on value-added polymer applications.
India’s import volume saw a 7% YoY increase in Q1 2025, driven by robust demand in pharmaceuticals and rubber processing. Regional buyers are also diversifying suppliers to reduce dependency on a single country, enhancing Southeast Asia’s import potential.
Europe: High Imports, Regulatory Pressures
Europe remains a net importer of Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands have strong downstream polymer industries requiring consistent raw material inflow.
In 2025, the region’s average CIF price is approximately $4,650/MT, primarily due to stricter environmental certifications and port handling requirements. Germany leads in polymer manufacturing, especially in heat-sensitive and UV-resistant applications where AIBN is a key initiator.
Additionally, EU-based firms are increasingly sourcing from Turkey and Israel to reduce transit delays and meet REACH compliance.
North America: Balanced Trade, Stable Contracts
North American companies maintain relatively balanced trade dynamics, with the U.S. producing and importing moderate volumes based on seasonal demand. The Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) sales volume in the U.S. grew 5% YoY in early 2025, supported by robust growth in automotive coatings and packaging materials.
U.S.-based contract manufacturing is rising, with several buyers securing long-term supply agreements to lock in prices. Import prices averaged $4,500/MT, with Mexico emerging as a key logistics partner.
Latin America & Africa: Small Volume, High Cost Markets
Brazil and South Africa are emerging as smaller markets, importing specialized grades of Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) for niche industrial uses. Price per MT in these regions is often $4,900 to $5,200, reflecting limited local availability and higher logistics costs.
Importers in these regions rely heavily on Japan and European intermediaries. Infrastructure bottlenecks, tariff structures, and import duties continue to limit competitiveness in these markets.
Latest Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) News and Developments in 2025
March 2025 – A new production unit by Tosoh Corporation in Japan came online with an annual capacity of 5,000 MT, aimed at serving the growing electronics polymer market.
February 2025 – BASF SE signed a long-term supply contract with a South Korean polymer firm to stabilize downstream supply of AIBN-based initiators.
January 2025 – Indian chemical major Deepak Nitrite announced feasibility studies for backward integration of AIBN precursors to lower long-term import dependency.
April 2025 (Ongoing) – European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposed a new update to the SVHC list that may include stricter thresholds for AIBN-related applications, potentially influencing regional demand patterns by Q4 2025.
Each of these events reflects the growing strategic significance of AIBN in global polymerization, coating, and pharmaceutical formulations, contributing directly to Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) price movements across regions.
Conclusion and Market Outlook
As of Q2 2025, the global Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) market is defined by tight supply margins, increased regional regulation, and a growing emphasis on stable contract-based sourcing. Pricing remains volatile but reflects a mature market with cyclical adjustments based on industrial seasonality and production capacity developments.
Datavagyanik projects a continued rise in Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) production efficiency and export potential from Asia-Pacific, while European and North American markets will prioritize regulatory compliance and stable procurement over opportunistic buying.
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Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) Production Trends by Geography
In 2025, Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) production dynamics are increasingly regionalized, reflecting geopolitical shifts, raw material availability, environmental compliance pressures, and downstream demand. The global AIBN market is experiencing strategic changes in manufacturing footprints, with several new plants becoming operational and some older facilities undergoing upgrades or phase-outs.
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific continues to lead global AIBN production, with China, Japan, South Korea, and India as the primary contributors. China remains the epicenter of low-cost AIBN manufacturing due to its well-integrated supply chain of cyanide derivatives and cost-effective labor. As of early 2025, China’s production capacity has exceeded 20,000 MT annually, with most manufacturers operating close to full utilization rates due to high demand from polymer industries across Asia and Africa.
Japan maintains a focus on high-purity AIBN grades for specialty polymers, medical formulations, and electronics. Japanese manufacturers are known for their quality consistency and environmental compliance, which makes their AIBN highly sought-after in European and U.S. markets. Production in Japan remains stable around 6,000 MT per year, with a slight uptick expected due to a new line commissioned in March 2025.
India is emerging as a high-potential production hub, driven by local demand and supportive government schemes. Indian producers have increased capacity by 10% compared to 2024. However, they remain heavily reliant on imported precursors, which can impact production costs during periods of global price volatility.
Europe
European AIBN production is more fragmented and smaller in volume due to stringent environmental regulations and high operational costs. Germany and France lead the region’s output, mostly focusing on pharmaceutical and fine chemical grades. While Europe only contributes around 8% of global AIBN production, its emphasis is on quality, traceability, and REACH-compliant processes. Plants in Western Europe are operating at 70–80% capacity, with some investments in energy-efficient upgrades underway.
