ECHEMI Analysis

This week, the polyester bottle chip market in China showed a fluctuating upward trend, with prices rising from 8,450-8,550 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 8,600-8,750 CNY/ton by the end of the week The main driving factors were strong support from the cost side (high and volatile crude oil prices, PTA maintenance) and tight supply, but weak demand limited transactions

• Polyester bottle flakes
• price fluctuations
• cost support
• tight spot supply

In the first half of April, the Chinese dichloromethane market showed a trend of rising and then falling due to increased costs and weak demand. As of April 17, the price of dichloromethane in Shandong region had decreased by 6.2% compared to the beginning of the month. It is expected that the market will mainly undergo high-level fluctuations with limited room for both increases and decreases.

• Cost-driven increase
• weak demand
• volatile consolidation
• inventory pressure

This week, the pure benzene market price in Shandong region of China increased from 8,436.67 CNY/ton to 8,626.67 CNY/ton, a price increase of 2.25%. International crude oil futures closed higher, supporting market confidence in pure benzene. In the short term, the pure benzene market in China is expected to operate with a strong and volatile trend, and it is necessary to pay attention to the trends of crude oil, foreign markets, and changes in demand.

• Pure benzene price
• market analysis
• crude oil futures
• chemical raw materials

This week, the caustic soda price in China showed a weak trend At the beginning of the week, the average market price was 738 CNY/ton, and by the end of the week, it had dropped to 724 CNY/ton, a decrease of 19% The quoted prices in Shandong, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia were 650-760 CNY/ton, 1000-1050 CNY/ton, and 2200-2300 CNY/ton (converted to 100%), respectively Although supply has increased, inventory clearance is not significant

• Caustic soda prices
• market analysis
• inventory pressure
• downstream demand

This week, the styrene market in China showed a weak fluctuation trend, with prices slightly decreasing from 10,140 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 10,120 CNY/ton by the end of the week, resulting in an overall price decrease of 0.2%.

• Styrene Market
• Price Decline
• Chemical Products
• Market Analysis

This week, the price of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride remained high and stable, with the benchmark price of hydrofluoric acid at 15,100 CNY per ton, up 2.95% from the beginning of the month. The prices of raw materials, sulfuric acid and fluorspar, remained high and stable, with the price of sulfuric acid increasing by 32.91%. Downstream refrigerants have entered the peak production season, with good demand but cautious purchasing, resulting in average market transaction volumes.

• hydrofluoric acid
• prices remain high and stable
• supported by raw material costs
• downstream demand is steady

The propylene oxide market in China shows a differentiated pattern of short-term low, medium-term medium-high, and long-term high. In the short term, the upward momentum has weakened, and prices have entered a phase of high-level fluctuation with a weaker trend; in the medium term, the trend remains strong, but the upward momentum is exhausted; in the long term, prices are at a high level compared to the past year, with limited room for rebound.

• Propylene oxide
• market price
• short-term low
• medium-to-high in the medium to long term

This week, the market price of Aniline in China rose slightly from 11,362 CNY/ton to 11,662 CNY/ton, a price increase of 2.64%. The market trading was stable, with good inventory reduction, and the supply and demand sides supported the price increase. The price range of benzene fluctuated, and it is expected that Aniline will maintain a high-level consolidation in the future.

• Aniline Market: Price Increase
• Changes in Supply and Demand
• Cost Analysis

This week, the butanol market in Shandong, China, has been operating weakly, with prices falling from 8,666 CNY/ton to 8,600 CNY/ton, a decrease of 0.77%. The cost of propylene, a key input, has dropped, leading to a weakening of cost support. Market demand is moderate. It is expected that the market will remain weak and volatile in the short term, with a risk of further declines.

• Butanol prices have fallen
• cost support has weakened
• market transactions are moderate
• the market is operating weakly.

This week, the price of sodium metabisulfite in China rose by 0.85%, with industrial-grade products increasing from 3,916 CNY/ton at the beginning of the week to 3,950 CNY/ton by the end of the week. The rise in raw material costs and tight supply have driven the price increase. It is expected that prices will remain volatile but slightly stronger in the short term. Technical analysis shows that although the current trend is upward, the room for further increases is limited.

