February China Soda Ash Market Trend Weakens

February 28 news

1. Price Trend

According to the commodity analysis system, the price of soda ash fell in February. At the beginning of the month, the average market price of light soda ash was 1,208 CNY per ton, and by the end of the month, it was around 1,188 CNY per ton. The price decreased by 20 CNY per ton, a 1.66% decrease.

II. Market Analysis

According to the commodity analysis system, the soda ash market in February showed a weak downward trend. In terms of supply, the facility utilization rate for soda ash remained largely unchanged, still operating at a high level, with ample market supply. The inventory pressure on enterprises was significant, and before the holiday, to promote sales, the price of soda ash was lowered. From the demand side, the glass industry saw production lines undergoing cold repairs, with some reduction in operations, and companies mainly consumed their inventories, providing weak support for soda ash. The market showed weakness in both supply and demand, and the price of soda ash continued to decline within the month.

As of February 28, 2026, the mainstream market price for light soda ash in the East China region is around 1,120-1,560 CNY/ton, in the Central China region it is around 1,100-1,200 CNY/ton, and in the North China region, it is around 1,200-1,270 CNY/ton.

On the demand side: According to the commodity analysis system, glass prices have shown a relatively strong trend this month. The average market price of glass has risen from 13.10 yuan per square meter to 13.38 yuan per square meter, representing an overall price increase of 2.14%. During the month, some glass production lines underwent cold repairs, leading to a decline in the industry's operating rate. Downstream buyers have been following demand closely, resulting in a reasonably active trading atmosphere. Companies remain optimistic and are raising prices slightly within a narrow range.

Future Market Outlook: Currently, the operating rate of soda ash production remains relatively high, putting significant pressure on market inventories. Downstream industries are not yet operating at full capacity, providing limited support for soda ash prices. In the short term, the soda ash market is expected to continue trending weakly. In March, some enterprises have scheduled maintenance plans, which may provide some upward momentum from a psychological perspective. Overall, the soda ash market is forecast to fluctuate and consolidate in the near term, with the specific trend depending on how downstream industries respond.