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The Changing Tackifier Market in the USA
The U.S. tackifier market is facing a major structural shift driven by a wave of domestic plant closures that have reshaped supply dynamics. The first major disruption came with the closure of Pinova’s facility in Brunswick, GA, followed by Resin Solutions’ plant shutdown in Beaumont, TX. The most recent announcement, Exxon’s decision to close its Baton Rouge, LA, resin plant in 2025, will further tighten local supply. While total tackifier consumption in the U.S. has remained relatively flat since 2020, these closures have sharply reduced domestic production, forcing the market to rely more heavily on imports to meet ongoing demand.
The decline in U.S. production has accelerated a sharp rise in tackifier imports, particularly from Asia and Europe. In 2025, C5 resin imports from Asia are projected to surge by 260%, reflecting the scramble to backfill lost domestic capacity. While C9 imports from Asia are expected to remain relatively flat, demand for water-white resins from both Asia and Europe is set to rise by 82%. Korean and Chinese producers are leading this supply shift, becoming increasingly dominant players in the U.S. market. This growing dependence on overseas sources is reshaping procurement strategies, introducing longer lead times, and increasing exposure to global freight and geopolitical risk.
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Marc Jackson
President & CEO, Teckrez, LLC
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