Price Trends

Recent formic acid prices have been on the rise. As of March 17, the benchmark price for industrial-grade 85% formic acid in China was 2,750 CNY per ton, up 10% from last week. Supply has decreased due to maintenance and production adjustments by companies, while demand remains robust with good sales. Analysts believe that the formic acid market in China is strong and has the potential for further increases.

• Formic acid prices
• supply contraction
• steady demand
• potential for price increases

As of March 17, 2026, the price of n-butanol in Shandong decreased from 8,833 CNY/ton to 7,766 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 12.08%. Affected by the decline in international oil prices, the drop in the price of propylene (a raw material), and weak demand from downstream sectors, the overall market trend is downward. In the short term, there is still downward pressure on prices, and attention should be paid to changes in the operating rates of downstream industries and geopolitical situations.

• n-Butanol market: cost support is loose
• demand is weak
• geopolitical factors are having an impact.

This week, the melamine market in China saw a strong increase, with prices rising from 6,300 CNY/ton to 6,625 CNY/ton, a weekly price increase of 5.16%. The rise was supported by increased costs of methanol, frequent start-stop of production facilities leading to tight spot supply, and stable downstream demand. It is expected that prices will remain high, but attention should be paid to the downstream's acceptance of high-priced raw materials.

• Melamine prices have risen
• cost-driven
• tight supply
• supported by downstream demand in China.

In the past ten days, the market price of ammonium sulfate in China has continued to rise. The average price on March 17 was 1,531 CNY per ton, an increase of 11.80% from March 7. Due to the high international urea prices caused by the war in the Middle East, the cost of raw materials has increased, and the market supply is tight, which has driven the continuous rise in the price of ammonium sulfate. It is expected that the market price of ammonium sulfate will remain strong in the short term.

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

This week, the polyester bottle chip market in China saw a strong rally, with a weekly price increase of nearly 30%, and the largest single-day price increase reaching 13%. The main driving factors include cost increases triggered by geopolitical issues, supply-side production cuts, and the release of peak demand. In the short term, prices are expected to remain strong, but there is a risk of a pullback in the medium term.

• Polyester bottle chips
• rising costs
• tight supply
• peak demand season

In March, the price of plasticizer DOP experienced a “roller coaster” trend due to crude oil price fluctuations triggered by the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, rising from 7,700.84 CNY/ton to 9,209.17 CNY/ton—a price increase of 19.59%. The prices of raw materials such as isooctanol and phthalic anhydride also saw significant volatility, and rising costs are supporting the increase in DOP prices. Looking ahead, DOP prices are expected to continue fluctuating and rising.

• DOP price fluctuations
• impact on the crude oil market
• transmission through the chemical industry chain
• geopolitical crisis in the Middle East

This week, aniline prices experienced volatile declines, dropping from 11,462 CNY/ton to 10,262 CNY/ton—a price decrease of 10.17%. Affected by the situation in the Middle East and the pullback in crude oil prices, cost support weakened, causing pure benzene prices to fall and softening the purchasing sentiment among downstream users. It is expected that aniline prices will remain at high levels in the short term.

• Aniline prices
• declining costs
• crude oil price correction
• changes in market supply and demand

This week, the price of sodium metabisulfite in China increased, with the average price of industrial-grade products rising from 2,400 CNY/ton to 2,423 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.97%. The main reason for this is the rise in the prices of upstream raw materials such as soda ash and sulfur, despite a decline in the price of downstream caprolactam. It is expected that the market price will maintain a strong fluctuation trend in the short term.

• Sodium metabisulfite
• price increase
• market analysis
• future forecast

From March 9 to 13, the BDO price in China increased from 7,557 CNY/ton to 7,757 CNY/ton, a price increase of 2.65%. The price rise was supported by reduced supply and increased costs, but downstream demand was moderate, and market transactions were limited. It is expected that the BDO market will experience fluctuation and consolidation in the future.

• BDO market
• rising prices
• shrinking supply
• increasing cost pressure

From March 6 to 13, the price of methanol in the East China port market rose from 2,595 CNY/ton to 2,832 CNY/ton, an increase of 915% The sentiment in the futures market drove the spot market, coupled with favorable factors such as inventory reduction by companies and recovery in demand, leading to a significant rise in methanol prices The main methanol futures contract on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange closed at 2,805 CNY/ton, up 115%

• Methanol Market
• Price Rally
• Futures Impact
• Supply-Demand Changes

From March 6 to 13, the price of MTBE rose from 5,733 CNY/ton to 6,316 CNY/ton before falling back. During this period, the price increase was 10.17%. Fluctuations in international crude oil prices directly impacted the MTBE market. While cost support remained strong, demand remained weak and supply increased. Looking ahead, the MTBE market is expected to enter a consolidation phase.