Eastern European countries like Poland and Hungary are evaluating feasibility studies for local production setups, driven by strong polymer demand in automotive and coatings industries. However, progress is slow due to financing and regulatory hurdles.
North America
The U.S. houses a few high-capacity AIBN production facilities primarily serving domestic polymer, rubber, and agrochemical markets. U.S. production capacity hovers near 10,000 MT annually, with producers increasingly shifting toward greener production methods. Ongoing investments in bio-based raw material integration may enhance the region’s competitiveness in the next two years.
Canada and Mexico rely on imported AIBN but are evaluating small-scale toll manufacturing opportunities to serve regional needs.
Latin America and Middle East
Production in Latin America is negligible, with countries like Brazil and Argentina heavily dependent on imports from Asia and North America. However, discussions are underway in Brazil regarding joint ventures with Asian firms to localize part of the polymer additive supply chain.
In the Middle East, AIBN production is practically nonexistent, although Saudi Arabia and the UAE have identified the compound as a future candidate for diversification within their specialty chemicals portfolios.
Africa
Africa currently has no significant AIBN production infrastructure. The region remains fully reliant on imports for its limited industrial use of AIBN, mainly in South Africa for polymer manufacturing and select pharmaceutical applications.
Summary
The global Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) production landscape is defined by Asia-Pacific’s dominance, Europe’s regulatory-driven quality orientation, and North America’s shift toward sustainable processes. Expansion in emerging regions remains slow but could accelerate with the right policy frameworks and private investments.
Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) Market Segmentation
The Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) market in 2025 can be segmented into several categories based on application, end-use industry, purity grade, and geographical demand. Below is a breakdown of the leading segments followed by a detailed explanation.
Segments:
- By Application
- Polymerization Initiators
- Blowing Agents
- Pharmaceuticals
- Laboratory Reagents
- By End-Use Industry
- Plastics and Polymers
- Pharmaceuticals
- Paints and Coatings
- Adhesives and Sealants
- By Purity Grade
- Technical Grade
- Pharmaceutical Grade
- High-Purity Grade (Electronic)
- By Geography
- Asia-Pacific
- Europe
- North America
- Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
Application-Based Analysis
Polymerization Initiators constitute the largest segment, accounting for over 60% of the global demand. AIBN is widely used as a free radical initiator in the manufacture of PVC, acrylics, and styrene polymers. The consistent growth in polymer demand for packaging, automotive, and electronics supports this trend.
Blowing Agents represent another key application. AIBN helps produce uniform foam structures in plastics, insulation materials, and automotive interiors. This segment has shown steady growth, especially in markets prioritizing lightweight and thermal insulation products.
Pharmaceutical Applications are witnessing increasing adoption of AIBN as a reagent in drug synthesis. While this segment remains niche in terms of volume, it commands high margins due to stringent purity standards.
Laboratory Reagents usage is limited to academic and research institutions. However, demand has remained consistent due to its utility in organic synthesis.
Industry-Based Analysis
The Plastics and Polymers sector dominates the market, driven by global consumption in construction, consumer goods, and packaging. Demand in this industry is highly sensitive to macroeconomic shifts and regional infrastructure development.
The Pharmaceutical Industry is the fastest-growing end-use segment due to increasing usage of AIBN in intermediate and API synthesis. Regulatory approvals and GMP manufacturing have made AIBN critical in controlled reactions for niche drug manufacturing.
Paints and Coatings and Adhesives and Sealants industries together account for a significant share, primarily using AIBN-based formulations for enhanced durability and UV stability.
Purity Grade Analysis
Technical Grade AIBN is most commonly used in industrial polymer applications. This grade balances cost with acceptable impurity limits for standard applications.
Pharmaceutical Grade AIBN is witnessing increased demand due to heightened focus on controlled synthesis in drug manufacturing. This grade commands a higher price point and is produced under stringent quality assurance processes.
High-Purity Electronic Grade is still a minor segment but is gradually growing in Japan and South Korea for specialty polymer applications used in semiconductors and flexible electronics.
Regional Demand Overview
Asia-Pacific dominates both consumption and production, driven by large-scale polymer manufacturing and strong electronics demand. China, India, and South Korea are key markets for technical and pharmaceutical-grade AIBN.
Europe maintains stable demand for high-purity and pharmaceutical-grade AIBN. Regulatory frameworks influence regional procurement practices, favoring suppliers with REACH-compliant production.
North America shows balanced demand across all segments. The U.S. market is driven by automotive, packaging, and pharmaceutical sectors, with long-term supplier contracts shaping procurement strategy.
Latin America and Africa represent emerging markets. Consumption is relatively low but growing as industrialization and infrastructure investments pick up.