Price Trends

In May, China's maleic anhydride market experienced volatile price increases, with the average price reaching 7,962.50 CNY per ton—a rise of 1.27%. Supply remained tight due to maintenance at several plants, while upstream butane prices continued to fluctuate at high levels. Meanwhile, the downstream unsaturated resin industry saw sluggish operating rates and weak demand. It is expected that in June, as supply increases, maleic anhydride prices may come under downward pressure.

• Maleic anhydride market
• tight supply
• rising prices
• weak downstream demand

In May, the market price of acetic acid declined, with the average price dropping from 3,193.33 CNY/ton to 3,040 CNY/ton—a decrease of 4.80%. Although maintenance activities on the supply side were concentrated, weak demand kept prices under pressure. The price of methanol, the raw material, also fluctuated downward, falling by 6.13%. It is expected that the acetic acid market will remain weak in June.

• Acetic acid prices have fallen
• market demand is weak
• supply-side fluctuations are occurring
• the methanol market is experiencing volatile downward trends.

In May, the price of ethyl acetate in China continued to decline, with the average price falling from 6,393.33 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 6,000 CNY/ton, a decrease of 6.15%. The market was well-supplied but demand was weak, and the decline in the price of raw material acetic acid led to a strong bearish sentiment. It is expected that the market will remain weak and consolidate in the next month.

• Acetic acid ethyl ester market
• raw material prices decline
• downstream demand is weak
• market supply is abundant

In May, the price of soda ash in China fell, with the average market price of light soda ash decreasing from 1,222 CNY/ton to 1,196 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 213% The supply side remained high due to the release of low-cost natural soda ash capacity, while the demand side was limited as multiple production lines in the glass industry underwent cold repairs or shutdowns Overall, the market showed a pattern of strong supply and weak demand

• Soda ash prices have been lowered
• supply pressure
• weak demand
• impact on the glass industry

In May, the market for petroleum coke from independent refineries experienced overall fluctuations, with prices first rising and then falling before rebounding at the end of the month. Affected by lower international crude oil prices, a temporary tightening of supply, and cautious purchasing on the demand side, petroleum coke prices are expected to remain range-bound at high levels in the short term.

• Petroleum coke from local refineries
• price fluctuations
• cost factors
• changes in supply-demand dynamics

In May, the marine fuel market in East China experienced a downward fluctuation, with the average price of 180CST fuel oil falling by 1.43% from the beginning of the month. The decline in international crude oil prices and compliance inspections in China led to market volatility. Singapore's fuel oil inventory decreased, and the supply of high-sulfur fuel oil was tight. It is expected that the 180CST fuel oil market will remain at a high level with fluctuations in the short term.

• Marine fuel market
• crude oil trends
• fuel oil prices
• market supply and demand

In May, the PTA price in China fell by 8.87% to 6,258 CNY/ton, affected by the decline in crude oil prices and the textile off-season. On the supply side, maintenance increased, with the operating rate below 60%; on the demand side, the polyester operating rate was about 80%, but terminal orders were weak. In the short term, attention should be paid to changes in costs and demand, and the risk of a downward trend should be guarded against.

• PTA prices declined
• crude oil prices fell
• increased maintenance shutdowns in supply
• weak demand.

In May, the price of polyester staple fiber in China's market decreased, with the average price falling to 7,831 CNY/ton, a decrease of 6.13%. Due to the decline in crude oil prices, weak terminal demand, and the off-season for textiles, PTA production remained low with limited support. The supply-demand contradiction for polyester staple fiber has not been alleviated, and it is expected that the short-term trend will remain weak.

• Prices of polyester staple fiber have fallen
• crude oil prices are declining
• PTA operating rates remain low
• textile orders have decreased during the off-season.

Recently, the polyethylene market has continued to show a weak trend, with prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE all declining. A combination of ample supply and weak demand has intensified market competition and led to accumulating inventories. The decline in crude oil prices has further eroded cost support. It is expected that, in the short term, the polyethylene market will remain volatile and generally weak.

• Polyethylene market conditions: ample supply
• weak demand
• and weakening crude oil support.

In May 2026, the acetone market in East China experienced a continuous decline, with prices falling from 7,715 CNY/ton at the beginning of the!! month to 7,077 CNY/ton by the end of the month, a price decrease of over 8% Supply was ample, but demand was weak Downstream buyers adopted!!! a!!! low-inventory procurement strategy, leading to a quiet market with few transactions There was insufficient cost support, and pessimistic sentiment was prevalent

• Acetone market
• weak supply and demand
• price decline
• insufficient demand in the off-season

In the second half of May, the dichloromethane market in Shandong, China turned from rising to falling, with increased supply and weak demand leading to a 7.05% price decline. Cost support has weakened, and it is expected that the market will continue to be weak and volatile.

