CompareMarketResearchRequest a sample
Home / Chemicals and Materials / Acetic Anhydride

Chemicals and Materials · Market report

Acetic Anhydride Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global acetic anhydride market is worth USD 1.9 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 2.7 bn by 2036, growing at a 3.6% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Cellulose acetate is the largest by end use segment.

USD 1.9 bnMarket size 2026
USD 2.7 bnForecast 2036
3.6%CAGR 2026-2036
ChinaLargest country

Request a free sample Jump to the forecast

Report price: Starts from USD 1,999

5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global acetic anhydride market is worth USD 1.9 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 2.7 bn by 2036, growing at a 3.6% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Cellulose acetate is the largest by end use segment.

ScopeAcetic anhydride produced by carbonylation of methyl acetate or acetic acid cracking, sold for cellulose acetate, pharmaceuticals, dyes and explosives precursors.
IndustryChemicals and Materials
Value 2025USD 1.9 bn
Value 2026USD 1.9 bn
Value 2036USD 2.7 bn
CAGR 2026-20363.6%
Volume 20262,049,505 tonnes
Volume 20362,642,608 tonnes
Average price 2026USD 934 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

Request a free sample of this report

Acetic Anhydride market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global acetic anhydride market is forecast to grow from USD 1.9 bn in 2026 to USD 2.7 bn by 2036, a rise of 42%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 3.6%
Acetic Anhydride market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 1.85 bn; 2026: USD 1.91 bn; 2027: USD 1.98 bn; 2028: USD 2.06 bn; 2029: USD 2.13 bn; 2030: USD 2.21 bn; 2031: USD 2.29 bn; 2032: USD 2.37 bn; 2033: USD 2.45 bn; 2034: USD 2.54 bn; 2035: USD 2.63 bn; 2036: USD 2.73 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 3.6%.20251.91 bn20262.29 bn20312.73 bn20363.6% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 1.91 bn
2027USD 1.98 bn
2028USD 2.06 bn
2029USD 2.13 bn
2030USD 2.21 bn
2031USD 2.29 bn
2032USD 2.37 bn
2033USD 2.45 bn
2034USD 2.54 bn
2035USD 2.63 bn
2036USD 2.73 bn

Acetic Anhydride market segmentation

By end use

Exhibit 2Cellulose acetate is the largest segment by end use, with 52.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by end use
Acetic Anhydride market share by end use, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by end use. Cellulose acetate: 52.0%; Pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals: 20.0%; Esters and other: 18.0%; Dyes and pigments: 10.0%.Cellulose acetate52.0%Pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals20.0%Esters and other18.0%Dyes and pigments10.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Cellulose acetate52.0%50.0%USD 996 mn3.2%
Pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals20.0%22.2%USD 383 mn4.7%
Dyes and pigments10.0%9.6%USD 191 mn3.2%
Esters and other18.0%18.2%USD 345 mn3.7%

By grade

Exhibit 3Technical grade adds the most revenue by grade, growing from USD 1.0 bn in 2026 to USD 1.4 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by grade, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Acetic Anhydride market by grade, 2026 and 2036Revenue by grade in 2026 and 2036. Technical grade: USD 1.0 bn in 2026, USD 1.4 bn in 2036, change +35%; High-purity grade: USD 421 mn in 2026, USD 700 mn in 2036, change +66%; Fibre grade: USD 460 mn in 2026, USD 636 mn in 2036, change +38%.20262036 forecastChangeTechnical grade+35%1.0 bn1.4 bnHigh-purity grade+66%421 mn700 mnFibre grade+38%460 mn636 mn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Technical grade54.0%51.0%USD 1.0 bn3.0%
Fibre grade24.0%23.3%USD 460 mn3.3%
High-purity grade22.0%25.7%USD 421 mn5.2%

By production route

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Ketene process46.0%40.0%USD 881 mn2.2%
Methyl acetate carbonylation44.0%50.0%USD 842 mn4.9%
Other routes10.0%10.0%USD 191 mn3.6%

By purity

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Below 99.5 percent22.0%18.0%USD 421 mn1.5%
99.5 to 99.8 percent56.0%54.0%USD 1.1 bn3.2%
Above 99.8 percent22.0%28.0%USD 421 mn6.1%

By sales channel

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Direct contract60.0%57.0%USD 1.1 bn3.1%
Distributors28.0%29.0%USD 536 mn4.0%
Captive use12.0%14.0%USD 230 mn5.2%

Top 25 countries for acetic anhydride by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 82.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 95.3%.