• Sodium metabisulfite
• price increase
• cost increase
• tight market supply

Recently, the prices of polyethylene have fallen, with the average prices of LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE decreasing by 4.21%, 2.37%, and 1.54% respectively. The decline in international crude oil prices has weakened cost support. On the supply side, spring inspections and import disruptions have occurred, while on the demand side, the market is weak. Overall, the market shows a volatile and weak trend.

• Polyethylene prices
• market volatility
• weak demand
• impact of crude oil prices

This week, the market for maleic anhydride in China saw a significant decline, with the average market price reaching 8,050 CNY/ton as of April 16, a decrease of 8.13% from last week. Both the supply and demand sides showed weakness, and the prices of upstream raw materials fluctuated downward. In the short term, the price of maleic anhydride may remain in a high-level fluctuation, and attention should be paid to plant maintenance, raw material prices, and changes in downstream demand.

• Maleic anhydride market conditions
• cost support
• market volatility
• downstream demand

In the first half of April, China's PC market experienced high volatility, with prices for some grades falling After adjustments, the supply end load increased to 87%, but subsequent maintenance plans may lead to a supply contraction The decline in bisphenol A prices has weakened cost support Demand remains cautious, with transactions mainly in small volumes It is expected that in the short term, the PC market may continue to adjust due to upstream influences

• PC Market
• Price Trends
• Cost Analysis
• Future Market Forecast

In the first half of April, the TDI market in East China experienced a rise followed by a decline, with the average price slightly falling to 20,100 CNY/ton. High prices have suppressed downstream demand, leading to a looser market for transactions. Supply in China is ample, but demand is moderate, with good support from exports. The cost of toluene has decreased. Technical analysis shows that TDI price momentum is insufficient, and it is expected to maintain a weak and stable consolidation.

• TDI market: prices fluctuating
• demand sluggish
• inventory at low levels.

From April 1 to 15, 2026, the price of butadiene in China’s market dropped from 18,333.33 CNY/ton to 16,133.33 CNY/ton, representing a cumulative decline of 12%. The primary reasons are weakening cost support and weak downstream demand. Although supply remains relatively tight, it is difficult to offset the pressure from weak demand; therefore, the market is expected to experience narrow fluctuations in the near term.

• Butadiene market: weak demand
• weakening cost support
• tight supply

In the first half of April, the price of titanium dioxide in China rose by 5.5%, from 15,260 CNY/ton to 16,100 CNY/ton. The increase in sulfuric acid prices pushed up production costs, leading to price increases by titanium dioxide manufacturers. Lomon Group announced a price increase of 1,500 CNY/ton in China starting from April 15. It is expected that the price of titanium dioxide will continue to rise in the short term.

• Titanium dioxide market prices
• cost pressure
• price hike wave
• market outlook

In the first half of April, the average market price of industrial thermal phosphoric acid in China increased from 8,287 CNY/ton to 8,640 CNY/ton, a price increase of 4.25%. The price of yellow phosphorus has risen, strengthening cost support, and companies have followed with price adjustments. It is expected that the market price of phosphoric acid will continue to rise moderately in the short term.

• Phosphoric acid prices
• market conditions
• cost support
• future market outlook

In early April, the supply of DMF in the Chinese market was tight, with the average quotation from enterprises at 5840 CNY/ton, showing a slight increase in price Some enterprises reduced production due to maintenance and environmental policies, which had a significant impact on the supply in the East China region

• DMF market
• tight supply
• price trends
• cost factors

This Wednesday, the price of melamine fell by 543% to 9,150 CNY per ton Weak demand and increased supply are putting downward pressure on the market In the short term, the price has fallen below the 10-day moving average, creating some room for a rebound but with limited upside potential Support lies at 9,000 CNY per ton

• Melamine Market: Prices Decline
• Insufficient Demand
• Technical Analysis

In early April, the palm oil market in China fluctuated and declined, with the average market price dropping from 9,750 CNY/ton to 9,244 CNY/ton Despite the support from tight supply and favorable policies, bearish factors such as profit-taking, capital withdrawal, and expectations of increased production in the origin regions put pressure on prices

• Palm oil market conditions
• traditional peak season
• energy linkage
• supply-and-demand changes