ECHEMI Analysis

In mid-September, asphalt prices in Shandong region fluctuated downward to 3,630 CNY/ton. Although some facilities resumed production, the overall supply remained constrained. With the National Day holiday approaching, demand moderately increased, and shipments rose by 14.6%. The rebound in international crude oil prices and stocking demand supported the spot market. It is expected that the low-end market will slightly rise, while the high-end market will maintain stable operations.

• Asphalt prices
• supply pressures
• market demand
• impact of the National Day holiday

This week, 85% industrial-grade thermal phosphoric acid prices in China fell slightly by 0.15%, with an average price of 6,700 CNY per ton. Factory quotes in Hubei, Yunnan, and Sichuan regions have been reduced. The price of raw material yellow phosphorus has fallen, weakening cost support. It is expected that the short-term phosphoric acid market will mainly operate in a consolidation phase.

• Phosphoric acid prices
• market analysis
• chemical raw materials
• yellow phosphorus prices

From September 11 to 18, the quotation for methanol in the East China port of the Chinese methanol market fell to 2,261 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 124% The closing price of methanol futures on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange fell by 143% The domestic methanol market in China rose due to pre-holiday restocking and stable demand The increase in coal costs supported methanol prices

• Methanol Market
• Price Fluctuations
• Demand-Side Analysis
• Supply-Side Changes

Recently, the spot market for natural rubber in China has been consolidating at a high level. On September 17, the price was 15,091 CNY per ton, a decrease of 2.11% from September 8. The price of latex from Thailand has risen to 56.20 Thai baht per kilogram. Inventory in the Qingdao area has slightly decreased to 586,600 tons. Downstream tire production remains stable, and it is expected that the natural rubber market will fluctuate and rise later.

• Natural rubber market
• inventory decline
• tire production
• raw material prices at high levels

In September, the Chinese PP market showed a weak and fluctuating trend, with more price declines than increases. The support from raw material costs was weak, and the supply side saw an increase in available sources due to maintenance and new line commissioning, while demand, although improved, was slow to pick up. It is expected that in the short term, PP prices in China will remain in a stalemate.

• PP market: price fluctuations
• ample supply
• sluggish demand

From September 8 to 17, the styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) market remained weak and consolidating Prices in the East China region dropped from 12,210 CNY/ton to 11,950 CNY/ton, representing a price decrease of 213% Meanwhile, butadiene raw material prices declined, weakening cost support SBR facility utilization rates have fallen to around 73%, while tire demand remains stable—but buyers are increasingly reluctant to pay higher prices for supply sources

• Butadiene rubber
• Market trend
• Tire production
• Butadiene price

Recently (September 8–17), the styrene-butadiene rubber market experienced a slight decline, with prices dropping from 12,491 CNY/ton to 12,250 CNY/ton Meanwhile, the prices of key raw materials—butadiene and styrene—fell by 142% and 103%, respectively, weakening cost support Meanwhile, China’s SBR facility utilization rate remained steady at around 69%, while downstream tire production continued to operate at a generally stable pace, providing solid underlying demand support for the market

• Styrene-butadiene rubber market: prices decline
• raw material costs fall
• tire production remains steady.

Recent EVA market trends in China have continued to rise, with the benchmark price increasing to 11,200 CNY/ton, a price increase of 1.20%. Demand remains strong, with facility utilization rates at around 90%, but supply pressure is increasing. The price of raw material ethylene has remained stable, while the price of vinyl acetate has risen, strengthening cost support. It is expected that the EVA spot market will continue to rise slightly in the future.

• EVA market
• prices rising
• cost support
• demand-driven support

Recently, the dichloromethane market in Shandong, China, has been experiencing a loose supply and weak demand, with prices continuously falling to a nine-year low. Currently, companies are stabilizing prices by reducing production and increasing exports to alleviate supply pressure, leading to a bottoming out and stabilization of the market. In the short term, it is expected that prices will see a slight recovery, but the rebound will be limited.

• Methylene chloride market conditions: Supply tightening
• rising exports
• and prices trending moderately higher amid volatility.