Exhibit 4China is the largest country market at USD 651 mn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 55.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Acetic Anhydride market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. China: USD 651 mn, 34.0%; United States: USD 230 mn, 12.0%; India: USD 172 mn, 9.0%; Japan: USD 134 mn, 7.0%; Germany: USD 96 mn, 5.0%; South Korea: USD 77 mn, 4.0%; Mexico: USD 57 mn, 3.0%; Brazil: USD 57 mn, 3.0%; Indonesia: USD 48 mn, 2.5%; Taiwan: USD 48 mn, 2.5%.China651 mn 34.0%United States230 mn 12.0%India172 mn 9.0%Japan134 mn 7.0%Germany96 mn 5.0%South Korea77 mn 4.0%Mexico57 mn 3.0%Brazil57 mn 3.0%Indonesia48 mn 2.5%Taiwan48 mn 2.5%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1ChinaUSD 651 mn34.0%USD 957 mn3.9%
2United StatesUSD 230 mn12.0%USD 297 mn2.6%
3IndiaUSD 172 mn9.0%USD 284 mn5.1%
4JapanUSD 134 mn7.0%USD 166 mn2.2%
5GermanyUSD 96 mn5.0%USD 117 mn2.0%
6South KoreaUSD 77 mn4.0%USD 98 mn2.5%
7MexicoUSD 57 mn3.0%USD 82 mn3.6%
8BrazilUSD 57 mn3.0%USD 87 mn4.3%
9IndonesiaUSD 48 mn2.5%USD 76 mn4.8%
10TaiwanUSD 48 mn2.5%USD 63 mn2.7%
11NetherlandsUSD 36 mn1.9%USD 48 mn3.0%
12BelgiumUSD 32 mn1.6%USD 43 mn3.0%
13SpainUSD 28 mn1.4%USD 37 mn3.0%
14PolandUSD 25 mn1.3%USD 33 mn3.0%
15ThailandUSD 21 mn1.1%USD 38 mn5.8%
16MalaysiaUSD 19 mn1.0%USD 33 mn5.8%
17VietnamUSD 17 mn0.9%USD 29 mn5.8%
18RussiaUSD 15 mn0.8%USD 16 mn0.7%
19Saudi ArabiaUSD 13 mn0.7%USD 23 mn5.8%
20CanadaUSD 11 mn0.6%USD 15 mn3.1%
21ArgentinaUSD 10.0 mn0.5%USD 13 mn3.0%
22PakistanUSD 8.8 mn0.5%USD 15 mn5.7%
23TurkeyUSD 7.7 mn0.4%USD 14 mn5.9%
24EgyptUSD 6.9 mn0.4%USD 12 mn5.7%
25AustraliaUSD 5.9 mn0.3%USD 8.2 mn3.3%
Rest of worldUSD 90 mn4.7%USD 122 mn3.1%
Exhibit 5China and India account for 51% of the USD 812 mn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Acetic Anhydride market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 1.9 bn. China: +USD 306 mn; India: +USD 111 mn; United States: +USD 67 mn; Japan: +USD 32 mn; Brazil: +USD 30 mn; 20 other countries: +USD 233 mn; Rest of world: +USD 32 mn. Market value 2036: USD 2.7 bn.Market value 20261.9 bnChina+306 mnIndia+111 mnUnited States+67 mnJapan+32 mnBrazil+30 mn20 other countries+233 mnRest of world+32 mnMarket value 20362.7 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Eastman
  • Celanese
  • Daicel
  • BP
  • INEOS

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Jubilant Ingrevia
  • Chang Chun Group
  • Yankuang Lunan Chemical

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Jiangsu Sopo

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the acetic anhydride market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 3.6% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by end use, by grade, by production route, by purity, by sales channel. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the acetic anhydride market?

The global acetic anhydride market is estimated at USD 1.9 bn in 2025 and USD 1.9 bn in 2026.

How fast will the acetic anhydride market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 2.7 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 3.6% from 2026, an increase of USD 812 mn.

Which country is the largest market for acetic anhydride?

China is the largest market by revenue at USD 651 mn in 2026, 34.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 55.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 5.1% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which acetic anhydride segment is largest?

In the by end use split, Cellulose acetate is the largest segment with 52.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading acetic anhydride companies?

Global leaders include Eastman, Celanese, Daicel, BP.

Need the full report?

Request a sample to see the structure, tables and country detail.

Request a free sample

Related markets in Chemicals and Materials

← Abaca Fiber Acetone →

All Chemicals and Materials markets →

Request a sample