Price Trends

In July 2026, the price of water-grade PET polyester chip in East China fluctuated significantly, influenced by costs and supply and demand After a slight decline at the beginning of the month, it rose to a high point mid-month, then fell sharply due to the release of new production capacity and weak demand, before stabilizing and rebounding at the end of the month

• Polyester bottle chip
• price fluctuation
• supply and demand relationship
• cost-driven

In July, the Shandong asphalt market initially rose and then fell. In the first half of the month, prices increased driven by cost support and low inventory levels. However, in the middle and late part of the month, prices declined due to refinery restarts, weak demand, and weakening costs. At the end of the month, the market faced ample supply and weak demand, leading to continued weak and volatile trading in the short term, though a moderate recovery is expected over the medium to long term.

• Shandong asphalt
• market trend
• supply and demand changes
• seasonal impact

In July, the market price of pure benzene in Shandong region first increased and then decreased, with an overall increase of 15.02%. Sinopec raised the price of pure benzene to 7,900 CNY per ton. International crude oil futures closed lower, while the price of pure benzene in the foreign market slightly increased. In the short term, the pure benzene market is expected to fluctuate within a range, and attention should be paid to factors such as cost, demand, and plant dynamics.

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

In July, China’s MIBK market initially declined before rebounding. At the beginning of the month, prices fell to 8,700 CNY per ton due to weak demand and abundant supply. By mid-month, boosted by rising acetone prices—the key raw material—prices rebounded to 9,450 CNY per ton. Overall market trends were primarily driven by costs, while demand remained sluggish. Going forward, it will be crucial to monitor acetone prices and changes in supply and demand.

• MIBK market
• V-shaped recovery
• cost-driven
• acetone prices

In July, the caustic soda prices in China generally declined, with the market average price dropping from 667 CNY/ton to 643 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 3.6%, and a year-on-year decrease of 25.32% compared to last year. Price performances varied in Shandong, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia, but overall demand was weak. It is expected that the caustic soda market in China will tend to consolidate in August.

• Caustic soda prices have fallen
• demand for alumina remains sluggish
• market sentiment is heavily characterized by a wait-and-see approach
• supply and demand are locked in a tug-of-war.

This week, the styrene market price in China showed a weak downward trend, falling from 9,064 CNY/ton on July 27 to 8,690 CNY/ton on July 31, with a price decrease of 1.13% during the period. However, compared to the same period last year, it still increased by 12.95%.

• Styrene Market
• Price Decline
• Chemical Products
• Market Analysis

In July, the Chinese maleic anhydride market rose by 18.62%, with a slight decline at the end of the month. The supply was in a tight balance, with integrated butane-based plants operating at full capacity but holding back sales, while benzene-based plants remained shut down due to cost pressures. It is expected that the market supply will increase in August, but demand will remain rigid. Overall, the market may experience high-level fluctuations with a slow downward trend.

• Maleic anhydride market
• tight supply balance
• rising costs
• off-season for demand

In July, the Chinese urea market experienced a fluctuating decline. The average price of small and medium-sized granular urea in Shandong region decreased from 1,813 CNY/ton to 1,757 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 3.10%. Supply was ample while demand was weak, resulting in an overall oversupply. It is expected that urea prices will consolidate within a narrow range in the short term.

• Urea Market: Price Decline
• Supply and Demand Situation
• Future Market Forecast

In July, the Chinese phosphoric acid market showed a weak downward trend, with the price of thermal phosphoric acid falling by 9.11% and the price of wet-process phosphoric acid falling by 16.51%. The market demand was weak, and downstream purchasing was cautious, but the cost support was still acceptable. It is expected that the market will mainly undergo consolidation in the short term.

• Phosphate market
• prices decline
• cost support
• weak demand

In July, the price of acetic acid first increased and then decreased, rising by 5.22% from the beginning to the end of the month. In the first half of the month, prices rose due to reduced supply from plant maintenance; in the second half, prices fell as facilities resumed operations and demand was flat. It is expected that the market will be relatively weak in August, and attention should be paid to facility restarts and downstream demand conditions.

