Acrylics (PMMA): Feedstocks
Why PMMA's price is really the MMA price
Why PMMA's price is really the MMA price 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.PMMA is almost pure MMA, so feedstock is the MMA price. MMA in turn comes from acetone and HCN, from isobutylene, or from ethylene and methanol. Producers with cheap ethylene and methanol (US shale, Middle East) or with captive acetone and HCN co-product are lowest cost.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl methacrylate monomer | about 0.95-1.0 t per t PMMA (indicative) | monomer | about 75-85% of PMMA resin cash cost (indicative) | indicative; MMA EUR1,410/t NWE on 21 Jul 2025 (Platts) |
| Acetone (from the phenol chain; chemical tile: phenol) | about 0.68 t per t MMA, ACH route (indicative) | MMA carbon skeleton | about 35-40% of MMA cash cost (indicative) | indicative; phenol tile |
| Hydrogen cyanide (co-product of acrylonitrile or from methane and ammonia) | about 0.32 t per t MMA, ACH route (indicative) | nitrile group | about 10-15% (indicative) | indicative |
| Methanol (chemical tile: methanol) | about 0.35 t per t MMA (indicative) | ester group | about 5% (indicative) | indicative; $292.5/t CFR India, 23 Feb 2026 (S&P Global via methanol tile) |
| S Sulfur | about 1.4-1.6 t H2SO4 circulated per t MMA, ACH route (indicative) | hydrolysis reagent | acid regeneration about 10-15% (indicative) | indicative |
| Gas Natural gas | indirect | feed and energy | included above | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
US Gulf ethylene-based LiMA and Middle East plants are lowest cost; Chinese C4 and ACH plants are mid-curve but very large; Japanese, Singapore and European ACH plants are highest cost and have been closing.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Oil Crude oilGas Natural gasWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| Pnt Paints and coatings | 38% of MMA goes to coatings, paints and emulsions |
| Add Polymer additives | MMA-based impact modifiers and processing aids for PVC |