ECHEMI Analysis

This week, the polyester bottle chip market in China saw a strong rally, with a weekly price increase of nearly 30%, and the largest single-day price increase reaching 13%. The main driving factors include cost increases triggered by geopolitical issues, supply-side production cuts, and the release of peak demand. In the short term, prices are expected to remain strong, but there is a risk of a pullback in the medium term.

• Polyester bottle chips
• rising costs
• tight supply
• peak demand season

In March, the price of plasticizer DOP experienced a “roller coaster” trend due to crude oil price fluctuations triggered by the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, rising from 7,700.84 CNY/ton to 9,209.17 CNY/ton—a price increase of 19.59%. The prices of raw materials such as isooctanol and phthalic anhydride also saw significant volatility, and rising costs are supporting the increase in DOP prices. Looking ahead, DOP prices are expected to continue fluctuating and rising.

• DOP price fluctuations
• impact on the crude oil market
• transmission through the chemical industry chain
• geopolitical crisis in the Middle East

This week, aniline prices experienced volatile declines, dropping from 11,462 CNY/ton to 10,262 CNY/ton—a price decrease of 10.17%. Affected by the situation in the Middle East and the pullback in crude oil prices, cost support weakened, causing pure benzene prices to fall and softening the purchasing sentiment among downstream users. It is expected that aniline prices will remain at high levels in the short term.

• Aniline prices
• declining costs
• crude oil price correction
• changes in market supply and demand

This week, the price of sodium metabisulfite in China increased, with the average price of industrial-grade products rising from 2,400 CNY/ton to 2,423 CNY/ton, a price increase of 0.97%. The main reason for this is the rise in the prices of upstream raw materials such as soda ash and sulfur, despite a decline in the price of downstream caprolactam. It is expected that the market price will maintain a strong fluctuation trend in the short term.

• Sodium metabisulfite
• price increase
• market analysis
• future forecast

From March 9 to 13, the BDO price in China increased from 7,557 CNY/ton to 7,757 CNY/ton, a price increase of 2.65%. The price rise was supported by reduced supply and increased costs, but downstream demand was moderate, and market transactions were limited. It is expected that the BDO market will experience fluctuation and consolidation in the future.

• BDO market
• rising prices
• shrinking supply
• increasing cost pressure

From March 6 to 13, the price of methanol in the East China port market rose from 2,595 CNY/ton to 2,832 CNY/ton, an increase of 915% The sentiment in the futures market drove the spot market, coupled with favorable factors such as inventory reduction by companies and recovery in demand, leading to a significant rise in methanol prices The main methanol futures contract on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange closed at 2,805 CNY/ton, up 115%

• Methanol Market
• Price Rally
• Futures Impact
• Supply-Demand Changes

From March 6 to 13, the price of MTBE rose from 5,733 CNY/ton to 6,316 CNY/ton before falling back. During this period, the price increase was 10.17%. Fluctuations in international crude oil prices directly impacted the MTBE market. While cost support remained strong, demand remained weak and supply increased. Looking ahead, the MTBE market is expected to enter a consolidation phase.

• MTBE market
• price fluctuation
• international crude oil
• cost support

March 12, the average market price of pure benzene in China increased to 8,506.67 CNY/ton, a price increase of 8.55%. Affected by the rise in international crude oil prices and Sinopec's price increase of 400 CNY/ton, the quotations from Shandong local refineries also rose to 8,300-8,800 CNY/ton. Attention needs to be paid to the development of the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the trend of raw material prices.

• Pure benzene market price
• international crude oil prices
• Sinopec’s listed price
• geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East

In March, the price of 2-ethylhexanol experienced a "rollercoaster" trend, with a price increase of 27%, followed by a decrease of 10.88%. The geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East led to sharp fluctuations in crude oil prices, which in turn affected the price of 2-ethylhexanol. Despite adequate supply of 2-ethylhexanol, the price is mainly influenced by crude oil. It is expected that the price of 2-ethylhexanol will fluctuate and rise in the future.

• Isodecanol price fluctuation
• geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East
• crude oil price transmission
• stable supply

On March 11, the market price of acrylonitrile in China remained largely stable. The price at the East China ports was between 10,800 and 11,000 CNY per ton, while the price in Shandong region was between 10,750 and 10,850 CNY per ton. The decline in international oil prices led to a decrease in the price of propylene, the raw material. Although supply has decreased, the market sentiment is cautious, and overall prices are temporarily stable.

