ECHEMI Analysis

In April, the DMF market price in China first increased and then decreased At the beginning of the month, prices rose due to plant maintenance and a rebound in demand However, as supply increased and demand growth weakened, prices began to decline The price fluctuation of the main raw material, methanol, was significant, while liquid ammonia remained relatively stable

• DMF price trends
• changes in market supply and demand
• impact of raw material costs
• downstream demand analysis

In April, the Chinese MIBK market was at a high level with prices slightly retreating to 12,266.67 CNY/ton. Supply was stable, but demand was weak, and cost support was limited. It is expected that in the short term, prices will fluctuate between 8,000 and 12,500 CNY/ton, with a long-term outlook for steady growth.

• MIBK market: trading in a narrow range at high levels
• supply and demand in a tug-of-war
• cost support is limited.

In late April, the price of petcoke from local refineries in China fell significantly by 8.15% to 3,151.75 CNY per ton. Due to the stagnation of US-Iran talks, international oil prices rose. Chinese refineries lowered their quotes due to poor sales, and downstream buyers were cautious, leading to insufficient market support. It is expected that during the upcoming low-demand season, prices will remain at a low level with fluctuations.

• Local refinery petroleum coke
• declining market conditions
• inventory pressure
• low-level oscillating trend

April saw the petcoke market of local refineries in China first rise and then fall, with an overall increase of 30.87%. The cost of fuel oil decreased, and the supply side saw a price drop due to maintenance and inventory pressure. On the demand side, the electrolytic aluminum industry had insufficient purchases. It is expected that the market activity in May will be moderate, with prices fluctuating within a range.

• Petroleum coke from local refineries
• market analysis
• cost-related impacts
• supply-demand dynamics

In April, the marine fuel market in East China saw a significant decline, with the average price of 180CST fuel oil falling by 7.56%. International crude oil prices fluctuated downward before rebounding, and Singapore's fuel oil inventory decreased. It is expected that in May, the marine fuel prices will enter a phase of consolidation driven by cost support and a recovery in demand.

• Marine fuel market
• fuel oil prices
• international crude oil trends
• peak shipping season

As of April 30, 2026, the average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke stood at 1,560 CNY per ton Market supply and demand are in balance, and prices remain stable Steel mills show limited purchasing enthusiasm, prompting some coking enterprises to lower prices and launch promotional sales In areas such as Tangshan, Tianjin Port, and Qujing, coking coal prices remain stable or trend slightly stronger

• Coke market
• prices stable
• supply and demand balanced
• pessimistic outlook for the future

In April, the price of MTBE fell from 7,210 CNY/ton to 6,387 CNY/ton, representing a price decrease of 11.42%. Fluctuations in international crude oil prices are influencing market sentiment; while supply conditions remain favorable, demand remains weak. It is expected that MTBE prices will continue to decline in the near future.

• MTBE market
• price decline
• crude oil impact
• supply-demand relationship

In April, palm oil prices experienced volatile declines, with price drops exceeding 1%. Malaysia's ongoing production expansion cycle and weak export performance have weakened the underlying fundamentals. However, a price rebound is expected in May, with prices forecast to range between 9,700 and 10,000 CNY per ton. Anticipated El Niño conditions could impact second-half production.

• Palm oil market conditions
• supply-side influences
• weak demand
• energy support

In April, the polyethylene market in China showed a pattern of "rallying and then retreating, with a weak recovery at the end of the month." The prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE fell by 3.35%, 1.16%, and 1.27% respectively. The supply side first tightened and then loosened, while overall demand was weak. The cost was significantly affected by fluctuations in crude oil. In the short term, prices are expected to remain weak and volatile.

• Polyethylene market: prices decline
• weak demand
• cost support weakens.

