Policy & Regulation

The SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) market in China has significantly declined, with prices falling from about 18,000 CNY/ton in April-May to 15,200 CNY/ton, a decrease of over 15%. The weakening raw material prices and weak demand have dragged down the market. In the short term, the market is expected to remain in a range-bound fluctuation, while there may be a slight rebound in the medium to long term.

• Styrene-butadiene rubber market
• price decline
• supply and demand relationship
• future market forecast

On May 26, the price of 2-ethylhexanol was 8,033.33 CNY/ton, a decrease of 8.71% from the beginning of the month. The cost support from propylene has weakened, and the demand for downstream DOP is weak. However, the operating load of 2-ethylhexanol has dropped to 70%, leading to a supply contraction, and the short-term price is expected to stabilize. In the long term, the imbalance between supply and demand is expected to intensify, leading to a further decline in prices.

• Isodecanol price
• supply tightening
• weak demand
• weakening cost support

In late May, the average market price of adipic acid in China decreased from 9,233 CNY/ton to 9,133 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 1.08%. The supply side saw a reduction due to concentrated maintenance, but the demand side entered the off-season, leading to weak purchasing power and reduced cost support. It is expected that at the beginning of June, the adipic acid market in China will weaken, with prices ranging between 9,000 and 9,300 CNY/ton.

• Adipic acid market
• demand decline
• supply tightening
• cost support weakening

FDA’s reminder makes API and excipient supplier quality a key issue for compounders.

Recently, the Chinese formic acid market first increased and then stabilized. The price of 85% industrial-grade formic acid is 2600 CNY/ton, remaining unchanged from the previous period and up 4% year-on-year. The price increase was due to supply-side maintenance, but weak demand kept the prices stable. In the short term, the market will remain stable, with future trends depending on the recovery of demand and changes in supply.

• Formic acid price
• market supply and demand
• plant maintenance
• weak demand

This week, the average market price of acetic acid in China was 3,093.33 CNY/ton, a slight increase of 10 CNY/ton. The price of raw material methanol was high and fluctuating, with supply-side support being acceptable, but weak demand. The acetic acid market was consolidating. The price of downstream acetic anhydride fell, and market demand was insufficient. It is expected that the acetic acid market will stabilize and consolidate in the short term.

• Acetic acid market
• methanol prices
• acetic anhydride trends
• market supply and demand dynamics

As of May 24, the price of ethyl acetate has dropped to 6,066.67 CNY per ton, a decrease of 2.93% from May 18. With ample supply and weak demand, cost support is relatively weak, and the market trading atmosphere is poor. It is expected that the market will continue to operate in a weak trend.

• Ethyl acetate prices
• market supply
• insufficient demand
• weak cost support

On May 25, international oil prices plunged by more than 7% in a single day, driven by market optimism that the US and Iran would reach a peace agreement and that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would resume Although both sides downplayed expectations of a breakthrough and emphasized that there would still be a lag before actual supply resumed, the fading of geopolitical risk premiums directly triggered a sharp correction in oil prices

• U.S.-Iran peace talks
• oil prices plummet
• geopolitical risk premium
• supply-and-demand dynamics

UK glyphosate restrictions could tighten as pesticide rules become part of EU trade alignment.

FDA’s BHT and ADA review moves food additives into a new phase of post-market compliance.

The Syngenta protest shows crop protection giants face rising pressure over pollinator risk.

This week, the supply of acrylonitrile in the Chinese market increased temporarily, leading to a slight decline in prices Jilin Petrochemical and Zhejiang Petrochemical have increased their load to 90%, raising the industry's capacity utilization rate to 7211% On the demand side, the capacity utilization rates of ABS and acrylic fiber enterprises have grown slightly, but overall demand remains weak

• Acrylonitrile market: increasing supply
• weak demand
• cost pressure

From May 15 to 22, the price of polyethylene fell by 0.65%-1.62%. The support from supply-side maintenance has weakened, leading to a generally looser market; the demand side is clearly in the off-season, with procurement mainly driven by rigid demand. High oil prices provide bottom support, limiting the space for a significant price drop. It is expected that the price of polyethylene will maintain a weak and volatile pattern.

• Polyethylene Market
• Supply-Demand Relationship
• Cost Support
• Oil Price Impact

In May 2026, the natural rubber market in China was strong at first but then weakened, showing high volatility. After rising to 18,000 CNY/ton at the beginning of the month, it fell back. As of May 22, the price was 17,500 CNY/ton. The supply side fluctuated due to weather conditions, and the demand side was weak due to the off-season. It is expected that the market will maintain a weak and volatile trend in the short term, with support at 17,000 CNY/ton.

• Natural rubber market
• price fluctuations
• increasing supply
• weak demand

This week, the polyester bottle chip market in China was initially stable but then weakened Spot prices in East China fell from 8,900 CNY/ton to 8,680 CNY/ton, with futures also weakening The pullback in crude oil prices dragged down costs, and downstream buyers were cautious, leading to a decrease in factories' willingness to hold prices firm Overall, prices have retreated from their highs

• Polyester bottle flakes
• cost correction
• high-level fluctuations
• demand-driven transactions

This week, the caustic soda prices in China were generally stable with a slight decrease. The average market price dropped from 624 CNY/ton to 620 CNY/ton, a decrease of 0.64%, and a year-on-year decline of 28.82%. Prices in Shandong, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia regions remained stable or were in a consolidation phase. Due to the off-season for downstream demand and high inventory pressure on enterprises, it is expected that the market will continue to consolidate in the future.

• Caustic soda price
• market conditions
• supply and demand situation
• chlor-alkali index

From May 15 to 22, 2026, the toluene market price in China increased slightly by 1.54%, with prices in Shandong region rising from 6,931 CNY/ton to 7,037.67 CNY/ton. The market was dominated by a recovery in cost, stable supply, and rigid demand procurement. Demand was weak but exports were acceptable. It is expected that the market will continue to show a narrow and relatively strong fluctuation.

• Toluene Market
• Cost Support
• Supply-Demand Dynamics
• Oil Price Impact

This week, the epichlorohydrin market in China experienced a narrow fluctuation with weak trading. The price decreased slightly by 10.39%, as the price of raw material propylene fell and the supply remained stable, with weak demand. It is expected that the market will continue to maintain a weak consolidation pattern in the short term, with limited price fluctuations.

• epoxy propane market
• narrow range fluctuation
• weak transactions
• supply and demand game

This week, the market price of Aniline in China decreased from 11,462 CNY/ton to 11,062 CNY/ton, a decline of 3.49% within the week. The weak downward adjustment of benzene prices has led to insufficient market confidence. It is expected that in the short term, the Aniline market in China will mainly focus on consolidation.

• Aniline prices declined
• the pure benzene market remains weak
• market demand has eased
• cost factors provide support.

This week, the price of activated carbon remained stable, with no changes in the prices of coconut shell activated carbon and columnar coal-based activated carbon. The cost pressure on imported carbonized materials has eased, but the inventory volume is large, which may lead to a weak and volatile trend in the price of activated carbon in the short term.

• Activated carbon prices
• market stability
• large inventory volume
• weak and fluctuating trend