ECHEMI Analysis

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

This week, Yulong Petrochemical's new 130,000 tons/year acrylonitrile unit is being commissioned, leading to an increase in supply and a market decline. Prices in the East China ports and Shandong have fallen by 100 CNY/ton and 400 CNY/ton, respectively. Although demand has increased, the approaching Spring Festival has weakened buying interest. It is expected that the market will narrow and decline in the short term.

• Acrylonitrile Market: Increased Supply
• Changing Demand
• Rising Costs

This week, the Chinese PVC market price first increased and then decreased, with the calcium carbide method SG-5 weekly price increasing by 1.10%. Futures led the spot prices to rise, but the weak fundamentals caused a decline by the end of the week. The cost of calcium carbide provided support, and inventory levels were at a medium-high level. Next week, supply is expected to increase moderately, and demand will enter the off-season, leading to a narrow range of price fluctuations.

• PVC Market
• Price Trends
• Supply-Demand Analysis
• Future Market Forecast

This week, the price of polyester bottle chips first plummeted and then stabilized, with futures leading the decline and spot prices showing more resilience Costs have fallen, supply has slightly increased, and demand is mainly driven by essential needs As of February 6th, the average spot price in East China was 6,285 CNY/ton In the short term, it is expected to fluctuate within the range of 6,050-6,300 CNY/ton, with attention on crude oil, raw materials, and pre-holiday inventory

• Polyester bottle chips
• futures lead the decline
• spot prices resist falling
• costs retreat

In early February 2026, the Chinese dichloromethane market saw a price rebound driven by high costs and reduced supply The average price in Shandong reached 1,860 CNY/ton, an increase of 234% from the beginning of the month High liquid chlorine prices led to production losses, prompting companies to reduce operations to alleviate supply pressure Pre-holiday restocking provided some support, but demand growth was limited

• Dichloromethane market
• cost support
• supply contraction
• price increase

This week, the pure benzene market price in Shandong region of China fluctuated slightly, increasing from 6186.67 CNY/ton to 6196.67 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.16%. The decline in international crude oil futures affected market sentiment negatively, but Sinopec raised its price by 200 CNY/ton. In the short term, it is expected that the pure benzene market will continue to fluctuate.

• Pure benzene market
• price fluctuations
• crude oil futures
• chemical industry sector

This week, the caustic soda price showed a weak trend, with the market average price falling from 628 CNY/ton to 622 CNY/ton, a decrease of 0.96%, and a year-on-year decline of 38.72%. The supply was loose, and the inventory clearance of enterprises in China was not obvious. Downstream demand was purchasing according to needs, and it is expected that the caustic soda will continue to maintain a weak consolidation in the later period.

• Caustic soda prices
• market conditions
• chemical industry index
• supply-demand relationship

This week, the TDI market in East China slightly increased, with the average price rising from 14,333 CNY/ton to 14,500 CNY/ton, a price increase of 1.16%. BASF raised prices by 200 US dollars/ton in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding mainland China) and the MEAF region. The unstable operation of some facilities supported market confidence. With the approaching Spring Festival holiday, it is expected that the market will maintain a stalemate and consolidation in the short term.

• TDI market
• price hikes driven by supply support
• impact of the Spring Festival holiday

This week, the market for anhydrous hydrogen fluoride in China remained stable, with the price of hydrofluoric acid increasing by 0.26% to 13,066.67 CNY per ton compared to last month. The price of raw material fluorspar has risen slightly by 0.18%, providing some cost support. However, due to weak demand downstream, it is expected that the market price will fluctuate and consolidate before the holiday.

• Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
• stable market
• fluorite prices
• weak demand

This week, the Chinese titanium dioxide market operated steadily, with the average price of sulfate-process rutile titanium dioxide at 13,900 CNY per ton. The terminal market demand performance was poor, and shipments were average. Enterprises faced significant cost pressure, and although quotations remained firm, there was a clear wait-and-see attitude from downstream customers. It is expected that the market will mainly maintain a firm operation in the short term.

• titanium dioxide market
• price trend
• market analysis
• future forecast

On February 6, the average reference price of phosphoric acid in China was 6,900 CNY per ton, an increase of 0.15% from the beginning of the month. The price of yellow phosphorus has risen, and cost support has strengthened, with a balanced market supply and demand and stable transactions. It is expected that the phosphoric acid market will operate with a stronger trend in the short term.

