ECHEMI Analysis

In February 2026, the dichloromethane market showed a pattern of rising in the first ten days and falling in the middle of the month As of February 12, the price of dichloromethane in Shandong region has decreased by 151% compared to the beginning of the month The cost support from liquid chlorine and methanol has weakened, and the reduction in supply is insufficient to offset the inventory accumulation

• Dichloromethane market: cost support weakens
• oversupply
• weak demand

As the Spring Festival holiday approaches, the asphalt market in China has entered a phase where there is price but no trading, with both supply and demand shrinking It is expected that after the holiday, the market will experience a moderate recovery, with opening prices increasing by 50-80 CNY per ton, and actual transaction prices following suit with an increase of 30-50 CNY per ton

• Asphalt Market
• Spring Festival Holiday
• Supply and Demand Analysis
• Price Forecast

After the Spring Festival, the acetone market is expected to rise, influenced by cost support and maintenance, but increased inventory and slow recovery in demand pose risks. In the past six years, prices have risen after the holiday. Currently, the price in East China has reached 4,650 CNY/ton, and the price increase in major markets across China is between 600-700 CNY/ton.

• Acetone Market
• Post-Holiday Trends
• Cost Support
• Supply-Demand Changes

Recently, the polyethylene market in China has been fluctuating and showing weakness, with light trading before the holiday. From February 5 to 10, the prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE fell by 1.81%, 2.06%, and 0.24%, respectively. There is a clear expectation of oversupply, and demand is weak due to the approaching Spring Festival, while cost support is unstable. In the short term, it is expected that polyethylene will continue to fluctuate within a narrow range.

• Polyethylene market
• prices decline
• oversupply
• seasonal low season

DMF market inventory remains high, but prices have stayed stable. Recently, the market has seen a balance between supply and demand, with no significant price fluctuations. It is expected that DMF prices will continue to hold their current levels in the short term.

• DMF inventory
• price trend
• high-level operation
• stable operation

This week, the melamine market in China showed a "mainly stable, slightly upward" trend, with the benchmark price at 573750 CNY/ton, up 110% from the beginning of the month The cost side is supported by the rise in urea prices, and the supply side is in balance On the demand side, downstream purchases are made as needed, and exports are stable

• Melamine Market
• Cost Support
• Supply-Demand Balance
• Outlook for the Future

On February 11, 2025, coking coal market prices remained stable, with an average price of 1,391 CNY per ton. Although molten iron production stayed at a high level, weak end-demand for steel products and accumulating inventories have prompted steel mills to adopt a conservative approach to raw material procurement. In the short term, coking coal prices are expected to fluctuate within a narrow range, tending toward weaker levels.

• Coke market: Prices remain stable
• weak demand
• high inventory levels.

In mid-February, the Chinese PC market remained firm, with spot prices showing mixed movements. The supply side was generally stable, with strong cost support from bisphenol A. Demand improved marginally, as pre-holiday stocking had largely concluded, and buyers were cautious. It is expected that the PC market will continue to maintain a firm trend after the Spring Festival.

• PC market
• prices remain firm
• Bisphenol A support
• pre-holiday market conditions

In early February, the Chinese ABS market experienced a fluctuating downward trend, with spot prices adjusted downward. The supply side maintained a tight balance, cost factors weakened, and demand did not show a significant increase. It is expected that the ABS market will enter a period of calm consolidation before the holiday.

• ABS market
• declining costs
• supply-demand balance
• calm pre-holiday market conditions

Recently, the price of lithium carbonate has fallen from its high The benchmark price for battery-grade lithium carbonate is 136,000 CNY per ton, a decrease of 286% compared to the previous period On the supply side, concerns have arisen due to increased imports and a decline in China's production On the demand side, the market has contracted as it enters the off-season during the Spring Festival holiday Panic in the futures market has further intensified the downward pressure on prices

• Lithium carbonate prices have fallen
• supply has increased
• demand is weak
• futures markets are experiencing disruption.

