Price Trends

This week, the caustic soda price remained stable, with the market average price at 654 CNY/ton, a year-on-year decrease of 31.3%. In Shandong, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia regions, the prices for 32% ion-membrane alkali were 600-680 CNY/ton, 850-950 CNY/ton, and 2050-2150 CNY/ton (converted to 100%), respectively. Downstream demand was purchasing as needed, and it is expected that prices may continue to stabilize in the later period.

• Caustic soda prices
• market analysis
• chemical industry index
• supply-demand relationship

This week, the styrene market price in China significantly increased, rising from 7,890 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 8,910 CNY/ton by the end of the week, with a price increase of 12.93%, mainly due to the impact of geopolitical conflicts.

• Geopolitical conflicts
• styrene prices
• market dynamics
• chemical products

This week, the price of Aniline continued to rise, from 9,445 CNY/ton to 10,345 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 9.53%. The tense situation in the Middle East led to an increase in international crude oil and pure benzene prices. Coupled with maintenance plans at major factories and low inventory, this has pushed the price of Aniline to exceed 10,000 yuan. It is expected that the price of Aniline will remain high in the short term.

• Middle East conflict
• rising raw material prices
• aniline prices
• international crude oil prices

This week, the titanium dioxide market in China has seen an increase, with the average price rising from 13,900 CNY/ton to 14,160 CNY/ton, a price increase of 1.87%. Twenty-eight companies have issued letters announcing price hikes. Demand from outside China is mainly for essential needs, and there is a strong wait-and-see sentiment in the market. It is expected that the titanium dioxide market prices will remain firm in the short term.

• Titanium dioxide market: prices rise
• companies announce price hikes
• market adopts a wait-and-see stance.

March 6, the average price of isopropyl alcohol in the Chinese market increased to 6,96667 CNY/ton, up 663% from the previous day The rise in the prices of raw materials, propylene and acetone, has pushed up costs, leading producers to raise prices, and there is a strong sentiment among stockholders to follow the increase In terms of demand, buyers are mainly purchasing based on their immediate needs and are cautious about high prices

• isopropanol
• market trend
• price increase
• raw material cost

This week, the price of sodium metabisulfite in China rose by 2.86%, with the average price of industrial-grade sodium metabisulfite increasing from 2,333 CNY/ton to 2,400 CNY/ton. The price of upstream sulfur increased by 7.15%, and the price of downstream caprolactam increased by 3.78%. It is expected that the price of sodium metabisulfite will maintain a volatile but relatively strong trend in the short term.

• Sodium metabisulfite price
• sulfur price increase
• industrial grade sodium metabisulfite
• fluctuating and strengthening trend

From March 2 to 6, the BDO price in China increased from 7,371 CNY/ton to 7,557 CNY/ton, a price increase of 252% The market has warmed up due to reduced supply and increased demand Some facilities have been shut down for maintenance, strengthening the support on the supply side The cost aspect is mixed, affected by the weakening of calcium carbide and the rise in methanol

• BDO market
• price increase
• supply reduction
• demand increase

From March 2 to 6, the quotation for methanol in East China ports of the Chinese market rose by 9.49% to 2,595 CNY/ton. Due to the escalation of geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, methanol prices have increased significantly. Downstream demand is gradually recovering, but some industries are still incurring losses. The supply has decreased due to plant maintenance, and external market prices have also risen. It is expected that the methanol market will remain strong in the future.

• Methanol market: prices rise
• demand recovers
• supply decreases.

From March 2 to 6, the price of MTBE in China increased from 5,383 CNY/ton to 5,733 CNY/ton, a price increase of 6.50%. Due to strong support from the cost side and the rise in international oil prices, the MTBE market in China has been significantly boosted. However, there are bearish factors on the supply side, and it is expected that the market will consolidate at high levels in the future.

• MTBE market
• rising oil prices
• cost support
• market demand

This week (Mar 2-5), the Chinese PVC market was strong, with futures rising and driving up spot prices The resumption of downstream operations and a rush for exports supported market sentiment In the East China region, the price of PVC (calcium carbide method, SG-5) increased by 361%, with prices ranging from 4850 to 4900 CNY per ton

• PVC market: prices rise
• inventories remain high
• demand picks up.

The geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have led to a dual squeeze on the dichloromethane market. On one hand, the rising prices of methanol and liquid chlorine have increased production costs. On the other hand, the Middle Eastern market, which accounts for 22.3% of total exports, is facing shipping risks. As of March 5, the price of dichloromethane in Shandong has risen by 19.37% compared to the beginning of the month, with the market caught in a dual struggle between costs and exports.

• Middle East geopolitical conflicts
• dichloromethane market
• cost increases
• export disruptions

From March 1st to 5th, the market price of cyclohexanone in Shandong, China, continuously increased, with a cumulative increase of 950 CNY/ton, and the current price is 8,250-8,350 CNY/ton The rise in production costs was driven by geopolitical tensions and an increase in the price of pure benzene, while tight supply and recovering demand supported the prices In the short term, prices are expected to remain high, with the possibility of a slight increase

• Cyclohexanone price
• cost support
• supply-demand relationship
• market forecast

This week, the price of ammonium sulfate in China's market has significantly increased. On March 5th, the average price of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate was 1328 CNY/ton, an increase of 9.18% from March 1st. Due to the rise in international urea prices and tight supply, downstream buyers are actively restocking, leading to a strong bullish sentiment in the market. It is expected that the price of ammonium sulfate will remain firm in the short term.

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

In early March, influenced by the rise in the prices of raw materials such as benzene and cyclohexanone, the adipic acid market heated up, with the average market price reaching 8,700 CNY/ton, a 4.82% increase from the beginning of the month. With strong cost support and tightening supply, analysts expect that adipic acid prices may continue to rise in the short term.

• Cost support
• adipic acid market conditions
• raw material market conditions
• supply tightening

Recently, prices in the plastics sector have risen sharply. As of March 4, the price of LLDPE (7042) stood at 7,325 CNY per ton, representing a price increase of 10.71%; the price of PP fiber-grade resin reached 7,320 CNY per ton, with a price increase of 9.85%; and the price of ABS was 10,016.67 CNY per ton, up 12.21%.

• Plastic prices
• raw material supply
• market analysis
• price increase

Recently, geopolitical tensions have escalated, yet the lithium carbonate market has not seen the frenzied price surge it experienced in 2022 The recent plunge in lithium prices is primarily driven by factors such as growing concerns in the Middle East’s energy storage market, declining sales of new-energy vehicles, a concentrated influx of lithium carbonate into ports in Chile, and export restrictions imposed by Zimbabwe

• Lithium carbonate market
• Geopolitical conflicts
• New energy industry
• Supply and demand changes

In March, the market price of hydrofluoric acid in China slightly increased by 0.77% to 13,166.67 CNY per ton. The supply of raw material fluorspar is tight, and prices are under pressure at high levels; the price of sulfuric acid rose by 3.31%, increasing production costs. It is expected that the losses of hydrofluoric acid producers in China will increase, limiting their ability to raise prices.

• Hydrofluoric acid market
• cost pressure
• raw material supply
• price fluctuation

Recently, the market price of maleic anhydride in China has risen significantly As of March 4th, the average market price of maleic anhydride produced by the n-butane oxidation method reached 596250 CNY/ton, an increase of 1250% compared to March 1st

• Geopolitics
• Maleic Anhydride Market
• Cost Increase
• Downstream Resumption of Work

The recent formic acid market in China has been stable, with the price of 85% industrial grade formic acid maintaining at 2,450 CNY per ton. Both supply and demand sides are engaged in a mild game, keeping the market in a dynamic balance. It is expected that in March, due to plant maintenance and production halts, the supply will slightly decrease, and the recovery of downstream demand may support a rise in prices.

• Formic acid market
• supply-demand balance
• expectations of price increases
• plant maintenance and shutdown plans

In early March 2026, the price of n-butanol in Shandong, China, rose strongly from 6,033 CNY/ton on March 1st to 6,480 CNY/ton on the 4th, a 7.40% increase. The main factors driving this rise were geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, increased costs, and the recovery of downstream demand. It is expected that prices will remain relatively strong in the short term.

• Geopolitical conflicts
• n-butanol market conditions
• cost transmission
• recovery of downstream demand