• Phosphoric acid prices
• market analysis
• chemical raw materials
• yellow phosphorus market conditions

From February 2 to 6, the spot price of China’s polymeric MDI fell weakly, with a weekly price decrease of 091% and a year-on-year decline of 2493% Market trading was sluggish, supply remained ample, and demand entered the market only as needed BASF’s 650,000-ton-per-year MDI plant in Belgium is operating at low load The price of pure benzene has been fluctuating and rising, and downstream demand is temporarily affected by costs and supply conditions

• Polymerized MDI
• market prices decline
• supply is ample
• demand decreases

This week (21-26), the price of acetic acid in China continued to decline, with the average price dropping from 2,830 CNY/ton to 2,75333 CNY/ton, a decrease of 271% The supply side showed an increased intention to ship goods, but the downstream stocking sentiment was low, resulting in a poor market trading atmosphere The price of raw material methanol fluctuated weakly, reducing the cost pressure

• Acetic acid market
• price decline
• methanol impact
• acetic anhydride trends

This week, the price of activated carbon increased from 12,883 CNY/ton to 12,933 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.39%. The price of coconut shell activated carbon has risen due to raw material shortages and increased import costs, and it is expected to maintain a high and volatile trend in the short term.

• activated carbon price
• coconut shell activated carbon
• tight raw material supply
• high-level fluctuation trend

This week, the isopropyl alcohol market price in China first increased and then decreased, with an overall decline of 145% The average price at the beginning of the week was 5750 CNY/ton, dropping to 566666 CNY/ton by the end of the week The decrease in the price of raw material acetone led to weaker cost support, and coupled with weak terminal demand and insufficient market confidence, suppliers were more willing to sell, while downstream buyers were cautious in their purchases

• Isopropanol market
• prices first increased then decreased
• demand was weak
• cost support weakened.

From February 2 to 6, the price of BDO in China remained at 7,357 CNY per ton With supply increasing and demand weakening, the supply-demand contradiction has intensified On the cost side, the situation is mixed, as rising calcium carbide prices and volatile methanol prices have both positive and negative impacts As the Spring Festival holiday approaches, downstream demand is declining, and market sentiment is leaning bearish

• BDO market
• supply-demand contradiction
• cost-side impacts
• impact of the Spring Festival holiday

From February 2 to 6, the price of ethanol in China increased to 54,113 CNY/ton, with a weekly price increase of 0.19%, driven by favorable factors on both the cost and demand sides. The supply in the northeastern region decreased, while downstream and intermediary buyers were actively stocking up, leading to good market transactions. It is expected that the ethanol market will mainly focus on consolidation and observation in the short term.

• Ethanol market
• price increase
• cost support
• reduced supply

From February 2 to 6, the price of MTBE fluctuated from 4,883 CNY/ton to 4,903 CNY/ton, with a price increase of 0.41%. The market first declined and then rose, influenced by crude oil prices and pre-holiday inventory replenishment demand. International oil price fluctuations supported the MTBE market, and favorable supply conditions suggest that there is room for further price increases in the future.

• MTBE market
• price fluctuations
• crude oil impact
• supply-demand relationship

Recently, the prices of polyethylene have been operating weakly. The average prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE have decreased by 1.52%, 1.65%, and 0.77% respectively. With limited cost support, the expectation of increased supply, and the demand slowdown due to the Spring Festival holiday, the market is experiencing a dual weakness in supply and demand. Prices are expected to continue in a weak and fluctuating trend.

• Polyethylene
• prices decline
• both supply and demand are weak
• cost support is limited.

This week, the price of phthalic anhydride fluctuated and decreased, with the quotation on February 5th at 6,19333 CNY/ton, a price decrease of 143% In terms of costs, while the price of ortho-xylene stabilized, the price of industrial naphthalene fell, leading to a reduction in the cost of phthalic anhydride On the supply side, the operating rate of enterprises dropped to 61%, resulting in reduced production and a tightening of supply

• Phthalic anhydride price
• cost reduction
• supply contraction
• DOP price