ECHEMI Analysis

This week, the price of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate in China fell by 6.63%, with the market average price dropping from 1256 CNY/ton to 1173 CNY/ton. Supply has decreased, but terminal demand is weak, and downstream purchasing is cautious. It is expected that the ammonium sulfate market will continue to weaken and decline in the short term.

• Ammonium sulfate prices
• market conditions
• supply and demand situation
• future market forecast

On July 3 at 24:00, China's retail prices for refined oil products saw their fourth decrease of the year, with gasoline and diesel prices being reduced by 950 yuan and 915 CNY per ton, respectively International oil prices have significantly declined due to multiple bearish factors, including the resumption of the Middle East shipping lane and a ceasefire between the US and Iran

• Finished oil prices lowered
• crude oil prices declined
• supply and demand are relaxed
• geopolitical factors exert influence.

From June 29 to July 3, the MTBE price fell from 5,237 CNY/ton to 5,100 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.63%. The weakening of international crude oil prices and weak demand for gasoline led to a downward shift in the MTBE market transaction focus. With high raw material cost pressure and expectations of a decline in the retail price limit for refined oil, it is expected that the MTBE market will remain weak and consolidate.

• MTBE market
• prices decline
• weak demand
• supply contraction

Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) and lithium hydroxide (LiOH) are two core basic lithium salts used in lithium battery cathode materials. They have fundamental differences in physicochemical properties, process compatibility, and application scenarios. These differences determine the lithium battery technology route, performance level, and cost structure, with each having its own advantages depending on the specific application scenario in China.

• Lithium carbonate
• Lithium hydroxide
• Lithium battery industry chain
• Differences in application scenario adaptation

As of July 2, 2026, the price of acrylic acid was reported at 7,41667 CNY/ton, with a cumulative decline of 347% for the month The market has shown a "resistant decline," with technical signals being weak The increase in the price of propylene, the raw material, has not been able to support the price of acrylic acid

• Acrylic acid market
• price decline
• supply and demand competition
• weak technical indicators

This week, the spot price of melamine showed a weak fluctuation, falling to 6,050 CNY/ton on June 30, reaching a new low for the period. The 10-day and 20-day moving averages continued to decline, with supply and demand maintaining a weak balance. The weakening urea prices have led to a decrease in cost support. In the short term, prices may still slightly decline.

• melamine
• prices weaken
• supply and demand are loose
• moving average is bearish

In June, the price of polyethylene in China continued to fall, with the average prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE decreasing by 1240%, 1449%, and 32% respectively The market showed weak supply and demand, with inventory accumulation, and weak demand from downstream sectors, coupled with weakened cost support, leading to a significant drop in prices

• Polyethylene prices have fallen
• supply and demand are relaxed
• it’s the off-season for demand
• cost support has weakened.

In June, the PP market in China first stabilized and then declined, with the benchmark price for filament at the end of the month falling by 2096% compared to the beginning of the month The cost side was significantly affected by the decline in international crude oil and propylene prices On the supply side, due to maintenance of some plants, the overall load was low

• PP prices are falling
• cost values are collapsing
• supply-demand contradiction
• downward channel

In June, the Chinese ABS market saw a significant decline, with the average price dropping to 8,700 CNY/ton, a decrease of 10.46%. The supply remained stable, but inventory accumulated, and costs decreased due to easing tensions in the Middle East and falling raw material prices. Demand was weak, with little change in the operating rates of downstream enterprises and poor terminal consumption. In the short term, the possibility of a weaker consolidation in the ABS spot price has increased.

• ABS market: Costs are weakening
• demand is sluggish
• prices are falling.

In the second half of June, the dichloromethane market showed a unilateral weak downward trend. Although there was a slight reduction in supply due to maintenance, the overall supply remained loose. Both domestic and international demand were weak, and the support from the cost side weakened as methanol prices fell. It is expected that the market will continue to show a narrow range of fluctuations in the short term, with limited space for local brief rebounds.

