December China Soda Ash Market Fluctuates

December 31st News

I. Price Trends

According to the commodity analysis system, the price trend of soda ash in December first increased and then decreased. At the beginning of the month, the average market price of light soda ash was 1252 CNY/ton, and by the end of the month, the average market price was around 1250 CNY/ton. The overall price within the month decreased by 2 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 0.16%.

II. Market Analysis

According to the commodity analysis system, the soda ash market in November experienced fluctuating conditions. In terms of supply, the plant load of some enterprises decreased, leading to a slight reduction in output for the month. The total inventory of soda ash manufacturers decreased, and most companies maintained firm quotations. From the demand perspective, the glass market showed a weak downward trend, resulting in continued weak demand for soda ash. The trading atmosphere for soda ash was sluggish, and the market sentiment was bearish, leading to a slight decline in soda ash prices during the month.

As of December 31, 2025, the mainstream market price of light soda ash in East China was around 1,140-1,600 CNY/ton, a decrease of 40 CNY/ton from the previous month; in Central China, the mainstream price of light soda ash was around 1,140-1,220 CNY/ton, an increase of 30 CNY/ton; in North China, the mainstream price of light soda ash was around 1,250-1,280 CNY/ton, an increase of 10 CNY/ton.

On the demand side: According to the commodity analysis system, glass prices continued to decline this month. The average market price of glass dropped from 13.88 yuan per square meter to 12.75 yuan per square meter, representing an overall price decrease of 8.14%. During the month, glass production activity remained relatively stable, downstream orders were moderate, and overall shipments remained sluggish. As a result, corporate inventories continued to build up, with limited progress in destocking. Consequently, glass prices continued to weaken and declined.

Future Market Forecast: On the supply side, soda ash units undergoing maintenance are resuming operations, and the operating rate is expected to rise, putting upward pressure on supply. Downstream consumers are primarily drawing down existing inventories, providing only moderate support for soda ash prices. In the short term, the market situation—where supply exceeds demand—is unlikely to improve. We expect the soda ash market to remain weak and consolidate in the near future, with the specific outlook depending on how downstream demand evolves.