• Acrylonitrile Market
• Price Fluctuations
• Impact of International Oil Prices
• Reduced Supply

On March 11, the average market price of pure benzene in China was adjusted to 7836.67 CNY/ton, a decrease of 18.96% from the previous trading day. Affected by the decline in international crude oil futures, Shandong local refining enterprises have lowered their quotations to 7300-8000 CNY/ton. The market is mainly adopting a wait-and-see attitude, and attention needs to be paid to the trend of raw material prices.

• Pure benzene market
• price reduction
• international crude oil futures
• geopolitical risks

Recent lithium carbonate prices have been fluctuating As of March 11, the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was 158,000 CNY per ton, an increase of 327% from last week On the supply side, the release of production capacity in China and the increase in overseas shipments have contributed to this On the demand side, the recovery in demand for cathode materials and energy storage has driven the improvement in the industry's prosperity

• Lithium carbonate prices
• supply and demand changes
• lithium salt supply
• recovery of downstream demand

This week, China’s melamine market experienced a strong price surge, with factory prices rising by as much as 400 CNY per ton in a single day. The main driving factors include rising raw material costs, tightening supply, and concerted price support efforts by major enterprises. In the short term, the market is expected to remain firm, but it will be crucial to monitor downstream demand’s ability to absorb these higher prices.

• Melamine
• rising market prices
• cost-push
• tight supply

In early March 2026, the Chinese phenol market experienced a "roller coaster" trend, with price fluctuations exceeding 2,500 CNY/ton The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East triggered cost increases, followed by a sharp drop in prices due to the decline in crude oil Future trends will be influenced by geopolitical risks, cost differentiation, and changes in supply and demand

• Phenol market conditions
• geopolitical conflicts
• cost fluctuations
• supply-demand dynamics

On March 12, the international crude oil market saw a sharp rise during Asian trading hours, with WTI crude oil climbing to $9414 per barrel and Brent crude oil approaching $100 per barrel The escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has heightened supply concerns, compounded by the IEA’s release of strategic reserves, which has failed to effectively curb the upward pressure on oil prices

• International crude oil
• geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East
• rising oil prices
• release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

On March 10, the market price of pure benzene significantly decreased to 9,670 CNY/ton, a decline of 19.43% from the previous trading day. Sinopec's listed price dropped to 8,000 CNY/ton, and the factory prices of local refineries in Shandong were adjusted to 8,500-10,000 CNY/ton. The market was affected by the drop in international oil prices, leading to unstable sentiment.

• Pure benzene price: Market down
• Impact of international oil prices
• Sinopec price adjustment

Since March, due to the rise in costs, the price of hydrogen peroxide has increased. As of March 10th, the average market price of hydrogen peroxide rose to 673 CNY/ton, an increase of 12.22% from the beginning of the month. The increase in the prices of crude oil and natural gas has led to higher transportation costs, and manufacturers' expectations of further price increases have intensified. Analysts predict that the price of hydrogen peroxide will continue to rise in the short term.

• Hydrogen peroxide market
• cost increase
• market analysis
• chemical product prices

This week, the mainstream price of propylene oxide in the Chinese market broke through 10,000 yuan, reaching 10,500 CNY per ton, with a price increase of 16.67%. The rise in raw material prices has pushed up production costs, and while the overall supply remains stable, some companies have reduced their output. On the demand side, downstream enterprises are cautious in their purchasing. It is expected that prices will remain high and stable in the short term.

• epoxy propane
• price increase
• raw material cost
• supply and demand relationship

Since March, the price of adipic acid has surged by more than 27%, increasing from 8,300 CNY/ton to 10,600 CNY/ton. The primary driver is the rise in costs, with the prices of pure benzene and cyclohexanone increasing by over 50% and 36%, respectively. Terminal demand is cautious, and it is expected that the adipic acid market will experience a slight correction in the future.

• Rising costs
• adipic acid market conditions
• raw material prices
• cautious demand

Since early March, the price of ethanol in China has risen to 5,716 CNY per ton, with a price increase of 3.48%. Cost, supply, and demand factors are all positive, driving the continuous rise in ethanol prices. It is expected that the future ethanol market trend will mainly be consolidation.

• Ethanol Market
• Price Increase
• Cost Support
• Supply-Demand Relationship