Price Trends

In May, the Chinese epoxy resins market showed a one-sided decline, with the average price falling from 17,467 CNY/ton to 15,300 CNY/ton, a decrease of 12.4%. Raw material prices dropped, cost support weakened, there was an oversupply, and demand was weak. It is expected that the market will bottom out in June, with no significant opportunity for a rise.

• Epoxy resin market: prices decline
• weak demand
• weakening cost support

This week, the price of petroleum coke from local refineries in China rose to 3141 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 228% The international crude oil market trended downward, but plant maintenance by local refining companies in Shandong region led to a decrease in supply, supporting the rise in the petroleum coke market It is expected that the supply side will continue to be constrained, and while demand is warming up, the willingness to chase higher prices is weakening

• Petroleum coke market conditions
• maintenance shutdowns at independent refineries
• international crude oil market
• declining supply

From May 25 to 29, the price of MTBE fell from 6,425 CNY/ton to 6,237 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.92%. Affected by the decline in international crude oil prices and weakening demand, the MTBE market fluctuated downward. Cost pressure still exists, and it is expected that the market will continue to consolidate in the future.

• MTBE market
• crude oil prices
• gasoline trends
• operating status of chemical plants

In May, the palm oil market in China showed a weak downward trend, with a price decrease of over 3%, and the average price fell from 9,672 CNY/ton to 9,374 CNY/ton. Supply and demand factors intertwined to influence the market. By the end of the month, technical indicators showed a slowdown in the decline, and it is expected that the market in June will fluctuate and rise, with prices ranging between 9,300 and 9,700 CNY/ton.

• Palm oil market conditions
• inventory pressure
• biodiesel demand
• technical analysis

In May, polyester bottle flake prices surged initially before retreating, exhibiting overall wide-ranging fluctuations at high levels At the beginning of the month, prices rose due to upward pressure from crude oil and PX/PTA costs on the cost side; however, in the mid-to-late part of the month, prices fell as crude oil prices corrected and supply-demand dynamics shifted Spot prices performed stronger than futures prices

• Polyester bottle flake price fluctuations
• cost-side impacts
• supply-and-demand analysis
• technical analysis

In May, the TDI market in East China fell sharply, with a price decrease of 10.47%. Weak demand and planned maintenance at supply facilities led to a dual weakness in supply and demand. Planned maintenance was carried out at facilities of Mitsui Japan, Shanghai B plant, and GNFC India. The cost of toluene decreased, but the supply remained stable. It is expected that the TDI market will fluctuate within a range in the future.

• TDI market: both supply and demand are weak
• prices are falling
• maintenance shutdowns are having an impact.

Hydrofluoric acid market prices are under pressure. As of May 28, the benchmark price has dropped to 15,900 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1.65% from the beginning of the month. The price of raw material fluorspar has slightly weakened, while the price of sulfuric acid remains relatively high, leading to weaker cost support. Downstream refrigerant companies are purchasing slowly, with weak demand, and it is expected that the market will operate in a weak and stable manner in the later period.

• Hydrofluoric acid market: prices down
• cost support weakens
• weak demand

In May, the DOP price fell by 7.96% due to weak raw material costs and downstream demand. The prices of both 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride decreased, weakening the cost support. The DOP market supply was loose, and demand remained weak. It is expected that in June, the DOP market will still face significant downward pressure, and prices may further decline.

• DOP prices have fallen
• costs have decreased
• demand is weak
• the market is consolidating in a weak state.

In May 2026, the Chinese toluene market experienced a downward fluctuation, with prices cumulatively decreasing by 4.9%. Cost support was weak, supply was ample, and demand was weak. In the short term, the market is expected to continue its weak trend, but as more refineries undergo maintenance and the peak demand season approaches, the market situation is likely to gradually stabilize and recover.

• Supply and demand under pressure
• volatile downward trend
• weak cost support
• weak demand.

In May 2026, the butadiene market in China experienced a downward fluctuation, with prices dropping from 13,200 CNY/ton to 12,066.67 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 8.59%. The main factors were weakened cost support, ample supply, and weak demand downstream. In the short term, the market is expected to remain weak, but with an increase in plant maintenance and improvement in downstream profitability, it is anticipated to gradually stabilize and recover in the future.

