ECHEMI Analysis

In April, the polyethylene market in China showed a pattern of "rallying and then retreating, with a weak recovery at the end of the month." The prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE fell by 3.35%, 1.16%, and 1.27% respectively. The supply side first tightened and then loosened, while overall demand was weak. The cost was significantly affected by fluctuations in crude oil. In the short term, prices are expected to remain weak and volatile.

• Polyethylene market: prices decline
• weak demand
• cost support weakens.

In the second half of April, the price of polybutadiene rubber slightly decreased to 16,180 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 336% Due to the expectation of butadiene supply recovery and the decline in its price, cost support has weakened Chinese facilities are operating at low capacity, with an industry operating rate of about 45%, and demand remains at a necessary level

• cis-1
• 4-polybutadiene rubber
• butadiene prices
• cost support
• market conditions

In the second half of April, the Chinese dichloromethane market experienced a sharp decline, with prices in Shandong region falling to 2,035 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1719% from the beginning of the month The cost inversion has intensified, weak demand, export obstacles, high production levels, and inventory accumulation have led to a supply-demand imbalance

• Supply-demand imbalance
• cost inversion
• export bottlenecks
• high inventory pressure

On April 29, the average market price of pure benzene in China was 8,570 CNY per ton, an increase of 0.31% from the previous trading day. Affected by the rise in international crude oil prices, the price of pure benzene has slightly increased, and market confidence is good. In the short term, it is expected that the pure benzene market in China will maintain a range-bound fluctuation, and attention should be paid to the situation between the U.S. and Iran as well as the trend of raw materials.

• Pure benzene price
• market analysis
• international crude oil
• geopolitical impacts

In April, the DOP price stopped rising and fell, with a decrease of 2.03%. Affected by the decline in crude oil prices and weak demand, cost support decreased. The prices of 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride fell by 6.77% and 4.78%, respectively. The supply and demand pattern showed an oversupply, with a weak balance in rigid demand. It is expected that the DOP price will slightly fluctuate and fall in the future.

• DOP prices have fallen
• cost support has declined
• the supply-demand dynamic has shifted
• crude oil prices are having an impact.

In April 2026, the butadiene market in China experienced a downward fluctuation, with prices falling from 18,333.33 CNY/ton to 12,566.67 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 31.45%. The main reasons include weakened cost support, ample supply, and weak demand. It is expected that the market will remain weak and volatile in May, and attention should be paid to crude oil prices and downstream production conditions.

• Butadiene market: cost support weakens
• supply is ample
• demand is weak.

In April, the price of acetic acid in China significantly decreased, dropping from 4530 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 3150 CNY/ton on the 29th, a price decrease of 3046% Weak demand and inventory accumulation downstream led to the decline in prices The methanol market, which is a raw material, showed a strong fluctuation, with a price increase of 551%

• Acetic acid prices declined
• downstream demand remains weak
• raw material methanol showed volatile but relatively strong performance
• May market outlook.

In April, the isopropanol market price in China first increased and then decreased, with an overall price reduction of 6.1%. The average price at the beginning of the month was 9,283.33 CNY per ton, and at the end of the month, it was 8,716.67 CNY per ton. The price of the raw material acetone fell by 3.43%, while the price of propylene rose by 6.45%. It is expected that the isopropanol market in China will maintain stable operations in the short term.

• Isopropanol market price
• first increased then decreased
• affected by raw material prices
• market forecast

In April, the Chinese acetone market showed a "first decline then rise" trend. Initially, the price continued to fall due to weakening costs and weak demand. In the latter part of the month, supply contraction, cost recovery, and improved demand pushed prices up. The short-term market is expected to be strong and volatile, with attention on the range of 7,800-8,000 CNY/ton. In the long term, attention should be paid to plant maintenance, the trend of benzene, and terminal demand.

• Acetone Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Changes
• Cost Support

In late April 2026, the price of ethylene glycol rebounded, mainly due to a sharp reduction in imports caused by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, low operating rates of facilities in China, continuous destocking at ports, and high crude oil costs. It is expected that if the conflict in the Middle East does not ease, imports remain low, and destocking continues in May, the price of ethylene glycol will show a strong fluctuation.

