Price Trends

Recently, the price of melamine has continued to rise, with the benchmark price reaching 573750 CNY/ton on August 19, an increase of 107% from last week The supply contraction has led to the overall industry load rate dropping to 40%, with low inventory levels driving up prices Prices in the northern, central, and eastern as well as southwestern regions of China have stabilized at around 6000 CNY/ton, 5700-5900 CNY/ton, and 6100 CNY/ton, respectively

• melamine price
• supply contraction
• market trend
• raw material cost

This week, the price of soda ash continued to decline. As of August 18, the market average price was 1,224 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.24% from last week. The increase in supply and weak demand led to inventory accumulation. The price of downstream glass also decreased, and it is expected that the soda ash market will continue to operate weakly in the short term.

• Soda Ash Market: Prices Decline
• Supply-Demand Imbalance
• Impact on the Glass Industry

In mid-August, the petcoke market of local refineries in China declined, with prices in Shandong falling by 1.93% to 2,535.00 CNY/ton. Crude oil prices fluctuated, and downstream purchasing enthusiasm was moderate, with port inventory decreasing. Calcined coke saw a slight increase, and it is expected that the petcoke market will mainly undergo a weak consolidation in the future.

• Local refinery petroleum coke faces declining market conditions
• crude oil prices remain volatile
• calcined coke prices
• however
• are on the rise.

Entering August, the Chinese maleic anhydride market continued to decline. As of August 19th, the average price of maleic anhydride produced by the n-butane oxidation method dropped to 5692.50 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.90%. The price drop was due to increased supply and weak demand. It is expected that the maleic anhydride market will remain weak in the near term.

• Maleic anhydride market
• prices drop
• supply increases
• downstream demand is limited

On August 19, the Chinese phenol market prices slightly increased, with Sinopec's listed prices in East China and North China at 6,750 CNY/ton and 6,800 CNY/ton, respectively The operating rate of phenol and acetone enterprises remained at 75%, but they were still incurring losses The spot supply pressure was not significant, and traders showed a clear tendency to quote higher prices, while downstream demand remained stable

• Phenol Market
• Price Trends
• Supply and Demand Situation
• Regional Quotes

In mid-August, the price of 180CST fuel oil in East China slightly decreased to 5275.00 CNY/ton. The volatility in the international crude oil market led to a strong wait-and-see sentiment in the marine fuel market, with Singapore's fuel oil inventories falling to a three-week low. It is expected that the 180CST fuel oil market prices in China will remain in a consolidation phase in the short term.

• Fuel oil 180CST
• Market analysis
• Crude oil prices fluctuate
• Singapore fuel oil inventories decline

Recently, the polyethylene market has been showing a slightly strong trend, with prices for LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE all increasing slightly. The supply pressure has eased due to increased plant maintenance, and demand is expected to improve as the peak season of "Golden September and Silver October" approaches. Although cost support is weak, favorable policies in China have provided some support to the market. It is expected that polyethylene will continue to maintain a slightly strong trend.

• Polyethylene market trends: shrinking supply
• rising demand
• and weakening cost support

In mid-August, the ABS market in China continued to show weakness, with an average price of 10,220 CNY/ton, a decrease of 090% from the beginning of the month The supply side maintained a load of 71%, with an average weekly production of 140,000 tons and high inventory levels Cost support was insufficient, and it was the off-season for demand, with downstream factories operating at moderate loads

• ABS market: Supply is ample
• demand remains weak
• cost support is weakening.

Recent formic acid prices have significantly increased, with the benchmark price for 85% industrial-grade formic acid reaching 3,360 CNY per ton Major producers have adopted a limited supply strategy, leading to tight market supply and low inventory levels Despite the price increase, demand support is insufficient, and market transactions remain stable

• Formic acid prices
• tight supply
• low demand
• depleted inventories

Recently, the acrylic acid market in China has been consolidating within a range, with supply and demand dynamics driving price trends On the supply side, there are both maintenance shutdowns and production increases, with stable inventory levels; on the demand side, it is relatively flat, with downstream buyers being cautious Cost support is acceptable, but profit margins are limited

• Supply-and-demand dynamics
• Acrylic market
• Price fluctuations
• Downstream demand

Since August, the spot market price of PTA in China has shown a downward trend. As of August 18, the average price in the East China region was 4,720 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.09% from the beginning of the month. Although some plants have restarted and new plants are being commissioned, the overall supply has increased. With low international oil prices and weak demand for downstream polyester, it is expected that PTA prices will continue to fluctuate and decline.

