Price Trends

The escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions has triggered dual supply risks in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, pushing international crude oil prices to their highest levels in over a month. WTI and Brent crude oil prices rose by 14% and 17% respectively over the week. Market concerns are mounting that global crude oil supply could shrink significantly, and the pattern of high oil prices fluctuating widely is likely to persist.

• US-Iran conflict
• rising crude oil prices
• risks to energy supply routes
• global crude oil supply gap

In early July, the palm oil market in China fluctuated widely, with prices rising slightly by 0.15%. The supply was ample, and demand was weak; technical analysis showed that the upward trend was slowing down. It is expected that in late July, the palm oil market will mainly be characterized by fluctuations, with prices ranging between 9,000 and 9,200 CNY per ton.

• Palm oil market conditions
• oversupply
• weak demand
• technical analysis

This week, the acrylonitrile market price in China increased. The market price in East China was 9,700-9,800 CNY/ton, and the market price in Shandong was 9,600-9,700 CNY/ton, with a price increase of about 400-450 CNY/ton. The strong cost side pushed up the prices, but the production profit remained negative. It is expected that the price may enter a stalemate and consolidation phase again in the short term.

• Cost-driven
• acrylonitrile market
• price increase
• stable supply

This week, the price of polyethylene first rose and then fell, with LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE increasing by 6.57%, 4.67%, and 2.38% respectively. The strengthening of international crude oil prices and plant maintenance led to increased costs and tight supply, driving up prices. However, weak demand downstream and a lack of transactions at high prices suggest that prices will likely fluctuate at high levels in the short term.

• Polyethylene prices
• petrochemical costs
• market demand
• inventory changes

This week, the price of pure benzene in Shandong region of China increased from 7,420 CNY/ton to 7,836.67 CNY/ton, a price increase of 5.62%. Sinopec has raised prices at multiple refineries to 8,000 CNY/ton. International oil prices have fallen, and the pure benzene market is experiencing light trading, with a strong and watchful outlook for the future.

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

This week, the caustic soda prices in China were generally stable, with the market average price at 643 CNY/ton, a year-on-year decrease of 25.49%. There were some differences in quotations from Shandong, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia regions. Weak demand for alumina led to market pressure. It is expected that due to high inventory and low downstream demand, caustic soda prices may continue to stabilize.

• Caustic soda prices: trading in a consolidation range
• alumina demand
• expectations of shrinking supply

In early July, the market price of cyclohexanone in Shandong, China, steadily increased from 7,800 CNY/ton to 8,700 CNY/ton, a price increase of 11.54%. The main factors were tighter supply, rising raw material costs, recovering downstream demand, and market sentiment. It is expected that the market will operate at a high level in the short term, with attention needed on changes in supply and demand and costs.

• Cyclohexanone prices
• supply-side tightening
• rising raw material costs
• recovery in downstream demand

This week, the styrene market performed strongly, with prices rising from 8,190 CNY/ton on July 13 to 8,690 CNY/ton on July 17, representing a price increase of 6.11% over the period and a year-on-year rise of 11.01%.

• Styrene Market: Price Increase
• Cost Boost
• Weekly Analysis

From July 10 to 17, 2026, the price of toluene in China increased from 5977.67 CNY/ton to 6500 CNY/ton, a price increase of 8.74%. The rise was driven by strong cost support and tight supply, although downstream purchasing has become more cautious. It is expected that the toluene market will remain in a high range with fluctuations in the short term.

• Rising costs
• tight supply
• cautious demand
• high-level volatility

This week, the price of titanium dioxide in China has decreased. The average price of sulfate process rutile titanium dioxide has dropped from 16,240 CNY/ton to 15,600 CNY/ton, a decrease of 3.94%. The price of upstream titanium concentrate has been reduced, and the downstream demand is weak, leading to a sluggish market. It is expected that the titanium dioxide market will remain weak in the short term.

• Titanium dioxide
• market prices have decreased
• high inventory levels
• low demand season

This week, the Chinese epichlorohydrin market has risen, with the benchmark price reaching 11,600 CNY/ton as of July 17, a 7.41% increase from the beginning of the month. The main driving factors include the rise in the prices of raw materials such as glycerin and propylene, a reduction in supply, and cautious downstream demand. In the short term, cost support and tight supply will maintain strong prices, but limited downstream acceptance may constrain price increases.