• Ethylene glycol prices
• supply contraction
• cost support
• demand improvement

In April 2026, the ethylene oxide price remained at a high level, with an average market price of 9,000 CNY/ton, up 2.27% from the beginning of the month. The high cost of ethylene provided support, while supply was under control and demand was stable. In May, it is expected to remain in a high range, with a price range of 8,800-9,200 CNY/ton. Attention should be paid to changes in the ethylene price, EO operating rates, and downstream demand.

• Ethylene oxide prices: trading sideways at high levels
• cost support
• supply manageable

As of April 29, the average price of industrial-grade premium cyclohexane in China was 7,516 CNY/ton. This week, prices have fluctuated downward, with mainstream market prices falling by 200-300 CNY/ton from the beginning of the week. The market is oversupplied, and downstream demand is weak. It is expected that prices will remain stable or continue to decline in the short term.

• Cyclohexane Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Dynamics
• Cost Impacts

In April 2026, the Chinese bisphenol A market fell sharply by 15.54%, with prices dropping from 11,520 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 9,730 CNY/ton at the end of the month. The main reasons were a decrease in costs, oversupply, weak demand, and pessimistic market sentiment. It is expected that prices will continue to consolidate weakly after the holiday, maintaining a reasonable range of fluctuations in the medium to long term.

• Bisphenol A market
• price decline
• mismatch between supply and demand
• chemical market analysis

In April 2026, the Chinese phenol market continued to decline, with prices falling from 9,300-9,700 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 8,800-9,200 CNY/ton by the end of the month. The main influencing factors were the collapse of cost support, weak demand, and high supply levels. It is expected that the market will remain weak and volatile in May.

• Phenol market
• price decline
• supply-demand contradiction
• cost support collapses

In April, the prices of gasoline and diesel in China declined, with 92# gasoline and 0# diesel decreasing by 15.87% and 12.59%, respectively. The main reasons were the decline in international crude oil prices, increased supply due to refinery resumption, and weak demand. It is expected that the market will mainly be characterized by volatility in the short term.

• Gasoline and diesel prices decline
• impact of international crude oil prices
• increased supply from China
• weak market demand

Since mid-April, the PTA market has been on an upward trend, with the average spot price in the East China region reaching 6807 CNY/ton, an increase of 7.43%. The rise in crude oil prices and increased plant maintenance have led to a drop in operating rates to around 65%, tightening supply and demand, which supports the price. Downstream polyester manufacturers are mainly focused on shipping, while terminal demand remains cautious. Analysts expect PTA prices to remain strong.

• PTA price
• cost support
• supply tightening
• geopolitical impacts

Since mid-April, supported by favorable cost factors, the price of polyester staple fiber in China has risen slightly to 8,263 CNY per ton. The rise in crude oil prices and the expansion of PTA maintenance have led to a tighter supply, supporting the staple fiber prices. Downstream demand is cautious, with the textile industry in the off-season, but the overall market trend is accelerating. Attention should be paid to geopolitical situations and changes in downstream demand.

• Polyester staple fiber
• cost support
• PTA maintenance
• geopolitical tensions impact

On April 28, the price of polyester bottle chips rose significantly, with futures closing at 8,706 CNY/ton, a 6.8% price increase. The main reasons are the maintenance of PTA leading to increased costs and tight supply, as well as a surge in pre-holiday inventory demand before the May Day holiday. In the short term, the spot price is expected to be between 9,150-9,400 CNY/ton, and the futures price is expected to be between 8,850-9,100 CNY/ton.

• Polyester bottle chips
• price surge
• PTA maintenance
• May Day inventory preparation

In April, the Chinese ammonium sulfate market showed mixed trends, with the price of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate continuing to rise by 583%, while the price of coking-grade ammonium sulfate fell from its peak It is expected that in the short term, the coking-grade ammonium sulfate market will weaken, while caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate will show a stronger upward trend

• Ammonium sulfate market
• price trends
• caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate
• coking-grade ammonium sulfate

In April 2026, the coking coal market in China was characterized by a relatively tight supply and demand balance, with prices initially stable before declining At the beginning of the month, prices were steady, but they began to fall around mid-month, with some regions experiencing a price decrease of 100-200 CNY per ton The steel industry faced weak demand, leading to cautious purchasing by steel mills

• Coking Coal Market
• Supply-Demand Balance
• Price Trends
• Steel Demand