In January, influenced by the increase in raw material costs such as fluorspar and sulfuric acid, the market price of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride shifted upward, with the benchmark price reaching 13,033.33 CNY per ton, a 2.36% increase from the previous month. Downstream demand remained stable, but the purchasing enthusiasm in the refrigerant industry was low. It is expected that the market will operate steadily with a slightly stronger trend in the later period.

• Market prices
• raw material costs
• stable demand
• future market forecast

From February 2 to 9, 2026, the Chinese toluene market saw a slight decline, with prices falling from 5,560 CNY/ton to 5,410 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.7%. International crude oil prices fell, weakening cost support; the supply situation varied by region, with a tight balance in Shandong pushing up prices, while an increase in later supply in Guangdong put pressure on prices. Sinopec's quotations in various regions remained stable between 5,350 and 5,500 CNY/ton.

• Toluene market: Supply is ample
• cost support weakens
• prices decline.

From February 2 to 9, 2026, the butadiene market in China slightly decreased, with prices falling from 10,400 CNY/ton to 10,033.33 CNY/ton. The price decline was due to weaker cost support, ample supply, and weakening demand. It is expected that the market will remain weak and fluctuate in the short term, and attention should be paid to crude oil prices and expectations for resumption of work after the holiday.

• Butadiene market
• price reduction
• cost support weakening
• demand weakening

This week, the price of propylene oxide in China significantly declined due to the restart of major plants and the release of new production capacity. As of February 6, the price dropped to 7,800 CNY per ton. Despite a slight increase in the price of propylene, which supported costs, weak demand from downstream sectors led to a sluggish market. It is expected that prices will remain weak and stable in the short term.

• Propylene oxide prices
• increased market supply
• weak demand
• raw material cost support

This week, the price of epichlorohydrin in China has declined, mainly due to the resumption of factory supply and weak demand from downstream. As of February 6th, the benchmark price of epichlorohydrin was 12,300 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.38% from the beginning of the month. The cost support for raw materials is strong, but the market trading atmosphere is cold, and it is expected that the price will remain weak and consolidate in the future.

• epichlorohydrin
• market prices declining
• changes in supply and demand dynamics
• raw material price support

Recently, the Chinese formic acid market has been stable with an upward trend As of February 9th, the benchmark price for 85% formic acid was 2,440 CNY/ton, an increase of 383% from last week The supply side is affected by plant maintenance and production capacity, with medium to low inventory levels supporting the price increase On the demand side, domestic rigid demand in China is weak, but exports to ports provide some support

• Formic acid market: A tug-of-war between supply and demand
• prices remain stable with a slight upward trend
• inventory provides support.

As of February 10, 2025, the price of n-butanol in Shandong, China, has fallen to 6316 CNY/ton, a decrease of 5.20% from early February. Sufficient supply and weakened downstream demand have led to a continued downward trend in the market, and it is expected to remain weak in the short term. Future developments will depend on the progress of resuming work and production after the holiday and the price trend of the raw material propylene.

• Butanol market conditions: prices are falling
• supply is ample
• demand is weakening.

On February 10, the isopropanol market remained stable with an average price of 5650 CNY/ton. As the Spring Festival holiday approaches, downstream factories are gradually shutting down, leading to light market transactions. It is expected that the market will maintain a stable trend in the short term, and actual transaction prices need to be negotiated individually.

• Isopropyl alcohol
• market conditions
• Spring Festival holiday
• trading atmosphere

From February 2 to 9, the price of methanol in the East China port market fell to 2,220 CNY/ton, a decrease of 0.15%. The closing price of methanol futures at the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange slightly increased by 0.04%. As the Spring Festival approaches, market demand is weak, and the supply side is bearish. It is expected that the market will mainly consolidate and fluctuate in the future.

• Methanol Market
• Market Analysis
• Impact of the Spring Festival
• Futures Prices

In early February, the palm oil market in China fluctuated and declined, with the average market price dropping from 9,196 CNY/ton to 9,002 CNY/ton, a decrease of 2.11%. Although the Malaysian palm oil data was bullish, weak demand in China limited the supportive effect. It is expected that palm oil will continue to operate weakly in the future.

• Palm oil market conditions: prices are falling
• weak demand
• inventory pressure