Price Trends

On June 18, 2026, the average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke was 1,887 CNY per ton The supply of coking coal continues to tighten, with 56 coking coal mines in Shanxi halting production, leading to a decline in refined coal output The capacity utilization rate of independent coking enterprises nationwide has dropped to 7439%, limiting the increase in coke production

• Coking coal supply is tightening
• coking coal market prices are rising
• capacity utilization rates at independent coking plants are declining
• and steel mills’ profit margins are falling.

As of June 17, 2026, the price of n-butanol in Shandong, China, has slightly increased to 6833 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 0.49%. The supply and demand transmission has improved, and demand has slightly increased, leading to a positive market sentiment. In the short term, prices may remain in a range-bound fluctuation. Attention should be paid to downstream purchasing, raw material fluctuations, and inventory conditions.

• Butyl alcohol price
• demand recovery
• market sentiment
• future forecast

On June 18 at 24:00, China's retail prices for refined oil will be reduced for the third time, with gasoline and diesel decreasing by 515 yuan and 495 CNY per ton, respectively The main reason for the decline in international oil prices is the easing of the geopolitical situation between the US and Iran, while the tight global crude oil inventory fundamentals support the bottom of oil prices

• Finished oil prices have been lowered
• crude oil prices are declining
• the geopolitical situation between the U.S. and Iran is easing
• demand for gasoline and diesel is weakening.

Affected by the easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the decline in crude oil prices, PTA cost support has weakened, leading to a significant drop in prices. On June 16, the spot price of PTA in the East China region fell to 6,127 CNY per ton, representing a price decrease of 5.34%. With supply increasing but demand remaining weak, PTA prices are expected to remain volatile and relatively weak in the short term.

• PTA prices are weakening
• cost support is weak
• the crude oil market is declining
• supply-and-demand dynamics are having an impact.

With the peace agreement reached between Iran and the US, the Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen to navigation, causing international oil prices to plunge by 4% Spot prices for PET bottle flakes have fallen below 8,000 CNY per ton The elimination of geopolitical risk premiums and the reversal of expectations regarding a supply gap in raw materials have weakened cost support, while a deteriorating supply-demand balance has further intensified the downward trend

• International oil prices
• PET bottle flakes
• Geopolitics
• Supply-demand relationship

This week, the Chinese epichlorohydrin market operated steadily with stable prices. The continuous decline in raw material prices, such as glycerin and propylene, has weakened the cost support. On the supply side, the operating rate is low, and there is no pressure on spot supply. Demand is weak, with downstream players mainly adopting a wait-and-see attitude. It is expected that the market will maintain a stable trend in the short term.

• Epichlorohydrin market: raw material prices decline
• weak demand
• low supply levels.

This week, the spot price of acrylic acid in China stopped falling and rebounded. As of June 16, the benchmark price was 8,516.67 CNY per ton, an increase of 2.00%. This round of increase was mainly driven by the downstream rigid demand for inventory replenishment, rather than support from the cost side. Technical indicators show a signal for a short-term rise, but it is still suppressed in the medium to long term. It is expected to maintain a slightly strong trend in the future.

• Acrylic market conditions: cost support is limited
• essential demand drives restocking
• moving average shows a bottom-reversal signal.

The U.S.-Iran reconciliation has led to a sharp drop in international oil prices—nearly 5%—reaching a three-month low. The Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen for navigation, and geopolitical risk premiums are fading. However, this short-term pullback does not signal the end of the energy crisis; uncertainties remain regarding the recovery of supply. Global crude oil inventories remain at low levels, limiting the room for further downward pressure on oil prices in the medium to long term.

• U.S.-Iran reconciliation
• oil prices fall
• geopolitical risk premium
• supply-and-demand fundamentals

In the first half of June, the Chinese ABS market continued to decline, with the average price dropping to 9,26667 CNY/ton, a decrease of 463% The operating rate on the supply side decreased to 58%, with production falling short of 125,000 tons, and inventory rising to 230,000 tons In terms of costs, oil prices fell due to news of the Middle East peace agreement, reducing raw material costs

• ABS market
• supply-demand contradiction
• cost factors
• weak demand

In early June, the dichloromethane market in Shandong fell to 2025 CNY/ton and then gradually rebounded, reaching 2080 CNY/ton by the 15th. The cost of methanol, a key input, provided strong support, while the price of liquid chlorine fluctuated significantly. On the supply side, production was reduced, and on the demand side, both domestic and international demand weakened. It is expected that the market will continue to experience narrow-range fluctuations in late June.