• Epichlorohydrin
• price increase
• cost support
• tight supply

From July 13 to 17, the price of China’s polymeric MDI market rose by 1.76%, with the average price at the beginning of the week standing at 17,066 CNY per ton and climbing to 17,366 CNY per ton by the end of the week. On the supply side, tightening conditions are expected due to planned maintenance at several plants; on the cost side, rising benzene prices are driving up costs. However, demand remains weak, making it increasingly difficult for prices to continue rising in the future.

• Polymeric MDI
• market prices rise
• supply tightens
• demand lacks sufficient support.

This week, the isopropanol market price in China increased, rising from 6,283.34 CNY/ton on Monday to 6,766.66 CNY/ton on Friday, a price increase of 7.69%. The rise in the prices of raw materials, acetone and propylene, provided cost support, but there was insufficient follow-up at high prices, with downstream buyers being cautious in their purchases. It is expected that the market will experience minor fluctuations in the short term.

• Isopropyl alcohol prices have risen
• raw material costs provide support
• market trading sentiment is moderate
• short-term market outlook.

The price of ethanol in China has fallen to 5,598 CNY/ton, with a price decrease of 4.83% over the past three months. Cost, supply, and demand factors are all negative, leading to an oversupply in the market. It is expected that the ethanol market will mainly show weak consolidation in the short term.

• Ethanol market
• price decline
• supply-demand contradiction
• cost-related headwinds

July 10 to 17, the price of methanol in East China ports increased from 2,613 CNY/ton to 2,638 CNY/ton, a price increase of 096% Due to weather factors, port inventory decreased, and coastal prices were relatively strong The closing price of methanol futures at the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange fell by 019% There were many maintenance units on the supply side, leading to a reduction in production, while the demand for olefins increased

• Methanol market
• Price trend
• Supply and demand
• Future forecast

This week, the 180CST fuel oil market in East China rose, with an average price of 6062.50 CNY/ton, up by 1.25% from July 13. The cost of marine fuel in China has increased, and resources are tight in some areas; international crude oil prices have surged due to the U.S. maritime blockade on Iran. Fuel oil inventories in Singapore have decreased to 19.115 million barrels. It is expected that the market will mainly focus on consolidation in the near term.

• Fuel oil market conditions
• crude oil prices
• geopolitical risks
• marine fuel market

In July, the hydrogen peroxide market in China warmed up, with prices oscillating and increasing by 4.08% to 680 CNY/ton. The supply in the northern regions of China was ample, but weak demand restricted the price increase. Technical analysis shows that in late July, hydrogen peroxide may experience wide fluctuations with room for a decline, and it is expected that prices will range between 600-700 CNY/ton.

• Hydrogen peroxide market
• price increase
• supply and demand analysis
• technical forecast

This week, the Chinese urea market continued to show a weak trend, with prices falling by 1.73%. The average reference price for urea in Shandong region dropped to 1770 CNY/ton. With ample supply and limited improvement in demand, it is expected that the urea market will remain weak in the short term.

• Urea Market: Prices Decline
• Supply Abundant
• Demand Improves

This week, the price of melamine in China saw a slight decline, with the overall trend moving downward to a low point not seen in nearly a year Both short-term and long-term moving averages are declining, indicating a strong bearish sentiment in the market The weakening of the raw material urea has led to insufficient cost support The supply and demand fundamentals are weak, with downstream demand in the off-season

• Melamine prices
• bearish market sentiment
• weakening cost support
• softening supply-and-demand fundamentals.

On July 17 at 24:00, China's retail prices for gasoline and diesel will see their ninth increase, with each ton of gasoline and diesel being raised by 300 yuan and 290 yuan, respectively International oil prices have risen due to the US imposing a maritime blockade on Iran, with the crude oil change rate at 630% Despite the reduction in supply, weak demand has limited the price increase for gasoline and diesel

• Refining product price adjustments
• crude oil price fluctuations
• geopolitical risks
• gasoline and diesel market analysis