• Butadiene market
• price decline
• weak supply and demand
• cost support weakening

In May, the titanium dioxide market in China was flexible, with prices slightly increasing from an average of 17,180 CNY/ton to 17,200 CNY/ton. The prices of raw materials, such as sulfuric acid and titanium ore, remained high, leading some companies to raise their prices. In April, the import volume decreased while the export volume increased. It is expected that the titanium dioxide market will remain stable for the time being.

• Titanium dioxide market
• Price trend
• Import and export data
• Market forecast

The melamine market continues its downward trend, with the benchmark price dropping to 6,13750 CNY/ton on May 27, marking a monthly price decline of 1073% Technically, the average deviation has turned negative and is widening, confirming the bearish trend On the cost side, urea prices remain weak, and maintenance shutdowns on the supply side have failed to reverse the downward momentum Meanwhile, demand remains driven by essential purchasing needs

• Melamine prices have fallen
• costs have declined
• demand is weak
• technical outlook is bearish.

In May, the prices of gasoline and diesel in China fluctuated, with 92# gasoline rising slightly by 135% and 0# diesel falling by 079% International crude oil prices fell significantly, as geopolitical tensions eased and fundamental bearish factors led to lower oil prices Chinese refineries operated at high rates, leading to inventory buildup, weak demand, and sluggish market transactions

• China’s gasoline and diesel market conditions in May: International crude oil prices declined
• China’s supply remained at a high level
• market demand was relatively weak.

This week, the price of 180CST fuel oil in China declined, with the average price falling to 6025 CNY per ton, a decrease of 0.41%. The cost support for marine fuel was limited, and demand was weak. The international crude oil market fluctuated downward due to multiple factors. Fuel oil inventories in Singapore decreased by 797,000 barrels. It is expected that the market will mainly experience high-level fluctuations in the near term.

• fuel oil 180CST
• market trend downward
• marine fuel market
• international crude oil market

Recently, the domestic maleic anhydride market in China has been continuously declining As of May 27, the average market price was 8,11250 CNY/ton, a decrease of 182% from last week The decline in international crude oil prices has dragged down the trend of major commodities, and the main factories have lowered their prices for maleic anhydride The prices of upstream liquefied gas and n-butane have also decreased, while the demand for downstream unsaturated resins remains weak

• Crude oil prices
• maleic anhydride market
• commodities
• unsaturated resins

This week, the Chinese acrylic acid market continued to be weak, with the price center dropping to 8,650 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1478% from the beginning of the month Technical indicators show that the downward momentum is converging, but no reversal signals have been observed The cost of propylene has weakened, and there is an oversupply, with weak demand and a decline in downstream operating rates

• Acrylic market: prices decline
• supply and demand are weak
• costs are falling.

As of May 27, the average price of DMF in China was 4,920 CNY per ton. The market supply is loose, with high inventory levels and weak demand. The cost support for raw materials is insufficient, and demand from downstream industries is weak. It is expected that prices will remain slightly weak in the short term.

• High inventory levels
• market under pressure
• weak demand
• oversupply

On May 27, influenced by multiple factors—including fluctuating expectations regarding US-Iran negotiations, the resumption of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and easing prospects for geopolitical conflicts—both WTI and Brent crude oil futures prices fell by more than 5% The market’s focus has shifted from concerns about supply shortages to expectations of a calming geopolitical situation

• Geopolitics
• crude oil prices
• U.S.-Iran negotiations
• Strait of Hormuz

On May 27, 2026, the average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke stood at 1,733 CNY per ton, marking the implementation of the fourth round of price increases, with cumulative hikes exceeding 200 yuan Tightening safety inspections and an increasing number of coal mine shutdowns in Shanxi have led to a tight supply situation

• Coke market
• supply shortage
• price trend
• future forecast

On May 25, international crude oil prices plummeted by more than 7%, causing the price center of PTA to shift downward. Despite increased maintenance at PTA plants and low operating rates, weak demand in the downstream textile market has led to cautious purchasing by downstream enterprises, weakening cost-side support. It is expected that PTA prices will remain volatile and tend to weaken in the short term.

• PTA prices
• crude oil market
• weakening cost-side support
• sluggish downstream demand