• MTBE market
• price fluctuation
• international crude oil
• cost support

March 12, the average market price of pure benzene in China increased to 8,506.67 CNY/ton, a price increase of 8.55%. Affected by the rise in international crude oil prices and Sinopec's price increase of 400 CNY/ton, the quotations from Shandong local refineries also rose to 8,300-8,800 CNY/ton. Attention needs to be paid to the development of the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the trend of raw material prices.

• Pure benzene market price
• international crude oil prices
• Sinopec’s listed price
• geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East

In March, the price of 2-ethylhexanol experienced a "rollercoaster" trend, with a price increase of 27%, followed by a decrease of 10.88%. The geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East led to sharp fluctuations in crude oil prices, which in turn affected the price of 2-ethylhexanol. Despite adequate supply of 2-ethylhexanol, the price is mainly influenced by crude oil. It is expected that the price of 2-ethylhexanol will fluctuate and rise in the future.

• Isodecanol price fluctuation
• geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East
• crude oil price transmission
• stable supply

On March 11, the market price of acrylonitrile in China remained largely stable. The price at the East China ports was between 10,800 and 11,000 CNY per ton, while the price in Shandong region was between 10,750 and 10,850 CNY per ton. The decline in international oil prices led to a decrease in the price of propylene, the raw material. Although supply has decreased, the market sentiment is cautious, and overall prices are temporarily stable.

• Acrylonitrile Market
• Price Fluctuations
• Impact of International Oil Prices
• Reduced Supply

On March 11, the average market price of pure benzene in China was adjusted to 7836.67 CNY/ton, a decrease of 18.96% from the previous trading day. Affected by the decline in international crude oil futures, Shandong local refining enterprises have lowered their quotations to 7300-8000 CNY/ton. The market is mainly adopting a wait-and-see attitude, and attention needs to be paid to the trend of raw material prices.

• Pure benzene market
• price reduction
• international crude oil futures
• geopolitical risks

Recent lithium carbonate prices have been fluctuating As of March 11, the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was 158,000 CNY per ton, an increase of 327% from last week On the supply side, the release of production capacity in China and the increase in overseas shipments have contributed to this On the demand side, the recovery in demand for cathode materials and energy storage has driven the improvement in the industry's prosperity

• Lithium carbonate prices
• supply and demand changes
• lithium salt supply
• recovery of downstream demand

This week, China’s melamine market experienced a strong price surge, with factory prices rising by as much as 400 CNY per ton in a single day. The main driving factors include rising raw material costs, tightening supply, and concerted price support efforts by major enterprises. In the short term, the market is expected to remain firm, but it will be crucial to monitor downstream demand’s ability to absorb these higher prices.

• Melamine
• rising market prices
• cost-push
• tight supply

In early March 2026, the Chinese phenol market experienced a "roller coaster" trend, with price fluctuations exceeding 2,500 CNY/ton The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East triggered cost increases, followed by a sharp drop in prices due to the decline in crude oil Future trends will be influenced by geopolitical risks, cost differentiation, and changes in supply and demand

• Phenol market conditions
• geopolitical conflicts
• cost fluctuations
• supply-demand dynamics

On March 12, the international crude oil market saw a sharp rise during Asian trading hours, with WTI crude oil climbing to $9414 per barrel and Brent crude oil approaching $100 per barrel The escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has heightened supply concerns, compounded by the IEA’s release of strategic reserves, which has failed to effectively curb the upward pressure on oil prices

• International crude oil
• geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East
• rising oil prices
• release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

On March 10, the market price of pure benzene significantly decreased to 9,670 CNY/ton, a decline of 19.43% from the previous trading day. Sinopec's listed price dropped to 8,000 CNY/ton, and the factory prices of local refineries in Shandong were adjusted to 8,500-10,000 CNY/ton. The market was affected by the drop in international oil prices, leading to unstable sentiment.

• Pure benzene price: Market down
• Impact of international oil prices
• Sinopec price adjustment