In the second half of April, the price of polybutadiene rubber slightly decreased to 16,180 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 336% Due to the expectation of butadiene supply recovery and the decline in its price, cost support has weakened Chinese facilities are operating at low capacity, with an industry operating rate of about 45%, and demand remains at a necessary level

• cis-1
• 4-polybutadiene rubber
• butadiene prices
• cost support
• market conditions

In the second half of April, the Chinese dichloromethane market experienced a sharp decline, with prices in Shandong region falling to 2,035 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1719% from the beginning of the month The cost inversion has intensified, weak demand, export obstacles, high production levels, and inventory accumulation have led to a supply-demand imbalance

• Supply-demand imbalance
• cost inversion
• export bottlenecks
• high inventory pressure

On April 29, the average market price of pure benzene in China was 8,570 CNY per ton, an increase of 0.31% from the previous trading day. Affected by the rise in international crude oil prices, the price of pure benzene has slightly increased, and market confidence is good. In the short term, it is expected that the pure benzene market in China will maintain a range-bound fluctuation, and attention should be paid to the situation between the U.S. and Iran as well as the trend of raw materials.

• Pure benzene price
• market analysis
• international crude oil
• geopolitical impacts

In April, the DOP price stopped rising and fell, with a decrease of 2.03%. Affected by the decline in crude oil prices and weak demand, cost support decreased. The prices of 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride fell by 6.77% and 4.78%, respectively. The supply and demand pattern showed an oversupply, with a weak balance in rigid demand. It is expected that the DOP price will slightly fluctuate and fall in the future.

• DOP prices have fallen
• cost support has declined
• the supply-demand dynamic has shifted
• crude oil prices are having an impact.

In April 2026, the butadiene market in China experienced a downward fluctuation, with prices falling from 18,333.33 CNY/ton to 12,566.67 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 31.45%. The main reasons include weakened cost support, ample supply, and weak demand. It is expected that the market will remain weak and volatile in May, and attention should be paid to crude oil prices and downstream production conditions.

• Butadiene market: cost support weakens
• supply is ample
• demand is weak.

In April, the price of acetic acid in China significantly decreased, dropping from 4530 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 3150 CNY/ton on the 29th, a price decrease of 3046% Weak demand and inventory accumulation downstream led to the decline in prices The methanol market, which is a raw material, showed a strong fluctuation, with a price increase of 551%

• Acetic acid prices declined
• downstream demand remains weak
• raw material methanol showed volatile but relatively strong performance
• May market outlook.

In April, the isopropanol market price in China first increased and then decreased, with an overall price reduction of 6.1%. The average price at the beginning of the month was 9,283.33 CNY per ton, and at the end of the month, it was 8,716.67 CNY per ton. The price of the raw material acetone fell by 3.43%, while the price of propylene rose by 6.45%. It is expected that the isopropanol market in China will maintain stable operations in the short term.

• Isopropanol market price
• first increased then decreased
• affected by raw material prices
• market forecast

In April, the Chinese acetone market showed a "first decline then rise" trend. Initially, the price continued to fall due to weakening costs and weak demand. In the latter part of the month, supply contraction, cost recovery, and improved demand pushed prices up. The short-term market is expected to be strong and volatile, with attention on the range of 7,800-8,000 CNY/ton. In the long term, attention should be paid to plant maintenance, the trend of benzene, and terminal demand.

• Acetone Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Changes
• Cost Support

In late April 2026, the price of ethylene glycol rebounded, mainly due to a sharp reduction in imports caused by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, low operating rates of facilities in China, continuous destocking at ports, and high crude oil costs. It is expected that if the conflict in the Middle East does not ease, imports remain low, and destocking continues in May, the price of ethylene glycol will show a strong fluctuation.

• Ethylene glycol prices
• supply contraction
• cost support
• demand improvement

In April 2026, the ethylene oxide price remained at a high level, with an average market price of 9,000 CNY/ton, up 2.27% from the beginning of the month. The high cost of ethylene provided support, while supply was under control and demand was stable. In May, it is expected to remain in a high range, with a price range of 8,800-9,200 CNY/ton. Attention should be paid to changes in the ethylene price, EO operating rates, and downstream demand.

• Ethylene oxide prices: trading sideways at high levels
• cost support
• supply manageable

As of April 29, the average price of industrial-grade premium cyclohexane in China was 7,516 CNY/ton. This week, prices have fluctuated downward, with mainstream market prices falling by 200-300 CNY/ton from the beginning of the week. The market is oversupplied, and downstream demand is weak. It is expected that prices will remain stable or continue to decline in the short term.

• Cyclohexane Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Dynamics
• Cost Impacts