• Dichloromethane market
• cost support
• supply contraction
• weakening demand

In June, the DOP price first increased and then decreased, showing a narrow fluctuation overall. The ceasefire between the US and Iran led to the dissipation of geopolitical risk premiums, and the prices of raw materials, such as 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride, fell. The imbalance between supply and demand continued, with a market oversupply and weak demand. It is expected that the DOP market will continue to show a weak consolidation.

• DOP price fluctuations
• weakening cost support
• supply-demand imbalance
• impact of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire

This week, the urea market price in China first increased and then decreased. The average reference price of urea in Shandong region was 1802 CNY/ton, up 0.91% from last week. At the beginning of the week, prices rose due to the cancellation of the export guidance price policy, but subsequently fell back due to weakening demand and a weaker futures market. It is expected that the urea market will continue to operate weakly in the short term.

• Urea Market
• Price Trends
• Supply and Demand Situation
• Future Market Forecast

Recently, the Chinese formic acid market has stabilized after a rapid decline. As of June 15, the benchmark price for 85% formic acid is 2,200 CNY/ton, down 8.33% month-over-month and 10.2% year-over-year. The market's supply-demand contradiction is becoming more prominent, with high inventory levels and weak demand. It is expected that the market will continue to oscillate at low levels and remain weak in the later period.

• Formic acid market
• prices decline
• supply-demand contradiction
• high inventory levels

On June 12, international oil prices plunged by more than 3%, primarily due to progress in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, which have raised market expectations of increased crude oil supply from the Middle East, coupled with downward revisions to global oil demand. In the short term, oil prices are likely to remain volatile, and it will be crucial to monitor developments in the U.S.-Iran agreement as well as any changes in OPEC+ policies.

• U.S.-Iran negotiations
• oil prices fall
• shifts in supply and demand
• market volatility

This week, the supply of acrylonitrile in the Chinese market continued to decrease, with major manufacturers operating at low capacity, and prices stabilized or consolidated. Prices in East China and Shandong remained stable or saw a slight decline. Despite ongoing cost pressure, low-priced spot resources were gradually absorbed, and supplier inventories decreased. However, downstream demand remained weak, lacking the momentum for a rebound.

• Supply reduction
• acrylonitrile market
• bottoming out and consolidating
• weak demand

This week, the polyethylene market in China showed a narrow fluctuation and differentiation among varieties. The prices of LLDPE and HDPE slightly increased, while LDPE decreased. The decline in crude oil prices led to weaker cost support, with limited supply increases but significant pressure on LDPE. Downstream demand was weak, with procurement mainly driven by rigid demand. It is expected that the market will continue to operate in a weak and fluctuating range.

• Polyethylene Market
• Price Volatility
• Supply-Demand Balance
• Off-Season Demand

In 2026, the price of natural rubber steadily increased, rising by 30.53% year-on-year. The current supply and demand structure is optimized, and with the expected impact of the El Niño phenomenon, there is still potential for further increases in the medium to long term. In the short term, due to increased inventory and the traditional peak production season, rubber prices will remain at a high level with fluctuations.

• Natural rubber
• price trends
• supply-demand structure
• El Niño phenomenon

This week, the price of polyester bottle chips in China first surged and then fell back, with an overall high fluctuation but a weak trend The average spot price was about 8,290 CNY/ton, a decrease of 40-60 yuan compared to last week The impact of geopolitical conflicts on crude oil was brief, leading to weaker cost support Supply slightly increased, while demand remained stable during the peak season but resisted high prices

• Polyester bottle flake prices
• crude oil influence
• supply-demand changes
• processing profits

This week, the pure benzene market prices in Shandong region fluctuated and fell, with a price decrease of 0.48% within the week. International crude oil futures closed lower, and market confidence is moderate. Downstream demand is weak, and it is expected that the pure benzene market will operate within a range in the short term. Attention should be paid to cost and demand news, as well as the trends of crude oil and foreign markets.

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

This week, the styrene market in China showed a fluctuating downward trend, with the average price dropping from 8,700 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 8,650 CNY/ton by the end of the week, resulting in an overall price decrease of 0.57%.

• Styrene
• market fluctuation
• price decline
• weekly report analysis