This week, the market price of acrylic acid in China has slightly increased, with the benchmark price at 641667 CNY/ton, a 267% increase from the beginning of the month The capacity utilization rate on the supply side has slightly improved, but the availability of low-priced sources has decreased On the demand side, procurement is mainly driven by rigid demand, and the cost support has weakened Traders are actively supporting the market, but actual transactions are cautious

• Supply tightening
• prices steady with tentative upward moves
• rigid demand-driven procurement
• weakening cost support

Since September 8, the hydrogen peroxide market in China has shown signs of recovery, with prices rising from 690 CNY/ton to 713 CNY/ton, a price increase of 3.38%. The rise in prices is driven by tighter supply and increased terminal demand. However, it is expected that demand will weaken and supply will increase by the end of September, which may lead to a decline in prices.

• hydrogen peroxide market
• supply tightening
• price increase
• terminal demand improvement

September 16, the factory price of cyclohexanone in Shandong region was 7,087 CNY/ton, basically flat with September 1, and down 175 CNY/ton from August 1. The market trend is stable, with balanced supply and demand, and the cost of pure benzene fluctuating at a high level. In the short term, it is expected that the cyclohexanone market will maintain a steady operation.

• Cyclohexanone Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Analysis
• Cost Pressure

Recent lithium carbonate prices have been fluctuating downward, with oversupply being the main reason The expansion of lithium mines in Australia and the resumption of production at Chinese lithium salt plants have increased supply, while demand has shown a mixed performance, with energy storage demand becoming a highlight

• Lithium carbonate prices
• supply-demand contradiction
• CATL
• growing demand for energy storage

This Wednesday, the melamine market in China showed weak supply and demand, with prices under pressure and declining As of September 16, the benchmark price was 5,65000 CNY/ton, a decrease of 022% from the beginning of the month The decline in upstream urea prices has weakened cost support On the supply side, the capacity utilization rate is fluctuating at a high level, putting pressure on enterprise inventories

• Supply and demand both weak
• market sluggish
• prices declining
• weak demand

In the first eight months of 2025, China's cumulative production of bisphenol A reached 31541 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1201% The addition of new facilities, including Shandong Fuyu's 180,000 tons/year and Zhenhai Refining & Chemical's 240,000 tons/year, contributed to the growth in production The increased supply put pressure on prices, leading to losses in the third quarter

• Bisphenol A production
• capacity expansion
• price decline
• plant maintenance

Since September 11, the palm oil market in China has shown signs of recovery, with the average market price increasing from 9,354 CNY/ton to 9,400 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.49%. The decrease in Malaysian palm oil production has supported the external market, and with terminal demand improving, it is expected that the palm oil market will continue to rise.

• Palm Oil Market Update: Prices Rise
• Malaysian Palm Oil
• Demand Improves

Since September, the Chinese PTA market has slightly declined, with the average price in the East China region dropping to 4631 CNY per ton Cost support has weakened, and OPEC+ production increases have led to lower crude oil prices, resulting in a supply-demand situation where supply exceeds demand Although the peak season for downstream demand has arrived, there has been no significant increase in demand

• PTA prices
• cost support weakens
• supply surplus
• demand remains sluggish

In the first half of September, the Chinese ABS market continued to show weakness, with an average price of 9,962.50 CNY/ton, a decrease of 1.36% from the beginning of the month. Supply was ample, and inventory levels were high, with significant characteristics of a low-demand season. The upstream raw material market was weak, and cost support was insufficient. It is expected that ABS prices will continue to decline in the short term.

• ABS market: prices decline
• supply remains ample
• weak demand

From September 8 to 15, 2025, the Chinese toluene market remained relatively stable, with the benchmark price staying at 5,360 CNY per ton. In Shandong, downstream purchasing was quite active, and the main refineries slightly increased their quotes; the markets in East China and South China were steady. International crude oil futures prices saw a slight increase, while Sinopec's regional companies kept their toluene quotes stable.

• Toluene market: Prices stable
• demand subdued
• crude oil futures

This week, phthalic anhydride prices in China showed a slight rebound, with the price of o-xylene-based phthalic anhydride rising to 6,300 CNY/ton, a 272% increase On the cost side, the prices of ortho-xylene and industrial naphthalene have risen, driving up the cost of phthalic anhydride In terms of demand, DOP prices have stopped falling and started to rebound, and the operating rates of plasticizer enterprises have stabilized, providing continued support for phthalic anhydride demand

• Phthalic anhydride prices
• cost increases
• demand support
• market rebound