The Import Volume of Phenol Decreased by 26.43%

From 2017 to 2021, the annual average growth rate of China's phenol import volume was 9.33%. From 2017 to 2020, the import volume of China's phenol increased year by year, especially in 2020, with the import volume reaching 709,900 tons, a record high. In 2021, the rational regression was achieved, with the total import volume reaching 522,300 tons.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, China's phenol production capacity increased by 710,000 tons, and the 2021 annual production capacity was released. While the voice of domestic goods was enhanced, importers tended to be rational in the operation of imported goods, mainly operating in the contract mode. In addition, under the situation of shortage of supply in Europe and the United States, the export of foreign phenol sources is inclined to Europe and the United States. Therefore, China's phenol import volume in 2021 is 187,600 tons less than that in 2020, with a year-on-year decrease of 26.43%.

In 2021, the average monthly import of phenol in China was 43,500 tons. The import volume of phenol decreased sharply in February. On the one hand, it was related to the delayed arrival of imported cargoes, among which the delayed cargoes of Saudi Arabia alone amounted to 18,000 tons. On the one hand, the supply of domestic trade vessels increased; In addition, average import price growth, supply cuts in Europe and the United States and domestic demand in the market in the process of buying weakened and so on. In March, the delayed cargoes arrived at the port one after another for replenishment. Together with the regular supply of the contract, the import volume surged to 63,000 tons, which was the highest import volume in the year.

In the second half of the year, the import of phenol decreased significantly, and the main contract supply was dominated. There was a supply gap in Europe and The United States, and some foreign sources of supply were transferred to Europe and the United States, so that China's import of phenol was significantly lower than that in 2020. In addition, there are many delays in the arrival of cargo, so the monthly import volume is variable, hovering around 30,000 to 40,000 tons.