Policy & Regulation

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

Over the past 72 hours, the security situation in key Middle Eastern maritime corridors — the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea — has deteriorated again.

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

This week, the melamine market in China was affected by the geopolitical events in the Strait of Hormuz and the demand for spring plowing, causing the price to rise rapidly to 6150 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 4.05%. The cost transmission chain and tight supply and demand supported the high price fluctuation. In the short term, it is expected to maintain a range of 6100-6400 CNY/ton, and in the medium term, it may fall back to 5800-6100 CNY/ton.

• Melamine
• Geopolitics
• Rising Costs
• Supply-Demand Relationship

In February 2026, the market price of cyclohexanone in Shandong, China, rose steadily from 6900 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 7250 CNY/ton at the end of the month, with a price increase of 507% The main reasons for the price increase were strong cost support, improved supply and demand dynamics, and a boost in market sentiment In the short term, prices are expected to remain high, but there is a need to be cautious about potential downward pressure

• Cyclohexanone prices
• improving supply and demand
• cost support
• boosted market sentiment

FDA loosens “no artificial colors” claims while green-lighting new natural dyes—sparking a fierce debate over what “clean” really means.

FDA reopens BHA safety review, signaling a global shift toward tighter oversight of legacy food additives.

In February 2026, the toluene prices in China fell from 5,540 CNY/ton to 5,400 CNY/ton, a cumulative decrease of 2.53%. The cost side was initially strong but then weakened, with weak demand, especially due to the delayed resumption of work after the holiday, which dragged down the prices. It is expected that the market will be slightly stronger in March, but attention needs to be paid to geopolitical conflicts and the resumption of downstream operations.

• Toluene market
• changes in cost support
• weak demand
• impact of crude oil price fluctuations

In February, the Shandong n-butanol market experienced a significant price drop due to weak demand and ample supply, with prices falling by 9.45% and reaching a low of 6,000–6,050 CNY per ton. Since the Spring Festival, the market has shown no signs of a noticeable recovery, and prices are expected to fluctuate within the range of 6,000–6,100 CNY per ton in the short term.

• Supply and demand are loose
• n-butanol prices are falling
• demand support is insufficient
• supply is abundant.

In February 2026, the epoxy resins industry updates included the environmental impact assessment announcement for Jiangxi Qingzhu Electronics' 150,000-ton project, Inov's capacity expansion, and the approval of a 320,000-ton project in Maoming. Anhui Hengxing New Materials' maintenance affected short-term supply. Saudi Arabia initiated an anti-dumping investigation on epoxy resins from China, and the EU updated its SVHC list, adding BPAF, which impacted the compliance costs for exports.

• Epoxy resins
• capacity expansion
• international trade
• policy updates

From February 23 to 28, the price of Chinese polymeric MDI increased by 286% to 14,400 CNY/ton Companies such as BASF and Covestro raised their MDI prices, and major Chinese manufacturers also increased their March quotations, leading to a follow-up increase by traders The supply is normal, and the cost of pure benzene fluctuates, with aniline prices rising by 339% Demand is entering the market as needed, and the market is gradually recovering

• Polymeric MDI
• market price
• supply side
• demand side

In February, the DOP price in China fluctuated and fell by 3.95% to 7,700.84 CNY/ton, mainly due to the decline in the prices of raw materials such as 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride, leading to a reduction in costs. At the same time, the operating rate of enterprises dropped to 57-60%, with weak demand. It is expected that the DOP price will remain weak and consolidate in the future.

• DOP prices have fallen
• plasticizer costs have decreased
• both supply and demand have declined
• isooctanol prices have dropped.

In February 2026, the butadiene market in China fluctuated downward, with prices falling from 10,533.33 CNY/ton to 10,026.67 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 4.81%. Affected by supply and demand dynamics, cost fluctuations, and geopolitical factors, the supply side tended to be more relaxed, while demand was weak. It is expected that the market in March will remain weak and stable with slight warming.

• Butadiene market
• supply and demand game
• cost fluctuation
• weak oscillation

This week, the market price of Aniline in China continued to rise, from 8,845 CNY/ton on February 23 to 9,145 CNY/ton on February 28, with a price increase of 3.39%. The rise in prices was driven by an increase in domestic demand and export orders, with inventories falling to low levels. The fluctuation in the price of pure benzene, a cost factor, affected the spot price. It is expected that the Aniline market in China will continue to operate at high levels in the short term.

• Aniline market: prices rise
• demand increases
• cost impacts

In February, the price of activated carbon rose from 12,883 CNY/ton to 12,933 CNY/ton, representing a price increase of 0.39%. Demand for coconut-shell activated carbon remains strong; however, starting in 2026, adjustments to global shipping policies will lead to higher costs and compliance challenges. It is expected that, in the short term, activated carbon prices will remain at high levels, fluctuating with a generally bullish trend.

• Activated carbon prices
• coconut shell activated carbon
• market demand
• policy changes

In February, the adipic acid market in China fluctuated and rose At the beginning of the month, the average market price was 8,066 CNY/ton, and by the end of the month, it had increased to 8,300 CNY/ton, a price increase of about 289% Affected by the prices of crude oil and raw materials, and driven by pre-holiday stockpiling, prices rose significantly in the early period; after the holiday, demand declined, and prices adjusted downward

• Adipic acid market conditions: prices rising
• crude oil market conditions
• terminal demand

In February, the Chinese soda ash market trended downward weakly. The price of light soda ash decreased from 1,208 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month to 1,188 CNY/ton at the end of the month, a decrease of 1.66%. With ample supply and weak demand, the operating rate in the glass industry declined, providing insufficient support for soda ash. It is expected that the soda ash market will remain weak in the short term, but some companies' maintenance in March may provide price support.

• Soda ash price
• market supply and demand
• glass industry
• future market forecast

In February, the price of petcoke from local refineries in China first fell and then rose, with an overall slight increase of 0.52%. International crude oil prices fluctuated and increased, supporting the cost side. After the holiday, the supply side saw good shipments, while on the demand side, although the prices of metallurgical silicon and aluminum fell, the demand for petcoke still existed. It is expected that the price of petcoke may slightly increase in the near future.

• Petroleum coke from local refineries
• market analysis
• cost factors
• demand side

In February, the palm oil market weakened, with prices oscillating downward, decreasing by more than 5%. Palm oil production and export volume in Malaysia both decreased, but demand picked up somewhat due to stockpiling for the Chinese New Year. The support from the futures market was limited. It is expected that with the increase in end-user demand for oils in March, the palm oil market may rise.

• Palm oil market
• Supply changes
• Futures impact
• Demand analysis