June 29th, News
I. Price Trends
According to the monitored data, as of May 26, the average price of industrial-grade premium cyclohexane in China was 7,416 CNY per ton. Currently, the cyclohexane market is mainly characterized by narrow fluctuations, with weak demand suppressing any upward trend.
II. Market Analysis
Supply side: Chinese supporting refining and chemical facilities, Luxi, Haili, and other plants are operating stably, with an overall operating rate of 62%-66%. There are no concentrated maintenance activities, and the spot circulation volume is sufficient. The supporting caprolactam units are also running smoothly, leading to an increase in the external supply of cyclohexane. The overall market supply is loose. Traders, who have previously built up high inventories, are eager to sell, mainly by offering discounts.
On the demand side: The core downstream products—cyclohexanone, adipic acid, and nylon chips—are driven by essential, rigid demand. There’s no concentrated restocking; instead, purchases remain small and made on an as-needed basis. Downstream sectors such as coatings and pharmaceutical solvents are in the off-season, with low operating rates and a slower pace of procurement. Downstream buyers are resistant to high-priced raw materials, and after prices have fallen, their wait-and-see attitude has intensified, with very little bottom-fishing or stockpiling taking place.
Market sentiment: This week saw a decline followed by stabilization. Traders focused mainly on inventory clearance, while downstream buyers waited for lower prices. Trading activity was light, with most transactions being small, essential orders and no large deals.
III. Future Market Forecast
The cyclohexane analyst believes that, given ample supply, a seasonal slowdown in demand, and no significant rebound in costs, cyclohexane prices will likely remain in a narrow trading range with a slight downward bias in the short term, lacking strong momentum for a substantial increase. If pure benzene stabilizes after stopping its decline, the spot price may continue to trade sideways within the current range of 6,000 to 6,900.