• Acetic acid market
• price fluctuations
• supply changes
• future market outlook

As of July 31, the price of ethyl acetate remained at 5,860 CNY/ton, unchanged from July 24, and up 4.02% from the beginning of the month. The supply side has a low operating rate, and the demand side provides limited support, resulting in a stagnant market atmosphere. It is expected that due to the resumption of maintenance facilities and the impact of the off-season for demand, prices may decrease.

• Acetic acid ethyl ester
• market stable
• supply and demand competition
• cautious outlook

In July, the ethyl acetate market in China showed a strong performance, with the average price increasing from 566667 CNY/ton to 5860 CNY/ton, a price increase of 341% The supply side was affected by plant maintenance, leading to a decrease in operating rates, and the market transaction atmosphere was good due to the rise in the price of raw material acetic acid

• Acetic acid ethyl ester
• market trend
• price increase
• supply reduction

This week, the soda ash market in China showed a weak downward trend, with the average price of light soda ash dropping to 1060 CNY/ton, a decrease of 5.36%. The increase in supply and weak demand led to greater inventory pressure, prompting companies to lower prices for promotion. Glass prices also fell by 1.98%, with overall demand remaining poor. It is expected that the soda ash market in China will continue to operate weakly in the short term.

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

At 24:00 on July 31, China once again raised retail prices of refined oil products, increasing the prices of gasoline and diesel by RMB 685 and RMB 655 per ton, respectively. Crude oil prices have risen due to risks of supply disruptions in the Middle East and difficulties faced by OPEC+ in boosting production. However, high oil prices are curbing demand growth. In the short term, oil prices may continue to surge, but weak consumption of gasoline and diesel is limiting further price increases.

• Refining oil price adjustments
• crude oil prices
• supply-demand relationship
• geopolitical risks

In July, the price of petcoke from local refineries in China first increased and then decreased, with an overall increase of 3.83%. At the beginning of the month, tight supply supported the price surge, but as supply increased in the middle and late parts of the month, prices fell. In August, it is expected that supply will increase, while demand growth will be limited, leading to a potential downward trend in petcoke prices.

• Petroleum Coke from Local Refineries
• Market Analysis
• Supply-Demand Changes
• Cost Impacts

This week, the 180CST fuel oil market in East China remained largely stable, with an average price of 6,262.50 CNY per ton, up 0.20% from last week. International crude oil prices fluctuated and declined, while the demand in China's marine fuel market was weak. It is expected that the market may experience a narrow range of fluctuations in the near future. Fuel oil inventories in Singapore decreased by 1.326 million barrels to 18.134 million barrels.

• fuel oil 180CST
• market trend
• international crude oil
• China's bunker market

As of July 31, 2026, the average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke stood at 1,957 CNY per ton Recently, the market has experienced two rounds of price adjustments—both increases and decreases—resulting in a supply-demand balance that is slightly weak Iron production has declined, squeezing steelmakers’ profits and leading to tighter procurement of coke

• Coke market
• Supply and demand balance
• Price trend
• Future forecast

In July, palm oil prices fluctuated and rose, with the average market price climbing from 9,098 CNY/ton to 9,264 CNY/ton—a price increase of 1.82%. On the supply side, production declined slightly, while exports dropped significantly. Meanwhile, China’s inventories remain high, and demand remains weak. Technical analysis indicates that there is room for further price declines in the future; we expect prices to range between 9,000 and 9,200 CNY/ton in early August.

• Palm oil market
• oscillating rise
• supply-side impact
• off-season demand

In July, polyester staple fiber prices fluctuated and rose amid cost-driven factors, with a slight pullback at the end of the month At the beginning of the month, prices were supported by the rebound in crude oil prices and stabilized maintenance costs for PX and PTA In the mid-to-late part of the month, prices continued to rise due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a contraction in supply; however, weak terminal demand led to a decline at month-end

• Cost-driven
• polyester staple fiber prices
• fluctuating upward
• textile off-season

In the second half of July, the dichloromethane market shifted from a sharp rise to a narrow and stable but slightly strong trend. The price in Shandong region was 2220 CNY/ton, an increase of 4.1% compared to mid-month. The cost support at the margin has weakened, with ample supply, and only the rigid demand for refrigerants providing a bottom during the off-season. It is expected that the short-term market will maintain a narrow range fluctuation, with a stable but slightly strong operation.

• Dichloromethane market: cost support weakens
• supply is ample
• demand is in the off-season.