# Acrylonitrile: Feedstocks

Propylene plus ammonia, and who gets them cheapest

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

ACN is propylene plus nitrogen from ammonia. Propylene is about 60-70% of cash cost and ammonia 15-20% (indicative). Producers integrated with cheap propylene (US Gulf, Middle East, Chinese refinery-integrated complexes such as Zhejiang Petrochemical) and their own ammonia are lowest cost. Selling HCN and steam lowers net cost.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Propylene (chemical tile: propylene)** | about 1.1 t per t ACN (indicative) | carbon backbone | about 60-70% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| [N Nitrogen (ammonia)](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/nitrogen/) | about 0.48 t per t ACN (indicative) | nitrogen source | about 15-20% (indicative) | indicative |
| [S Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sulfur/) | small (indicative) | neutralises unreacted ammonia to ammonium sulphate | small | indicative |
| [Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | via propylene | upstream | via propylene | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Integrated Chinese refinery complexes and US Gulf producers with cheap propylene are lowest cost; Japanese, Thai and older European plants are highest and are the ones closing. At about $1,000/t in early 2026, many non-integrated producers were near cash cost (indicative).

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [ABS ABS](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/) | largest use |
| [PA Nylon (PA6, PA66)](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/nylon/) | via adiponitrile for nylon 66 |
| [WT Water treatment chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/) | polyacrylamide flocculants |
| [OFC Oilfield and mining chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/) | polyacrylamide for enhanced oil recovery |
| [Add Polymer additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polymer_additives/) | SAN and NBR modifiers (indicative) |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/acrylonitrile/links/index.md)