• Dichloromethane market
• changes on the supply side
• weakening cost support
• weak demand

In May 2026, the price range of heavy traffic asphalt in Shandong, China, showed a narrow fluctuation, with the mainstream quotation ranging from 4,360 to 4,410 CNY per ton. The supply side was supported by concentrated maintenance of refineries and low inventory, while the demand side was weak due to the impact of rainfall. It is expected that the supply and demand will improve in June, leading to a slight increase in prices, but the overall trend will still be dominated by fluctuations.

• Shandong asphalt
• range fluctuation
• tight supply
• weak demand

In May, the Chinese MIBK market showed a weak and narrow downward trend, with weak demand, lower prices of raw material acetone, and ample supply putting pressure on the market. The price decreased by 3.53% over the month, and the decline slowed at the end of the month. It is expected that in June, the market will enter a bottom consolidation phase.

• MIBK market: weak demand during the off-season
• falling raw material prices
• bottoming out and consolidating.

In May, the caustic soda prices in China generally decreased. The average market price at the beginning of the month was 628 CNY/ton, which dropped to 620 CNY/ton by the end of the month, a price decrease of 1.27%, and a year-on-year decline of 29.94%. Despite stable or consolidating prices in some regions, high inventory levels and weak demand from downstream sectors led to sluggish transactions. It is expected that caustic soda prices will continue to remain weak in the later period.

• Caustic soda prices
• market trends
• inventory pressure
• downstream demand

This week, the market price of Aniline in China accelerated its decline, dropping from 11,062 CNY/ton to 10,262 CNY/ton, a decrease of 7.23% within the week. Affected by the decline in raw material prices and weak demand, cost support has weakened, and there is a strong bearish sentiment among downstream players. It is expected that the price of Aniline will continue to fall in the short term.

• Aniline market: prices are falling
• cost support is weakening
• demand is sluggish.

In May, the market price of phosphoric acid in China significantly increased, with the average price of 85% thermal phosphoric acid rising to 10375 CNY/ton (+23.51%), and the average price of wet-process phosphoric acid increasing to 11025 CNY/ton (+25.28%). The main reason for this is the strengthening of raw material prices for yellow phosphorus and sulfur, leading to increased cost support. It is expected that the market will continue to operate strongly in the short term.

• Phosphate Market
• Rising Costs
• Shortage of Raw Materials
• Market Analysis

This week, the Chinese epichlorohydrin market continued its downward trend, with prices decreasing by 12.31% compared to the beginning of the month. Raw material cost support is weak, supply is loose, and demand is sluggish. The market may continue to consolidate at a low level in the future. Attention should be paid to changes in raw material prices and supply and demand.

• epichlorohydrin
• price decline
• supply and demand imbalance
• raw material cost decrease

In May, the price of adipic acid in China fluctuated weakly, with the market average price rising slightly from 9,100 CNY/ton to 9,133 CNY/ton. The supply side contracted temporarily due to maintenance and reduced production by manufacturers, but demand was weak and cost support diminished. It is expected that at the beginning of June, the overall market trend will decline, with prices ranging between 9,000-9,300 CNY/ton.

• Adipic acid market conditions: Supply is tightening
• weak demand
• cost support is weakening.

In May, the isopropyl alcohol market price in China fluctuated and fell, decreasing from 8,716.67 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 7,783.33 CNY/ton at the end of the month, a price decrease of 10.71%. The prices of raw materials, acetone and propylene, also decreased. The market trading atmosphere was light, with poor downstream demand. It is expected that the isopropyl alcohol market will operate weakly and steadily in the short term.

• Isopropanol prices have fallen
• raw material acetone prices have been reduced
• market demand is poor
• short-term market forecast

As of May 29, the average price of DMF in the Chinese market was 4760 CNY/ton. The supply is loose and weak demand has led to a continuous decline in prices. The facilities are operating at high loads, leading to inventory accumulation, while downstream demand is insufficient, resulting in frequent price wars. It is expected that the market will continue to weaken and fluctuate in early June, but may gradually stabilize in the middle to late part of the month.

• DMF prices are weakening
• supply is ample
• demand is weak
• inventories are accumulating.