Price Trends

Recently, the price of polyethylene has shown minor fluctuations, with LLDPE increasing by 031%, while LDPE and HDPE have decreased by 092% and 011%, respectively The volatility in crude oil prices provides cost support, but the rapid pace compresses the profit margins for oil-based PE, limiting the decrease in prices Short-term plant maintenance reduces supply, and although the peak demand season for agricultural films provides some support, the strength is insufficient

• Polyethylene market
• range-bound trading
• cost support
• subdued demand

This week, the PVC market in China showed a strong fluctuation, with both spot and futures prices rising, but the price increase was limited. On the supply side, low operating rates due to losses provided solid cost support; on the demand side, performance was weak, with the peak season not as robust as expected. Overall, the market exhibited a pattern of cost-driven support and demand suppression, with PVC expected to maintain a high-level consolidation in the short term.

• PVC market
• cost support
• weak demand
• high-range volatility

In late October, China's PP market prices rose to a high level, with the benchmark price for fiber-grade PP reaching 10,73333 CNY/ton, an 805% increase from the beginning of the month The cost side remained high due to the influence of crude oil, propylene, and power coal Supply recovery was slow, and inventories were low, while demand gradually picked up but high prices suppressed purchasing enthusiasm

• PP market
• high cost
• tight supply balance
• cautious demand

This week, the pure benzene market price in Shandong region of China first fell and then rose, with an overall increase of 032% Affected by multiple factors such as the conflict in the Middle East, Russia-Ukraine negotiations, and the profitability of refineries in Europe and America, the cost support for pure benzene has strengthened International crude oil futures closed higher, and the price of pure benzene in the foreign market fluctuated

• Pure benzene price
• market analysis
• crude oil futures
• overseas pure benzene prices

This week, the caustic soda prices in China showed a generally weak trend, with the market average price dropping from 629 CNY/ton to 627 CNY/ton, a year-on-year decrease of 26.06%. Prices in Shandong, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia regions all experienced downward adjustments or remained stable. With a decrease in demand from downstream alumina plants, it is expected that caustic soda prices will continue to follow a weak trend.

• Sodium hydroxide prices
• market trends
• alumina demand
• supply increases

Recently, the price of lithium carbonate has been continuously declining, with battery-grade lithium carbonate falling below 100,000 CNY per ton Macroeconomic headwinds, sectoral corrections, and increased divergence between supply and demand have exacerbated the decline The supply side is expected to increase, while the demand side is weakening due to seasonal off-peak periods and reduced overseas trade barriers, leading to a strong bearish sentiment in the market

• Lithium carbonate prices fall
• supply and demand changes
• macroeconomic headwinds
• lithium battery sector correction

This week, the styrene market in China first declined and then rose. From October 19 to 23, the average price increased from 10,830 CNY/ton to 11,340 CNY/ton, a rise of 4.71% within the period, and a year-on-year increase of 66.03%.

• Styrene market
• price fluctuation
• price increase within the cycle
• year-on-year rise

As of October 22, 2026, the Chinese maleic anhydride market has ended three consecutive days of weak consolidation, with factory prices in Shandong and Jiangsu rising. The current price is at a high level, in a weak rebound state with a bias towards downward fluctuation. Attention should be paid to the changes in upstream raw material prices and downstream demand.

• Maleic anhydride market analysis
• price trends fluctuating
• raw material prices high
• downstream demand stable

This week, the aniline market initially rose before stabilizing, with prices increasing from RMB 16,400 per ton to RMB 16,600 per ton—a 1.22% rise. Tight supply drove the price hike, but subsequent easing in benzene prices and a decline in downstream purchasing interest led to a stabilization. Looking ahead, the aniline market is expected to remain firm at elevated levels in the near term.

• Aniline market
• price increases
• supply tightening
• cost changes

This week, the urea market prices in China remained stable, with the reference average price of urea in Shandong region at 1735 CNY/ton. Although the increase in export volume in September boosted the market, the current ample supply and weak demand have put pressure on urea manufacturers to sell their products. It is expected that urea market prices will consolidate with fluctuations in the short term.

