2026 Solvent Market Outlook
Heading into 2026, U.S. solvent markets tied to construction, automotive, inks, and adhesives remain caught between tariff-driven cost pressures, weak manufacturing output, and pockets of structural growth in packaging, EV production, and high-performance adhesives. U.S. manufacturing continues to contract, with the November ISM reading at 48.2, while tariffs on vehicles, auto parts, and heavy trucks weigh on costs and production. Construction activity is expected to slow through late 2025 and into 2026 as tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other inputs raise project costs and introduce delays.