• PTA prices
• shifting cost dynamics downward
• rising supply
• sluggish international oil prices

This week, the DOP price fluctuated and fell by 1.28% to 7,734.16 CNY/ton, mainly due to the decline in the prices of raw materials, isooctanol and phthalic anhydride, leading to a decrease in costs. At the same time, there was ample supply and weak demand. It is expected that the DOP price will continue to fluctuate and fall in the future.

• DOP prices are falling
• raw material costs are declining
• supply is ample
• weak demand

This week, the Chinese acetone market saw a slight decline, with prices in the East China region falling from 4,730 CNY/ton to 4,696 CNY/ton, a decrease of 0.7%. The price fluctuations were similar across the country. Sinopec's listed price was 4,800 CNY/ton, and the operating rate of phenol and acetone manufacturers was about 75%, still in a state of loss. Port inventory was 27,500 tons, and downstream demand was mainly for essential needs.

• Acetone market
• prices fall
• sufficient inventory
• phenol and acetone manufacturers incurring losses

This week, the acrylonitrile market in China fell again due to ample supply and insufficient demand, with prices in East China and Shandong both dropping by 100 CNY/ton Although the capacity utilization rate has decreased, the commissioning of new facilities has brought the total capacity to 5,449,000 tons per year The reduction in the operating rates of downstream industries has led to inadequate purchasing

• Acrylonitrile market
• oversupply
• insufficient downstream demand
• rising production costs

In the first half of August, prices of polyester bottle flakes generally declined before stabilizing locally As of the 15th, the average price was 5,947 CNY/ton Influenced by falling crude oil and PTA prices, processing fees for bottle flakes have partially recovered, but gross profits remain negative On the supply side, inventory pressure has eased due to production cuts, while demand remains sluggish

• Polyester bottle flakes price
• cost support
• oversupply
• weak demand

In July, the asphalt market in Shandong, China, increased significantly, with obvious cost support. In August, production is expected to decline, but inventory levels are low, and the situation of weak supply and demand continues. Demand is affected by capital and weather conditions. In the short term, the asphalt market in China will maintain stable operations, and the crack spread still has support.

• Asphalt Market: Weak Supply and Demand
• Cost Support
• Low Inventory Levels

This week, the price of phthalic anhydride fluctuated and decreased, with the price of o-xylene-based phthalic anhydride dropping to 6,300 CNY per ton, a decrease of 3.82%. The decline in cost and reduction in supply put pressure on the price of phthalic anhydride, while the demand for downstream plasticizers recovered, but the price of DOP still fell. It is expected that the price of phthalic anhydride will continue to fluctuate and decrease in the future.

• Phthalic anhydride prices
• cost decline
• supply reduction
• demand recovery

This week, the market price of isopropanol in China decreased. The average price at the beginning of the week was 5,775 CNY/ton, and by the end of the week, it had dropped to 5,700 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1.3%. The overall market performance was average, with ample supply but cautious transactions. It is expected that the market will mainly be characterized by observation and weak stability in the short term.

• Isopropanol
• market prices have decreased
• supply is ample
• transactions are cautious.

This week, the market price of ammonium sulfate in China showed a weak decline. The average price on August 15 was 1,113 CNY per ton, a decrease of 1.18% compared to August 11. The market supply is sufficient, and the purchasing enthusiasm from downstream has weakened. The export market is not performing well, and it is expected that the price will continue to be under pressure in the short term.

• Ammonium sulfate market price
• supply and demand situation
• market trend analysis
• future market forecast

This week (811-15), the price range of the PVC spot market in China adjusted, with the average price of calcium carbide method SG-5 type at 4,813 CNY/ton It saw a slight increase of 017% within the week before falling back The fundamentals have not significantly improved, with a loose supply and demand situation and insufficient downstream demand, leading to a weak market atmosphere The price of calcium carbide slightly increased by 139%, providing limited support to PVC

• PVC prices
• range adjustment
• supply-demand fundamentals
• calcium carbide market