• Urea market
• stable prices
• supply and demand situation
• future market forecast

This week, the price of titanium dioxide in China remained stable, with the average price of sulfate process rutile titanium dioxide at 14,260 CNY per ton. The upstream titanium ore market is stable, with general spot trading mainly driven by rigid demand. It is expected that the titanium dioxide market will continue to remain stable in the short term, with actual transaction prices negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

• Titanium dioxide market
• prices stable for now
• sulfate process rutile type
• weak downstream inquiries in China

From October 19 to 23, China’s polymer MDI market prices fell by 1.79%, with the average price dropping from RMB 18,633 per ton to RMB 18,300 per ton. Weak demand weighed on trading activity, while supply remained constrained due to overseas plant maintenance. Benzene prices declined, and downstream demand remained moderate. The market is expected to trade in a narrow range in the near term.

• Polymeric MDI
• market prices decline
• supply disruptions due to maintenance
• weak demand

This week, the Chinese acrylic acid market showed a "stable first, then declining, with a high-level pullback" trend As of October 23, the price dropped to 8,85000 CNY/ton, a decrease of 130% from the beginning of the week Technical analysis indicates a short-term downward breakout trend, and the fundamentals are affected by cost collapse and weak demand expectations

• Acrylic acid prices have fallen
• cost support has weakened
• demand remains weak
• technical breakdown.

This week, the isopropanol market price in China decreased from 9316.67 CNY/ton on Monday to 9233.33 CNY/ton on Friday, a price decrease of 0.89%. At the beginning of the week, the drop in the price of raw material acetone led to weaker cost support, while the increase in raw material prices at the end of the week caused a slight rebound in the market. It is expected that the isopropanol market in China will remain strong and stable in the short term.

• Isopropanol prices
• market decline
• cost support
• downstream purchasing interest

This week, the price of sodium metabisulfite in China fell by 5.32%, with the average price dropping from 3,883 CNY per ton to 3,676 CNY per ton. The price of upstream sulfur has decreased, leading to weaker cost support. Downstream demand is mainly driven by rigid demand procurement, and the supply is ample. It is expected that the market price will mainly show a weak and fluctuating trend in the short term.

• Sodium metabisulfite price
• raw material cost
• market supply
• future market forecast

October 16 to 23, the BDO price in China rose slightly to 10,338 CNY/ton. The market was consolidating at a high level, with a slight decrease in supply, weak demand, and mixed cost impacts. It is expected that supply and demand pressures will increase, and market sentiment is generally bearish.

• BDO market
• supply-and-demand dynamics
• cost‑side influences
• future market outlook

October 23 BDO trend analysis shows that 1,4-butanediol is in a weak rebound and bearish fluctuation pattern in the short term, with prices at high levels across multiple periods, indicating a high risk of correction. The 5-day, 10-day, and 20-day moving average difference combinations are (+, -, -), suggesting limited upside potential in the short term and high correction pressure.

• BDO trend: bearish consolidation
• prices at high levels
• downside risk

The price of ethanol in China has been adjusted to 5711 CNY/ton, with a 187% increase after the National Day holiday and a 446% increase year-on-year The introduction of new grain in Northeast China has driven down costs, but the price of ethanol has risen against the trend The supply-side capacity utilization rate has decreased, while the demand for ethyl acetate has increased Overall, the supply and demand remain in a "supply shortage

• Ethanol market
• cost improvement
• supply and demand relationship
• future market forecast

The ethylene glycol trend analysis as of October 23, 2026, indicates a short-term range-bound but slightly bullish outlook. The mean‑difference change table shows that the 5‑day and 10‑day mean differences are rising, while the 20‑day mean difference is declining. The current signal points to a strong rebound; prices on the 60‑day cycle remain at mid‑to‑low levels, on the 3‑month cycle at mid‑range, and on the 1‑year cycle at mid‑to‑high levels.

• Ethylene glycol
• Trend analysis
• Volatile with a bullish bias
• Principle of commodity formula pricing

As of October 23, the average market price of light soda ash was 1025 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.38% compared to October 19. The operating rate of the supply side is about 65%, with high social inventory of heavy soda ash. Weak demand from the downstream glass industry has led to a weak performance of the soda ash market. It is expected that the soda ash market will stabilize in the future, and attention should be paid to the market's shipping situation.

• Soda ash market
• price cuts
• weak demand
• supply dynamics