• Dichloromethane
• Market Analysis
• Chemical Industry
• Supply-Demand Relationship

In June, the asphalt market in Shandong, China first rose and then fell. In the early part of the month, prices surged due to increased costs and demand. However, in the middle and late parts of the month, the market weakened as a result of falling costs and weak demand. In July, it is expected to continue with a range-bound fluctuation, with the core operating range at 3550-3850 CNY/ton, and supply and demand maintaining a weak balance.

• Shandong asphalt
• market trend
• cost-driven
• demand constrained

In June 2026, the market price of pure benzene in Shandong region of China fell by 11.59%, from 7,620 CNY/ton to 6,736.67 CNY/ton. Sinopec's pure benzene price was reduced to 6,700 CNY/ton. The price hit a bottom and rebounded at the end of the month, and it is expected that the market will show a strong fluctuation in the short term. International crude oil futures and foreign pure benzene prices have risen.

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

In June, the maleic anhydride market in China first rose and then fell, with an overall decline of 808%, and the average offer price dropped to 7,250 CNY/ton On the supply side, due to plant maintenance and resumption of production, the supply-demand contradiction intensified, leading to a price drop The price of upstream n-butane significantly decreased, and the downstream industries entered the off-season with weak demand

• Maleic anhydride market conditions: prices are falling
• supply-demand contradiction
• weak demand during the off-season.

In June 2026, the butadiene market in China was affected by multiple negative factors, leading to a significant price drop of 24.86%. The weakening cost support, ample supply, and weak demand caused the market to continue its downward trend. It is expected that the weak market situation will persist, with insufficient momentum for a rebound.

• Butadiene market
• prices fall
• supply is ample
• off-season for demand

In June, the Chinese urea market fluctuated, with the reference average price for small and medium-sized urea granules increasing from 1803 CNY/ton to 1813 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.55%. In the first ten days of the month, prices were boosted by an increase in export guidance prices; in the latter part of the month, prices weakened due to oversupply and poor futures market performance. It is expected that in the short term, the urea market prices will maintain a consolidation trend.

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

In June, the isopropanol market price in China fell from 7683.33 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 6191.66 CNY/ton at the end of the month, a price decrease of 19.41%. The prices of raw materials acetone and propylene also saw significant declines, dropping by 27.7% and 19.84%, respectively. It is expected that the isopropanol market will maintain slight fluctuations in the short term.

• Isopropanol prices fall
• raw material costs decrease
• market demand is weak
• chemical market analysis

In June, the Chinese bisphenol A market continued to weaken, with cost support easing, oversupply, and weak terminal demand leading to a decline in prices. Market transactions were sluggish, and manufacturers faced significant pressure to sell, with inventory pressure rising. It is expected that the market will remain weak and volatile in the short term.

• Bisphenol A market: cost support weakens
• oversupply
• weak demand

In June, the Chinese acetone market plummeted by 28.9%, with oversupply, weak demand, declining costs, and pessimistic sentiment collectively driving prices down from 7,050 CNY/ton to 5,012 CNY/ton. In the short term, the market is expected to remain weak and oscillate at low levels, with a continued risk of further declines.

• Overcapacity
• weak demand
• declining costs
• bearish market sentiment

As of May 30, the average price of industrial-grade premium cyclohexane in China was 7,416 CNY per ton, with weak demand leading to narrow price fluctuations. With ample supply and weakened cost support, market transactions were light. It is expected that the price of cyclohexane will remain within a narrow range of 6,000-6,900 CNY per ton in the short term.

• Weak demand
• weakening cost support
• narrow-range fluctuations
• ample supply

In June, the market price of phenol in China surged and then declined, with the beginning and end prices basically remaining the same At the start of the month, the benchmark price was around 7,380 CNY per ton In the first ten days, due to companies holding firm on prices and cost support, it increased to 7,800 CNY per ton In the middle and late part of the month, an increase in supply and weak demand led to a price drop to 7,500 CNY per ton

• Phenol price
• market supply and demand
• cost support
• range-bound fluctuations